Vice reports that the long-held belief that men reach their sexual peak in their 20s is not supported by science. The article opens by saying there is a rumor we have all been fed for years that men hit their sexual peak in their 20s and then slowly coast downhill. But according to new research published in Scientific Reports that idea is outdated.
The study analyzed sexual desire data from more than 67,000 people between ages 18 and 89. What the researchers found is striking. Vice explains that the research showed that men’s sexual desire did not crest early and collapse.
Instead, it kept climbing and reached its highest point in the late 30s and early 40s. The researchers note that this has little to do with testosterone and more to do with life circumstances becoming more stable. They state that long term relationships often bring higher sexual activity and stronger emotional intimacy which support greater desire. One of the most powerful lines from the article says that by midlife many men have fewer questions about what they want and fewer hang ups about asking for it and less interest in performative nonsense.
This adds an important layer for LGBTQ viewers especially for those in midlife who may have grown into a stronger sense of identity and comfort. The study also uncovered something especially meaningful for queer audiences. Vice reports that age, education, employment, and sexual orientation accounted for roughly 28 percent of the variation in desire and that the group with the highest desire was people who identified as bisexual or pansexual. This finding reflects the diversity of attraction patterns in our community and underscores how identity and relational openness shape desire.
