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40+, insane libido and fancying younger men - where the hell was this when I needed it the last 9 years?

23 replies

Haemagoblin · 18/05/2026 15:12

So I am 41 with two primary aged kids. Breastfeeding both of them killed my previously high libido stone dead. Or so I thought. Turns out it was merely out for the count, and now about 2 years after weaning my youngest it has surged back to life. What is odd is I have always crushed on men my own age or older (Stanley Tucci an enduring crush!), and now, all of a sudden, it's men in their mid-to-late twenties/early thirties.

This feels horribly cliche - it's my hormones, right?

Side bar, while I pushed through on the sex front with partner, it was a real issue between us as our high drives had been a major plank of what kept our relationship going, so when mine fell off a cliff he had a very hard time of it. I of course thought he was a dickhead for wanting it with me when I didn't want it (along with other issues of incompatible approaches post-parenthood driving a wedge between us that we normally would have healed with sex). So our relationship has been very difficult for me this last decade, when I could really have done with us feeling close. He's very pleased the libido is back, incidentally, so that's something positive I suppose.

Me? I'm slightly angry! I mean why now, when I'm older and pretty much invisible to men, is my body deciding it's a great time to fancy loads of basically boys? Seems pretty useless and inconvenient!

Fellow 40+s - is this normal and when will it stop? And if it does, will it be another cliff-edge plunge like the breastfeeding years? Or will my drive peter out to something manageable for me but still useful to my partner? Just want to prepare as the rollercoaster ups and downs so far have taken me by surprise and I have not always recognised them for what they were (am far more educated about hormones now than I was in my late 20s/early 30s!)

OP posts:
Haemagoblin · 18/05/2026 15:21

Oh yeah and also I'm just generally all over the place with emotions. Mainly up, thank god. But like, too up. Hysterically laughing at nothing internally. Singing very loudly in the car on my own. Just filling up with this feeling of excitement about nothing. Why???

OP posts:
StarlightLady · 18/05/2026 15:43

Later 40s here and it hasn’t stopped yet. I’ve also discovered that l’m much less invisible than l thought.

EddieX20 · 03/06/2026 04:19

I don't really agree with you that you became invisible to men especially younger ones like us , it is hard to generalise but in fact , at 41 many wouldn't consider your age very old at all , and that's from my experience as an early twenties guy with age gap relationships and being with much older partners before.

Joe7t8 · 03/06/2026 09:29

If it offers any encouragement, since my early 20s I have always had a real sexual attraction to women 40+. I can’t believe I was the only one, so I’m sure that you’re not invisible to them!

mbonfield · 03/06/2026 09:33

Make the most of it now otherwise you may regret it if you lose it again. Go girl

Donthogthemiddlelane · 03/06/2026 18:23

@Haemagoblin Yes, sounds like it’s peri-menopause kicking in and the hormones are shifting. Happened to me in my mid-40’s. I’m 54 now. I didn’t notice a change in my sex drive before my periods stopped though (I was living in a boring/sexless marriage at the time though). I wasn’t bothered about sex back then but, looking back, it was who I was with.

Anyway, my periods stopped abruptly one month and never returned (aged 45), it was a few months after this that things started to happen! And, boy was I on heat!!! Led to me leaving my marriage though! My personality also changed and I became much more confident (promoted at work) and outgoing. I started to be noticed and dress differently. Crazy, but fun! I didn’t know, at the time, it was hormones! I only discovered this years later when other women started talking about hormones and reading about it on here. I would say it lasted about 2-3 years BUT my sex drive is a lot more than it used to be (9 years on). I have been with a couple of other men since My marriage ended and I realised that I hadn’t been sexually compatible with the man I married (I was very naive and ended up in a long, sexless marriage because of this).

I did a bit of questioning AI about it recently and found out that the hormones changing also affect brain chemistry so that explains why I felt like a different person (I still do, to be honest but I have calmed down a lot). Peri-menopause can hang around for 10 years before you enter menopause.

Anyway, enjoy it!!

missquickusernamechange · 03/06/2026 18:28

Can I ask why it matters if you are invisible or not to men when you do have a partner? One would assume you have sex with him only, no?

StarlightLady · 03/06/2026 22:32

missquickusernamechange · 03/06/2026 18:28

Can I ask why it matters if you are invisible or not to men when you do have a partner? One would assume you have sex with him only, no?

It goes beyond sex. People in the street try to walk through you.

missquickusernamechange · 03/06/2026 22:50

StarlightLady · 03/06/2026 22:32

It goes beyond sex. People in the street try to walk through you.

I get that. but the topic was about libido - and with that, sex.

whatacroc · 05/06/2026 02:10

Donthogthemiddlelane · 03/06/2026 18:23

@Haemagoblin Yes, sounds like it’s peri-menopause kicking in and the hormones are shifting. Happened to me in my mid-40’s. I’m 54 now. I didn’t notice a change in my sex drive before my periods stopped though (I was living in a boring/sexless marriage at the time though). I wasn’t bothered about sex back then but, looking back, it was who I was with.

Anyway, my periods stopped abruptly one month and never returned (aged 45), it was a few months after this that things started to happen! And, boy was I on heat!!! Led to me leaving my marriage though! My personality also changed and I became much more confident (promoted at work) and outgoing. I started to be noticed and dress differently. Crazy, but fun! I didn’t know, at the time, it was hormones! I only discovered this years later when other women started talking about hormones and reading about it on here. I would say it lasted about 2-3 years BUT my sex drive is a lot more than it used to be (9 years on). I have been with a couple of other men since My marriage ended and I realised that I hadn’t been sexually compatible with the man I married (I was very naive and ended up in a long, sexless marriage because of this).

I did a bit of questioning AI about it recently and found out that the hormones changing also affect brain chemistry so that explains why I felt like a different person (I still do, to be honest but I have calmed down a lot). Peri-menopause can hang around for 10 years before you enter menopause.

Anyway, enjoy it!!

interesting post as I can relate to a lot of what you've said here. particularly about the gaining confidence, personality change and starting to dress different as all this has happened to me too in peri menopause.
Im late 40s so must definitely be in peri, I found my libido suddenly reappeared about 3 years ago but only lasted around 1 year before massively dropping again unfortunately. im still having regular periods hoping my sex drive comes back with a vengeance sometime soon.

Zanatdy · 05/06/2026 02:41

Probably peri-meno - and so it will probably ease off again.

Donthogthemiddlelane · 05/06/2026 11:20

whatacroc · 05/06/2026 02:10

interesting post as I can relate to a lot of what you've said here. particularly about the gaining confidence, personality change and starting to dress different as all this has happened to me too in peri menopause.
Im late 40s so must definitely be in peri, I found my libido suddenly reappeared about 3 years ago but only lasted around 1 year before massively dropping again unfortunately. im still having regular periods hoping my sex drive comes back with a vengeance sometime soon.

It’s crazy what hormones can do! I was like a different person!

lookeelikee · 05/06/2026 11:41

When I was younger I slept with a lot of older women. They all have a place in my heart for the wonderful memories and education.

Angela59 · 06/06/2026 08:12

Be you! Be a MILF!
Pretty day dresses sexy lacy underwear, hair, make up, walk tall and confident, enjoy the attention your a long time dead x

herbetta · 06/06/2026 14:05

Haemagoblin · 18/05/2026 15:21

Oh yeah and also I'm just generally all over the place with emotions. Mainly up, thank god. But like, too up. Hysterically laughing at nothing internally. Singing very loudly in the car on my own. Just filling up with this feeling of excitement about nothing. Why???

Sounds like perimenopause.

pullupstockings · 11/06/2026 16:43

In a similar situation to OP at 49. My libido is sky-high. I think about sex all the time (not literally but it's certainly a lot), and I have also found myself noticing younger men when I've been out. The thought of any of them fancying me is quite a big turn-on for me. I also masturbate regularly. Toys are great but I am craving the real thing. I've not had casual sex before and it seems like it would be unusual to start looking for it when I'm almost 50, but there is a part of me that definitely wants to.

whatacroc · 11/06/2026 23:33

pullupstockings · 11/06/2026 16:43

In a similar situation to OP at 49. My libido is sky-high. I think about sex all the time (not literally but it's certainly a lot), and I have also found myself noticing younger men when I've been out. The thought of any of them fancying me is quite a big turn-on for me. I also masturbate regularly. Toys are great but I am craving the real thing. I've not had casual sex before and it seems like it would be unusual to start looking for it when I'm almost 50, but there is a part of me that definitely wants to.

wow wish this would happen to me. Im 48 and in quite a newish relationship and its really bothering me that my libido is so low, usually at this stage of a relationship I wouldn't have been able to keep my hands off him just a few years ago. I really miss that desire.
Can I ask are you on any HRT or anything? im currently not taking anything and think i may need something that may help revive my libido if possible.

Angela59 · 13/06/2026 07:50

Seriously ladies, there is zero guilt to be had these days in having a young lover!
Esp if it’s just FWB on your terms.
Tell em what you want! Orgasms and plenty of them!

missquickusernamechange · 13/06/2026 08:01

Angela59 · 13/06/2026 07:50

Seriously ladies, there is zero guilt to be had these days in having a young lover!
Esp if it’s just FWB on your terms.
Tell em what you want! Orgasms and plenty of them!

yeah, maybe not OP though. As she has a partner already.

Angela59 · 13/06/2026 11:54

missquickusernamechange · 13/06/2026 08:01

yeah, maybe not OP though. As she has a partner already.

Ah ok
I suppose it does happen though x

DreamyLimeWasp · 13/06/2026 12:04

Angela59 · 13/06/2026 11:54

Ah ok
I suppose it does happen though x

I totally agree that it's fine for women to pursue younger men & from experience think younger men like it just as much as the woman. However I can't condone cheating

EddieX20 · 22/06/2026 13:34

DreamyLimeWasp · 13/06/2026 12:04

I totally agree that it's fine for women to pursue younger men & from experience think younger men like it just as much as the woman. However I can't condone cheating

That's true , we totally like older women but that does not always lead to something. For me being 22 and flirting with a woman who is 45+ rarely works for me , they seem really interested until the moment they hear my age . I also agree with you about the cheating part .

EddieX20 · 22/06/2026 13:43

pullupstockings · 11/06/2026 16:43

In a similar situation to OP at 49. My libido is sky-high. I think about sex all the time (not literally but it's certainly a lot), and I have also found myself noticing younger men when I've been out. The thought of any of them fancying me is quite a big turn-on for me. I also masturbate regularly. Toys are great but I am craving the real thing. I've not had casual sex before and it seems like it would be unusual to start looking for it when I'm almost 50, but there is a part of me that definitely wants to.

Why do you think it is that unusual to start meeting people at your age for casual fun ? It isn't. You don't even need to use the usual dating sites for that , many people I know use sites Reddit for that too while being anonymous.

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