The Sexual Peak Myth: Truth or Fiction?

Most of us have heard the sexual peak myth that men reach their sexual peak at around age 18 while women don't reach their prime until about age 40. While many people tend to believe this, what if we told you that it's all just a myth? It might surprise you, but men and women alike can enjoy fantastic sex at any point in their lives.

How Sexual Peak Myth Got Started

Back in 1953, a man by the name of Alfred Kinsley released a work entitled "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female," which introduced the sexual peak myth. This work alone has changed the way that men and women all over the world think about sex, but it's nothing more than a theory. Kinsley simply assumed that men and women reached their sexual "prime" at around the same time that they reached their hormonal peaks. There are several factors that should be considered when measuring sexual peaks, including maturity levels, past sexual experience and the individual's overall psychological state.

The Definition of a Sexual Peak

Before determining whether or not there is actually any truth to Kinsley's claims, it is important to first define the term "sexual peak." Women and men tend to define this differently, with women defining their peaks as the point in their lives when they had the easiest, fastest and most intense orgasms. Men, on the other hand, tend to define their peaks as the time when they had the firmest, fastest erections, lasted the longest, or otherwise provided the highest level of satisfaction to their partners.

Psychological Factors in Women

There are a number of psychological factors that can influence a woman's sexual peak. Women tend to be more family-oriented and put sex on the back burner as they raise their children and/or go about being successful in their careers. There is also menstruation and the fear of pregnancy, both of which can put a woman off to the notion of sex. As such, women in their late 40s and early 50s who have raised their children and who are no longer menstruating are often more interested in sex and are not as inhibited, allowing easier and more relaxed orgasms, which is the standard by which women tend to define their sexual peaks.

Psychological Factors in Men

A man's sexual peak can also be influenced by a number of factors. Although men begin to produce the most testosterone they'll ever produce in their lives at around age 18, resulting in faster, firmer erections and repeat performances, the peak production of testosterone doesn't actually occur until age 30. In many cases, the simple belief that a man over the age of 18 has passed his sexual prime causes anxiety issues related to performance and the satisfaction of his partner. What's more, men are significantly influenced by their partners, so the quality of their relationships directly correlates to the quality of the sex.

Putting the Sexual Peak Myth to Bed

Although there are plenty of scientific studies that have proven that libido and performance are related to hormone outputs in both men and women, this is not the only thing that affects the quality or the quantity of sex for either gender. Anyone can hit their sexual prime at any age as long as they are healthy, and a good diet and exercise certainly contribute to that. Both men and women benefit from being with partners they love and trust, and those who are open to exploration and new ideas generally fare better in the bedroom than those who choose to keep things simple.

Peaking After 50

Another common myth that people tend to believe is that sex suffers after age 50. It is a common belief that people who are over the age of 50 no longer have the desire to have frequent sex with their partners, and many in this age group simple chalk it up as fact. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Men and women over the age of 50 are just as capable of having frequent high-quality sex as couples in their early 20s, and there are some studies that suggest the sex actually gets better with age—particularly for couples who are comfortable with one another. With less worry about finances, children and careers as they age, they can focus more attention on their partners, themselves and their sex lives.

In a nutshell, there is no certain age at which a man or a woman's sexual desire or performance peaks and then declines. The sexual peak myth is just that: a myth. Many different factors affect desire in both sexes, but there is one fact of which everyone can be certain: Healthy individuals with the right partners can enjoy a wonderful sex life in their 50s, their 60s, and even beyond—long after the ages set forth as "sexual peaks" in Kinsley's old-fashioned work.

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