Although testosterone levels start to gradually decline from the age of 30, men only reach their peak libido around the age of 40, researchers have found. The new study thus shows that sexual desire is not solely impacted by hormones.
Researchers from the University of Tartu in Estonia have debunked a myth, directly linking a decrease in testosterone production in men from the age of 30 to a decline in sexual desire. For their study, published in Scientific Reports, they analysed data from over 67,000 adults aged 20 to 84, discovering that men’s libidos continued to increase until their early 40s.
“Our results indicate that the impact of ageing on male sexual desire is delayed, with a noticeable decline emerging mainly in later life. This pattern aligns with evidence of gradual age-related decreases in testosterone rather than continuous production across the lifespan, while also suggesting that factors beyond testosterone—such as sexual behaviours and sociocultural influences—help sustain relatively high levels of desire throughout much of adulthood. The stability of men’s desire and the variability of women’s across the lifespan are key patterns observed in our data,” the researchers write.
Men versus women
In their article, the scientists identify sexual desire as a fundamental component of human relationships, thus highlighting the importance of more research regarding the subject. According to their findings, sexual desire is always affected by a number of different factors, such as age, gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, number of children, recent childbirth, educational attainment, and occupation.
In their study, the team accounts that their data shows that the difference between sexual desire in men and women is even bigger than previously thought. According to them, the average woman’s sexual desire at ages around 20 to 30 remains lower than men’s average levels across much of adulthood, while a man’s sexual desire is more stable throughout his life.
The scientists underline that the unexpected mid-life peak in men is a novel contribution, which needs further exploration of relational and psychological influences on male sexual desire. More research is therefore needed to confirm their findings, and attention should go towards how to measure sexual desire in a more or less objective way.
Overall, the researchers stress that the results of the study should never be interpreted as more than an average. The amount of sexual desire one experiences throughout life is not universal, yet strictly personal and should never be taken out of context.
