Spring Break
Dominating fantasy, sexual urges
Kathy Greaves
Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: Forum
Between the ages of 30 and 34, women experience an increase in sexual desire, leading to their second peak (when the peak for men is starting to decline). Then, as with men, women's sexual desire begins dropping gradually around age 35.
Another important fact to point out is that even though men and women have peaks at different ages, those differences aren't really that different.
Let me explain. The research that provided these facts positioned sexual desire on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being lowest desire and 9 being highest desire.
At any given time, the furthest apart men and women were was only two points on the scale. The lowest number reported by women was by 18- to 19-year-olds (4.5) and the highest number reported by men was for those between the ages of 25 and 29 (6.5).
I'll let you decide how important that two-point difference really is.
The main point I hope you take away from this is that the information flies in the face of the common conception that men reach their peak at 18 and women reach theirs at 40.
It doesn't matter if you remember the actual numbers I listed. Just recognize two things: 1. Men's and women's sexual peaks aren't 22 years apart - they are only about five years apart. 2. Because women have two sexual peaks, they actually peak before and after men do.
Kathy Greaves Ph.D., is a senior instructor at OSU in the department of human development and family sciences. The opinions expressed in her columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Daily Barometer staff. Greaves can be reached at kathy.greaves@oregonstate.edu or by placing questions in the box at the MU information desk. All questions submitted to Greaves are subject to being answered in her Dr. Sex column.
Another important fact to point out is that even though men and women have peaks at different ages, those differences aren't really that different.
Let me explain. The research that provided these facts positioned sexual desire on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being lowest desire and 9 being highest desire.
At any given time, the furthest apart men and women were was only two points on the scale. The lowest number reported by women was by 18- to 19-year-olds (4.5) and the highest number reported by men was for those between the ages of 25 and 29 (6.5).
I'll let you decide how important that two-point difference really is.
The main point I hope you take away from this is that the information flies in the face of the common conception that men reach their peak at 18 and women reach theirs at 40.
It doesn't matter if you remember the actual numbers I listed. Just recognize two things: 1. Men's and women's sexual peaks aren't 22 years apart - they are only about five years apart. 2. Because women have two sexual peaks, they actually peak before and after men do.
Kathy Greaves Ph.D., is a senior instructor at OSU in the department of human development and family sciences. The opinions expressed in her columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Daily Barometer staff. Greaves can be reached at kathy.greaves@oregonstate.edu or by placing questions in the box at the MU information desk. All questions submitted to Greaves are subject to being answered in her Dr. Sex column.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.