Women over 40 are enjoying Sex and Extra-marital Affairs

In the premenopausal stage, when the estrogen – the female sex hormone is decreasing, then she feels a lot of changes. One of the things puberty brings is also an increase in oxytocin – the hormone that makes them more “we” centered.. as nurturers. Estrogen and Oxytocin are nurturing hormones – making the women attentive to others’ needs and forget themselves. As the 40s approach the production of these hormones decrease and the women like to be “themselves” – the “me” in them starts coming up.[2]

US government statistics show that after age 50, 65% of divorces are initiated by women, contrary to the conventional wisdom that maybe men leave their menopausal wives. In another survey in UK of 2000 women by Health Plus magazine, while 77% felt that sex life was best in their 40s and 82% felt that sex was as important to them in that age as it ever had been. In US, the women in their 40s wanted to have sex more often than the younger women.[1]

In a detailed survey done in 1994, called General Society Survey by National Opinion Research Center, it was observed that the extramarital affairs amongst women peaked in the 40-49 years old group, while for men it was highest during 60-69 year old group.[3] A study from University of New Hampshire also put the most common age for women to have affairs is 45 while men it is 55.

As one of the women in the Guadian says, that sex after 40 is great, “but it is not with my husband. To be absolutely honest, he’s the last man on the planet I’d want to have sex with.” – women are most prone to discovering sex at over 40 but in avenues that they haven’t travelled before. As a UK said, the highest rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are also highest in the women of age group 45-54 (for men it is 55-60!).[1] Menopause and more individuality leads women and men at that age to throw away the cares of unwanted pregnancy and enjoy the most primal way of entertainment known to humans – Sex!

Reference Links:

1. The joy of confidence
2. Perimenopause: Hormone ups and downs can last years
3. Extramarital Affairs: An Exaggerated Myth