You can hear the complaints echo back through time: "They're always on those damned phones!", "They're always in front of that damned boob tube!", "Their ears are glued to that damned radio", "They're always running down the street with that damned stick and hoop!", "They're always reading everything made on that damned printing press!", "They're always staring into that damned fire that Gork made!". That last one may have been grunted, but technology tends to get demonized by detractors. Still, society never fell into absolute ruin as each enchanting tech got adopted (although, I'm told it was touch and go for a while there with the stick and hoop). You, reading this on your screen device, are proof that tech has its benefits. In this century, video games, no longer just popular with our kids, have been blamed for everything from ADD to violent criminal acts (and eventually vindicated on both counts) but one man of science is on a mission to examine another correlation, however unlikely: the surprising link between male sexual health and gaming.

Dr Andrea Sansone and his team at Sapienza University of Rome recently asked nearly 400 Italian men, most of them gamers between the ages of 18 and 50, about detailed sexual function. What they found was that some of them shared a common positive trait - those who spent a lot of time playing say, Call Of Duty, were prone to be more dutiful with sexual play as well. Gamers happily reported a beneficial bedroom tendency that their non-gaming neighbours could not — far less premature ejaculation. Level unlocked: bedroom stamina. If the purchase of a new console has been a point of contention in your home, this new study may tilt the controller in favour of any adult gamers out there.

While markers for erectile and orgasmic dysfunction were unmoved by thumbing buttons on a console gamepad, sexual stamina was shown to increase as a result of virtually (and habitually) hunting zombies, blowing up aliens or driving an Italian plumber around in a go kart. If gaming is a pet passion, note that you have at least one man of science in your camp. Sansone told media that his research was a labour of love (pun most certainly intended). In fact, his words were, "when I figured out a pilot study on the effects of gaming on premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction I was the happiest man on Earth!" As an important aside, please take note that this is what job satisfaction sounds like. Unsurprisingly, Sansone is guilty of spending much of his own free time playing video games. "I am interested in this topic as I've always been a gamer," he says.

If you're tempted to challenge his scientific methods and bring up Sansone's proclivity for gaming as a potential bias, consider that the study also yielded a less winning trait in men who love video games: lower sex drives than non-gamers. The correlation to diminished sexual desire does offer something of a Chicken v. Egg conundrum. Do gamers last longer in bed because they aren't that into sex, or are they not that into sex because it takes too long when they could be virtually exploring planet Jakku in Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

Sansone admits this preliminary study does have clear limitations rendering any specific correlations unclear - only that, for better or worse, a link does exist. "Are all games equal? Is an hour of MiniMetro as stressful as a 60-minutes match of League of Legends? And is that going to cause any difference?" The study, which had the added disadvantage of being blind to the full medical history of those surveyed, was not entirely conclusive. One possible theory Sansone proposes is that a fudging of the brain's reward system may be the culprit for both a tendency to last longer and an increased level of sexual disinterest. Put another way, blowing up aliens in distant galaxy with all the excitement, heroism (and floods of dopamine) that affords, however virtual, may dwarf the allure of a real life trip to planet intercourse. Still, given that video games have been linked to everything from increased cognitive function to stress reduction, it could very well mean gamers benefit from a psychological boost that gives them more self-control when engaging in more adult modes of "in-game" play. Sex. I mean sex.

If his research leads to more conclusive evidence or just an improved approach to evaluating male sexual health, Sansone will be a happy, albeit decidedly scientific, gamer. "For the general population, I'd like everybody to understand that while video games are fun, an excessive use of them might actually have consequences on the most intimate aspects of their life." Important health correlations are welcome but thanks to Sansone's science, the stigma of the geeky gamer may also get a modern makeover. Should his early data stand, gamers will be able to add a virtual feather of sexual stamina to their collective hats. More research is needed and Sansone admits as much but it won't be hard to find the geeky gamer (used with respect) for the job. Sansone has made his passions for examining the intersection of male sexual health and gaming clear. "I think this is an exciting new field of research, and besides being proud for the academic result I'm also very happy as a nerd!" Actual (wonderful) quote.

If you're concerned that your partner is an unrepentant wastrel who spends his time playing video games, maybe stay your rebukes and take solace in the hopes that buttons pushed while staring at the flatscreen will translate to points won in the bedroom. Again, here too, only more research will yield sufficient data.

Marc Beaulieu is a writer, producer and host of the live Q&A show guyQ LIVE @AskMen