Editing Libido (section)

==== Effects of age ====
Males reach the peak of their sex drive in their teenage years {{Dubious|reason= Males clearly peak in sex drive in their early 20s|date=May 2023}}, while females reach it in their thirties.<ref>{{cite book | page= [https://books.google.com/books?id=4eRtj_DxQgoC&pg=PA149 149]| title= Reconceiving the second sex | first=Marcia Claire | last=Inhorn |year= 2009 | publisher=| isbn= |via= Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=I7sQAQAAMAAJ | title=Principles and practice of adult health nursing | first= Patricia | last= Gauntlett Beare | date=1990 | publisher=Mosby| isbn= 9780801603860|via= Google Books}}</ref> The surge in testosterone hits the male at puberty resulting in a sudden and extreme sex drive which reaches its peak at age 15–16, then drops slowly over their lifetime.{{Disputed inline|date=May 2023}} In contrast, a female's libido increases slowly during adolescence and peaks in their mid-thirties.{{why|date=August 2021}}<ref>{{cite book
 |publisher = Penguin (Non-Classics)
 |ol = 7360364M
 |isbn = 9780142004678 | page = [https://archive.org/details/sextimepowerho00shla/page/140 140]
 |title = Sex, Time, and Power
 |url = https://archive.org/details/sextimepower00leon_0
 |first = Leonard
 |last= Shlain
 |date = July 27, 2004
 }}</ref>
Actual testosterone and estrogen levels that affect a person's sex drive vary considerably.

Some boys and girls will start expressing romantic or sexual interest by age 10–12. The romantic feelings are not necessarily sexual, but are more associated with attraction and desire for another. For boys and girls in their preteen years (ages 11–12), at least 25% report "thinking a lot about sex".<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal| last=Fortenberry|first=J. Dennis| date= July 2013|title=Puberty and Adolescent Sexuality|journal=Hormones and Behavior| volume= 64|issue=2| pages=280–287| doi= 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.007| issn= 0018-506X| pmc= 3761219| pmid= 23998672}}</ref> By the early teenage years (ages 13–14), however, boys are much more likely to have [[Sexual fantasy|sexual fantasies]] than girls. In addition, boys are much more likely to report an interest in sexual intercourse at this age than girls.<ref name=":2" /> [[Masturbation]] among youth is common, with prevalence among the population generally increasing until the late 20s and early 30s. Boys generally start masturbating earlier, with less than 10% boys masturbating around age 10, around half participating by age 11–12, and over a substantial majority by age 13–14.<ref name=":2" /> This is in sharp contrast to girls where virtually none are engaging in masturbation before age 13, and only around 20% by age 13–14.<ref name=":2" />

People in their 60s and early 70s generally retain a healthy sex drive, but this may start to decline in the early to mid-70s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Psychology of Human Sexuality|last=Lehmiller|first=Justin J|publisher=Wiley Blackwell| year= 2018|isbn=9781119164692|pages=621–626}}</ref> Older adults generally develop a reduced libido due to declining health and environmental or social factors.<ref name=":0" /> In contrast to common belief, postmenopausal women often report an increase in sexual desire and an increased willingness to satisfy their partner.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal| last1=Sinković|first1=Matija|last2=Towler|first2=Lauren|date=2018-12-25| title=Sexual Aging: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research on the Sexuality and Sexual Health of Older Adults|journal=Qualitative Health Research|volume=29|issue=9|pages=1239–1254| doi= 10.1177/1049732318819834| pmid= 30584788|s2cid=58605636|issn=1049-7323}}</ref> Women often report family responsibilities, health, relationship problems, and well-being as inhibitors to their sexual desires. Aging adults often have more positive attitudes towards sex in older age due to being more relaxed about it, freedom from other responsibilities, and increased self-confidence. Those exhibiting negative attitudes generally cite health as one of the main reasons. Stereotypes about aging adults and sexuality often regard seniors as asexual beings, doing them no favors when they try to talk about sexual interest with caregivers and medical professionals.<ref name=":4" /> Non-western cultures often follow a narrative of older women having a much lower libido, thus not encouraging any sort of sexual behavior for women. Residence in retirement homes has effects on residents' libidos. In these homes, sex occurs, but it is not encouraged by the staff or other residents. Lack of privacy and resident gender imbalance are the main factors lowering desire.<ref name=":4" /> Generally, for older adults, being excited about sex, good health, sexual self-esteem and having a sexually talented partner can be factors.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kontula|first1=Osmo|last2=Haavio-Mannila|first2=Elina|date=2009-02-03|title=The Impact of Aging on Human Sexual Activity and Sexual Desire|journal=The Journal of Sex Research|volume=46|issue=1|pages=46–56|doi=10.1080/00224490802624414|issn=0022-4499|pmid=19090411|s2cid=3161449}}</ref>