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Question

What are the sexual peaks (agewise) for men and women and why are they what they are?

Answer

Does a peak by any other name seem so sweet? If we are talking about ages when men and women have orgasms with greatest frequency and are ready to come again in the shortest turn around time then we do see some real differences by age and gender.

Most men seem to have more orgasms from all sexual activity, be it nocturnal emissions, masturbation or intercourse, and the shortest refractory period (time between one orgasm and the next) from their late teens to their early twenties. Even though hormone levels for both males and females are their highest during puberty, women report having more orgasms from their late twenties to their mid-forties.

What might account for these differences? Biology is one factor but social conditioning, experience and self confidence seem to play bigger parts for women's responsiveness. Then there is the interaction between the partners. The longer partners are together and become familiar with each other's sexual landscape and patterns of responding the more consistently they can scale those heights to sexual ecstasy.

03/18/98

Dr. Al Cooper, clinical director at the San Jose Marital and Sexuality Centre (408-248-9737), runs the training program for Counseling and Psychological Services at Stanford University. Dr. Cooper is internationally known for his work in sexuality and is freqently interviewed by the media. He currently writes a column in Men's Health Magazine.

Dr. Coralie Scherer coordinates online services for the Centre and specializes in sexual trauma, women's issues, and marital therapy.