A research team from the University of Tartu analyzed data from more than 67,000 adults aged 20 to 84 years. The results showed that male sexual desire increases around the age of twenty, peaks at the beginning of the forties, and then begins to gradually decline. However, the development was different for women. Female sexual appetite was highest in early adulthood, approximately between the ages of 20 and 30, after which it gradually decreased, and after the age of fifty, there was a significant drop.
“The analysis also showed that even the highest level of female sexual desire at ages 20 to 30 was lower than the average level of sexual desire in men for most of their adult lives. Only after the age of sixty does male sexual desire drop below the highest values ever achieved by women,” comments the study results Lucie Slováčková, an expert on healthy sexuality from Růžový slon.
According to scientists, it was already known that men generally report higher sexual desire than women; however, new data shows how pronounced these differences are across different age periods. “It is particularly remarkable how significantly higher male sexual desire was compared to women for most of adult life,” stated Toivo Aavik, a professor at the University of Tartu and co-author of the study published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports. “Desire is not a marginal issue. It is key to how people experience sex, establish sexual relationships, and evaluate their intimate lives. Practically speaking, it is also extremely important for the health of relationships – and of course for overall health,” added Aavik.
The findings are surprising to experts also because they contradict the assumption that sexual desire is closely tied to biological factors and fertility. Testosterone levels in men begin to decline as early as the beginning of their thirties. Despite this, a study suggests that libido in men continues to rise for about another ten years. According to experts, social, psychological, and relational factors also play a significant role. “Men at forty are more often in stable long-term relationships, which are associated with higher levels of sexual activity and emotional closeness,” described Lucie Slováčková.
Different libido across professions and relationship statuses
The study also found that certain professions were associated with higher sexual appetites. These include positions in machine operation, top management, drivers, and the military. On the other hand, office workers and those in customer service reported lower sexual appetites.
Relationship status also had a different impact depending on gender. “Men in partnerships reported higher libido than single men, while for women, the trend was the opposite – single women reported higher sexual desire than women in partnerships,” described Lucie Slováčková. “For women, higher maternal burden was associated with lower sexual desire, while for men, this effect was reversed,” she concluded.
About Ruzovyslon.cz
RuzovySlon.cz has been navigating the world of sex for 24 years and changing the perspective of the Czech population on it. In both stores and the e-shop, experts select the most interesting erotic aids from around the world, which are ideal for experimenting with one’s own sexuality, pushing boundaries, and revitalizing stereotypical sex. Part of the expert consulting also includes creating instructional videos and testing erotic toys. Růžový slon also focuses on educating the population in the field of sex, regularly participates in educational events for the public, and organizes themed workshops and lectures in its stores.
Awards Received
- three-time winner in the competition Most Trusted Brand in the category of Retailers of Erotic Goods (2025, 2024, 2023)
- four-time winner of the poll Shop of the Year 2021 in the category of Popularity Award: Erotic Goods
- winner in the competition Mastercard Merchant of the Year 2021 in the category “Innovation of the Year – Humanity in Business”
- second place in the 21st edition of the WebTop100 competition in the category Ecommerce – large B2C project
- three-time placement in the prestigious ranking of TOP50 in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 CE among the fastest-growing tech companies.
- placement in the prestigious ranking Financial Times 1000, which announces the thousand fastest-growing companies in Europe
- placement in the unique ranking TOP 100 e-shops in the Czech Republic, which was processed by CzechCrunch in cooperation with BizMachine
- final placement in the competition Awards of Czech Leaders – OCL
