TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2012 — Korean researchers may have found the fountain of youth for men. But bad news for guys: It involves castration.

Scientists studied the genealogy records of noble members of the Imperial court of the Korean Choson dynasty. They found that eunuchs — men whose sexual organs were removed — outlived those with their reproductive organs intact by 14 to 19 years.

The castrated men lived from 1392 to 1910 and lost their reproductive organs in accidents or underwent castration purposefully so they could work in the palace among the wives and concubines of the Korean emperor, reports The Daily Mail.

Among the 81 eunuchs studied, three lived to be at least 100.

Researchers said eunuchs spent as much time outside the palace as they did inside it, so their long life span can’t simply be explained by the benefits of palace life. Eunuchs' relative lack of male sex hormones is one possible explanation for their extended lifespans, the scientists suggest.

The research team said their findings may offer some clues to life extension, according to The Daily Mail. The study was published in the September 25 issue of Current Biology.

Tell us: Would you opt for castration (or ask your husband to accept it) if it meant you’d be guaranteed to live to 100? (Note: Mobile users won’t be able to comment.)

CREDIT: Vijay/Flickr