Ticking biological clock increases women’s libido, says study

By Sola Ogundipe
As more Nigerian women and their counterparts the world overb wait until their 30s and 40s to have children, they are more willing to engage in a variety of sexual activities to capitalise on their remaining childbearing years, according to new research by psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin.

In a report published in the Breakthrough Didest Medical Research, it is said that “Such “reproduction expediting” includes one-night stands and adventurous bedroom behavior, the research shows.

In a paper published in the July edition of Personality and Individual Differences, psychology graduates found that women age 27-45 have a heightened sex drive in response to their dwindling fertility.

In the study the researchers split 827 women into three groups: high fertility (ages18-26), low fertility (ages 27-45), and menopausal (ages 46 and up). The respondents answered an online questionnaire about their sexual attitudes and behaviour.

Compared with the other groups, women with low fertility were more likely to experience frequent sexual fantasies; thoughts about sexual activities; more intense sexual fantasies than their younger counterparts; a more active sex life and willingness to have a one-night stand and a willingness to have casual sex

Contrary to predictions, researchers found that when comparing low and high fertility women who were in relationships, the older, less fertile group did not fantasize more about someone other than their current romantic partners. Instead they fantasized equally about their significant others and other romantic partners.

With more women having children past their peak childbearing years, is believed the research will have implications on reproductive and sexual health issues, such as fertility, sexual dysfunction and marital development.

Findings suggest that women don’t need to necessarily go ‘baby crazy’ in their 30s or go around thinking they’re supposed to be having a ’sexual peak,’Results suggest there is nothing special about the 30s, but that instead these behaviours manifest in all women with declining fertility. It may be more difficult to conceive past the age of 35, but research suggests women’s psychology will continue to motivate them to try until menopause.”