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The surprising secrets of eunuchs

From Russia to Rwanda, women live longer than. But why? A piece of the puzzle comes from castrated men in Korea who lived between 1500-1800, says UCL’s Professor David Gem. He tells Marnie Chesterton that these eunuchs lived up to 19 years longer than men who weren’t castrated, some even making it to 100 years old. Their secret? They were castrated as boys before puberty.

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Graihagh Jackson

(Image: A traditional Korean village. Credit: Getty Images)

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1 minute