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Metro
26-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Metro
This is the best time of day to have sex, according to your age
For some, morning sex is the ultimate way to start the day, while others might prefer a gentle afternoon session or even an evening liaison. So, is there a perfect time of the day to have sex? And do your preferences change as you age? While it's not necessarily a one-size-fits-all answer, one study found that partnered sex most often happens late at night. Early evening was reportedly the second most popular time slot, but 16% of respondents preferred an early morning masturbation session to the evening (10%), while foot sex, toy sex, virtual sex, anal and BDSM were more likely to take place in the late afternoon. Gender also comes into it, as research from Lovehoney revealed that men are generally hornier between 6am and 9am. On the other hand, women are more likely to get aroused between 11pm and 2am, with just 11% admitting to feeling frisky in the early hours. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best time to do it, more that it's the most common. So, how does age impact how you get off? The average Brit might lose their v-card at the tender age of 17, but its actually your 20s that are likely to be one of the horniest eras of your life. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! As Mike Kocsis, hormone health expert and founder of Balance My Hormones tells Metro, your hormones are typically at their most 'robust' throughout your 20s – which is when you're at your peak fertility-wise. 'You have a higher libido, especially around ovulation, and you have more energy and emotional response to intimacy,' Mike explains. Biologically, your body is telling you to make babies (whether you want kids or not) so you might wake up raring to go – making morning the ideal time to get down and dirty. Your 20s are also an ideal time for 'exploration and spontaneity.' So April Maria, sexologist at Hot Octopuss, suggests that the best time can also be 'whenever the mood strikes.' However, if you're taking hormonal contraception like the pill, patch or vaginal ring, your hormonal cycles will typically be suppressed – and your testosterone levels will diminish, quashing your libido. If you want to up that libido, it might be time to ask a GP about alternatives. Get up the shared calendar, because your 30s are the era to embrace scheduled sex. The best time is whenever you have time. Throughout your 20s, you're often able to be spontaneous, but as your third decade dawns, you might find yourself taking on responsibilities, like small children or a high-stress job, that necessitate planning in the bedroom. These changes might also increase your stress levels – which can spell trouble hormonally. As Mike explains, the stress hormone can interfere with the production of sex hormones, increasing prolactin (which 'suppresses reproductive function') and decreasing dopamine – AKA, the pleasure hormone. It's not all bad news, though. Your 30s are home to all kinds of hormonal shifts – and in Mike's view, these can actually make your sex life 'deeper and more emotionally satisfying.' 'Sex can become less driven by hormonal spikes and more by trust, connection, and oxytocin-driven bonding,' Mike explains. 'Fluctuations in oestrogen and testosterone can make sex drive less predictable, but stronger body awareness and emotional depth can lead to more satisfaction.' In your 40s, you could find that your routines change again. Your children might have grown into teenagers – leaving the window open for morning sex as they sleep in – or work stress might've settled with experience. With that in mind, this golden era sees the return of spontaneity. Timings-wise, morning sex 'might make a comeback — or you might find weekends, lunch breaks, or those spontaneous, stolen moments suit you best', says April. Hormonally, though, when women reach menopause, typically between the ages of 45 and 55, changes can impact arousal levels. Your libido might be lower, vaginal dryness can creep in, and plummeting testosterone levels mean it might take longer to orgasm. In other words, forget the quickies of your 20s. This needn't be a bad thing, though, as these hormonal drops can mean you're 'more sensitive to what feels good and what doesn't.' As Mike shares, this could make you 'feel less willing for unfulfilling sex, encouraging better self-awareness and communication with partners.' And so, during your 40s, it becomes even more important to carve out an 'intentional, pressure-free' space for intimacy. Throughout your 50s, both oestrogen and testosterone tend to decline – but that doesn't mean that your sexuality needs to fade with it. Just like your 40s, this period presents an opportunity to be more intentional with sex – and as Mike says, 'oxytocin becomes more important than ever for intimacy.' And so, sex in your 50s is less about frequency and more about sensuality, which can include non-sexual forms of intimacy like 'cuddling, communication, and skin-to-skin contact.' Timing-wise, this decade is ideal for making the most of morning or midday intimacy, and it's all about seizing the moment your energy levels are most likely to peak. The early bird catches the worm, as they say. Throughout this period, you might experience disruptions like sleep disturbances, temperature changes, vaginal dryness, and unreliable erections – and all of these factors can impact both timing and desire. 'For some, exploring morning or midday sex, when energy is higher and the body is more rested, can feel more enjoyable and accessible,' April adds, noting that 'listening to your body and what feels right for you is essential.' Hormonally, your 60s present a golden opportunity to prioritise pleasure. Your children might have grown up and flown the nest, and as you edge closer to retirement, work worries will soon be a thing of the past. As Mike explains, in your 60s and beyond, you might find yourself in a 'phase of sexuality that's richer and more intentional than ever.' More Trending Decreasing stress levels can also lower cortisol levels – and without hormones fluctuating throughout the month, your body is able to 'stop swinging between highs and lows.' In turn, this can lead to a clearer relationship with your desire, even if the desire is quieter than it was in the past.' Largely, it's like being in your 20s again – just with a few more wrinkles. Physically, your body responds better with more time and relaxation under its belt, so April advises that afternoons and early evenings might present an apt opportunity to explore intimacy. View More » She adds that 'slowing down is key,' as well as 'leaning into new ways to explore pleasure outside the social norm.' What's sexier than that? Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I told my girlfriend I cheated on her — now she won't stop harping on about it MORE: I love watching my four partners have sex — it's more satisfying than my own orgasm MORE: Swipe right? Under 40s are more open to dating Reform voters than Tories
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dating apps mess with your hormones — and can even send libido levels plunging: study
Dating apps can put us on hormonal rollercoaster. Online dating is a gamble in more ways than one. Researchers have revealed that dating apps can monkey with our hormones, creating a chemical dependence that's on par with an addiction to games of chance — even when users swipe right. The freaky findings were part of a joint study conducted by eHarmony and the Imperial College of Business in London, UK, the Mirror reported. Scientists found that the rise in app usage — 50% of all UK couples will meet online by 2035, per the study — has brought about a disturbing phenomenon called the 'dating app' effect. This occurs when dating app devotees experience such a severe chemical imbalance that it resembles a 'chronic stress disorder and addictive behavior.' Unfortunately, this troubling phenomenon is caused by seemingly positive interactions like a psychological Trojan Horse. Hormone health expert Mike Kocsis explains that when a user gets a match or engagement, this messes with the brain's reward system pathway, eventually resulting in neurochemical dependence. Kocsis explained that this emotional rollercoaster is a result of a 'reinforcement schedule' that can be broken down into three parts: The Anticipation Phase, the Perception Phase and the Reward delivery. The Anticipation Phase occurs when users open the app and trigger a spike in the feel-good hormone dopamine. They experience a second rush when they start receiving notifications during the Perception Phase. However, users receive their greatest dose of the mood-boosting chemical during Reward Phase, which is when the user gets a match. While this initial dopamine dump might seem like a good thing, the uncertainty of getting matched prompts the user to adopt 'seeking behavior' so they can get their 'fix,' much like a gambling addict playing the slots, per the study. Similar to a casino fiend, being away from the app for prolonged periods can make the user irritable and moody, Kocsis explained. Dating app usage can paradoxically torpedo one's sex drive as well by messing with testosterone levels — a side effect that affects both sexes. A match can cause male sex hormone levels to spike by 15-20% in 20 minutes, while getting ghosted or unmatched can send testosterone production plummeting by 10-25%. The latter plunge can, in turn, cause symptoms ranging from decreased energy to reduced libido. One doesn't have to get rejected to have match-induced mood swings. Constantly awaiting feedback puts the user in a state of 'anticipatory anxiety,' where they experience elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol for several hours, which can disrupt the body's hormone and thyroid production. This isn't the first study to expose the potential detrimental effects of dating apps. A study by Austrian scientists suggested that these digital romance accelerants might prolong people's hunt for love. They found that people tend to be pickier on dating apps since they have a never-ending amount of options, appearing to give them higher expectations for their choice of a partner.
