Gender Differences in Sexually Active Life Expectancy in France
4 affiliations
- 1Inserm—Soins Primaires et Prévention, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health Villejuif France
- 2Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore Maryland USA
- 3IRIS, Inserm/EHESS/CNRS Aubervilliers France
- 4Centre Max Weber (CMW) ENS de Lyon Lyon France
Abstract
Introduction: A life course perspective on sexual activity is gaining attention due to increased longevity and the relationship between health and sexual behavior. Building on Lindau's and Gavrilova's concept of sexually active life expectancy, we examine how including non‐partnered sexual behaviors and satisfaction influences sexual life expectancy by gender in France.
Methods: We estimate sexually active life expectancy using Sullivan's method, which integrates life table data from the 2023 vital registration with sexual activity prevalence from the CSF‐2023 French national survey. We also calculate a quality‐adjusted sexually active life expectancy that accounts for sexual satisfaction. Finally, we identify sociodemographic and health factors related to having a satisfying sexual activite life among individuals aged 50–89.
Results: A 20–24‐year‐old man has a sexually active life expectancy of 47.1 years, compared to 44.5 years for a woman. This figure expands to 52.9 years for men and 48.9 years for women when including masturbation. The gender gap narrows when considering sexual satisfaction, with men losing 11 years and women 8 years of sexual life expectancy due to poor sexual satisfaction. Among individuals aged 50–89, the gender gap in being sexually active and satisfied narrows from OR = 0.64 [0.57–0.72] after adjusting for age to OR = 0.76 [0.67–0.87] after further adjustments for partnership status, health, and sociodemographics.
Conclusion: This study enhances population‐level indicators of sexual health by broadening the understanding of sexuality beyond partnered behaviors. It reveals significant gender differences in sexual experiences throughout the life course, which lessen when considering sexual quality.
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BibTeX
@article{moreau2026gender,
title = {{Gender Differences in Sexually Active Life Expectancy in France}},
author = {Caroline Moreau and Lena Pamboutzoglou and Antoine Sireyjol and Nathalie Bajos},
journal = {Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1111/psrh.70076},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/psrh.70076},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gender Differences in Sexually Active Life Expectancy in France
AU - Caroline Moreau
AU - Lena Pamboutzoglou
AU - Antoine Sireyjol
AU - Nathalie Bajos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
DO - 10.1111/psrh.70076
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/psrh.70076
AB - Introduction: A life course perspective on sexual activity is gaining attention due to increased longevity and the relationship between health and sexual behavior. Building on Lindau's and Gavrilova's concept of sexually active life expectancy, we examine how including non‐partnered sexual behaviors and satisfaction influences sexual life expectancy by gender in France. Methods: We estimate sexually active life expectancy using Sullivan's method, which integrates life table data from the 2023 vital registration with sexual activity prevalence from the CSF‐2023 French national survey. We also calculate a quality‐adjusted sexually active life expectancy that accounts for sexual satisfaction. Finally, we identify sociodemographic and health factors related to having a satisfying sexual activite life among individuals aged 50–89. Results: A 20–24‐year‐old man has a sexually active life expectancy of 47.1 years, compared to 44.5 years for a woman. This figure expands to 52.9 years for men and 48.9 years for women when including masturbation. The gender gap narrows when considering sexual satisfaction, with men losing 11 years and women 8 years of sexual life expectancy due to poor sexual satisfaction. Among individuals aged 50–89, the gender gap in being sexually active and satisfied narrows from OR = 0.64 [0.57–0.72] after adjusting for age to OR = 0.76 [0.67–0.87] after further adjustments for partnership status, health, and sociodemographics. Conclusion: This study enhances population‐level indicators of sexual health by broadening the understanding of sexuality beyond partnered behaviors. It reveals significant gender differences in sexual experiences throughout the life course, which lessen when considering sexual quality.
SN - 1538-6341
SN - 1931-2393
ER -