Not at 20. When do men actually reach the peak of sexual desire?

Illustrative photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs press service

A team of researchers from Estonia and the UK analyzed data from 67,334 adults from the Estonian biobank. Participants' ages ranged from 20 to 84 years, with an average of 47 years. FitBook.de reports on the results.

The goal of the study was to understand how demographic and life factors are related to individual levels of sexual desire. Gender, age, sexual orientation, relationship status, number of children, recent childbirth, education, profession, and relationship satisfaction were considered.

How desire was measured

The survey was conducted online from November 2021 to April 2022. Sexual desire was assessed through two affirmative statements:

— "I have a strong sexual desire";

— "I don't often think about sex".

Responses were statistically processed and compared across different groups. Researchers used both simple comparisons and a complex regression model, where all factors were analyzed simultaneously.

As a result, the full model explained 28.3% of the differences in sexual desire levels — a high indicator for psychological research.

Gender and age are the main factors

The most significant predictors turned out to be gender and age. Men in all age groups reported higher levels of desire than women. Moreover, the difference only increased with years and was most pronounced after 60 years of age.

Overall, libido decreases with age, but this decline is much stronger in women. However, the most unexpected finding is the age peak.

Women show the highest average level of desire in their early twenties. Men, however, reach their peak around 40 years of age — significantly later than commonly believed.

The study also showed that male desire is relatively stable throughout life. In women, it is more variable and sensitive to life stages — pregnancy, menopause, as well as the burden associated with childcare.

Children and profession

Relationship status had a minor impact: people in partnerships had slightly higher scores than singles.

Having children and recent childbirth showed a weak but statistically significant correlation. People without children or those who had a child within the last year had slightly higher levels of desire.

Professional groups differed more than expected. Higher scores were observed among military personnel, machine operators, and managers, while lower scores were found among ordinary office workers and auxiliary workers. Education had almost no effect on the results.

What this means

The results emphasize that biological and social factors interact. Hormones, such as testosterone, are certainly important, but social roles, expectations, and life circumstances are no less significant.

The fact that men reach their desire peak around 40 years of age may be related to stable relationships, greater emotional intimacy, or a shift in priorities in middle age.

The influence of the parental role is also interesting: while men with more children tend to report higher sexual desire, it decreases in women. This suggests that childcare and the associated burden differently affect the sensation of desire.

The researchers suggest that the data they obtained can be useful for the development of sexological and psychotherapeutic assistance — taking into account a person's age, marital status, and life situation.

Limitations

Despite its scale, the study has several limitations. Sexual desire was measured by only two general statements without distinguishing between partnered and individual motivation. Psychological aspects such as personality type, emotional needs, or relationship behavior patterns were also not considered.

The authors note, referencing previous studies, that these factors could explain an additional 10-15 percent of the variability in results.

Additionally, the data are based on respondents' self-assessment, and in topics of sexuality, people may subconsciously adjust their answers to social norms.

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