The Story Does male sex drive peak at forty? - The Saturday Story
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Jan 17, 2026 Join Ben Machell, a Times features writer, who humorously reflects on a study revealing that men's sex drive peaks in their early 40s, exploring factors like confidence and life experience. He discusses why midlife men are considered the 'libido elite.' Meanwhile, Zach Asgard, a younger Times contributor, addresses the struggles younger men face, such as dating app culture and financial stress, which can dampen their sexual desire. A fascinating dive into changing dynamics of male libido across generations!
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Midlife Libido Peaks
- A large study suggests male sexual desire peaks in the early 40s rather than in youth.
- The finding holds despite age-related declines in testosterone, challenging simple biological assumptions.
WhatsApp Pride Reaction
- Ben Machell WhatsAppped male friends to share the study and got a mix of quiet pride and people leaving the chat.
- He frames being in your early 40s as belonging to a demographic 'sexual elite' with playful self-regard.
Study Limits Matter
- The study relies on self-reported desire and an Estonian biobank sample, so cultural and subjective biases may affect results.
- Ben urges caution but still embraces the study's conclusion favourably.