Many people believe sexual desire is strongest in youth. However, new research suggests that is not true for men.
A large study from the University of Tartu in Estonia analyzed data from more than 67,000 adults aged 20 to 84. The goal was to understand how sexual desire changes with age.
The findings challenge long-held assumptions about male libido. Instead of peaking in the 20s or early 30s, male sexual desire was found to reach its highest point around age 40.
Researchers also discovered that men in their 60s reported similar levels of desire to men in their 20s. Overall, male desire increased steadily from early adulthood, peaked in the early 40s, and then slowly declined.
Women showed a different pattern. Female sexual desire was highest in early adulthood, from the 20s to early 30s. After that, it gradually decreased, with a sharper drop after age 50.
The researchers noted that factors beyond biology may explain the midlife peak in men. Men in their 40s are more likely to be in stable long-term relationships, which are often linked to stronger emotional connection and more frequent intimacy.
The study also found that men generally reported higher sexual desire than women across most of adult life.
Other findings showed higher desire among people identifying as bisexual, those with undergraduate degrees, and workers in fields such as the military, transportation, and management.
Researchers stressed that individual differences were large, meaning age alone does not define sexual desire.