Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLife ExpectancyHealthcareAppearanceSex HormonesSexual FunctionBrain AgingOther FactorsCentenarians and AgingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Life Expectancy
Healthcare
Appearance
Sex Hormones
Sexual Function
Brain Aging
Other Factors
Centenarians and Aging
Frequently Asked Questions
Females, overall, live longer than males. But who ages faster? Who agesbetter? A lot of variables go into life expectancy and how you look, feel, and function as you age.
This article explores the differences in aging between the two most common sexes, considering life expectancy, appearance, healthcare use, hormones, sexual function, and brain aging.
MoMo Productions / Stone / Getty Images
Beyond Male and FemaleSex and gender exist on spectrums. However, the studies cited in this article have looked only at cisgender (cis) males and cis females. It’s difficult to extrapolate from them how being transgender or elsewhere on the sex/gender spectrum would affect your life expectancy, overall health, and experience of aging—especially if you’ve had hormone therapy and/or fully transitioned.
Beyond Male and Female
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. However, the studies cited in this article have looked only at cisgender (cis) males and cis females. It’s difficult to extrapolate from them how being transgender or elsewhere on the sex/gender spectrum would affect your life expectancy, overall health, and experience of aging—especially if you’ve had hormone therapy and/or fully transitioned.
It’s a simple fact that, almost everywhere in the world, females live longer than males. Experts have different theories for this.
One theory is that males die younger because they often participate in more dangerous activities and tend to have more dangerous occupations, like being in the armed forces. Statistically, that explains some, but not all, of the differences.
Another theory is that females are more likely to go to healthcare providers for preventive care or when something might be wrong. That means their medical problems may be diagnosed earlier, giving them a better chance of recovering.
If this theory is accurate, seeing their healthcare providers more often may help males live longer.
Cancer ScreeningsRegardless of your biological sex, you needscreening for cancers that affect your reproductive organs. Thetool at Healthfinder.govshows which tests are recommended for you.
Cancer Screenings
Regardless of your biological sex, you needscreening for cancers that affect your reproductive organs. Thetool at Healthfinder.govshows which tests are recommended for you.
It’s a stereotype that men age “better” than women. However, there is some science behind this.
It has to do withcollagen, a protein found in skin and connective tissues. It’s what makes your skin elastic, which is associated with how young you look. The human body loses collagen as it ages, which is why skin takes on a different appearance.
Males lose collagen earlier and more consistently throughout life. Females tend to keep more until menopause, when they lose it at a dramatic rate.
So while males slowly, gradually look older, females experience a more sudden, marked change in how old they look.
Androgens
Male hormones are called androgens. The primary androgen—testosterone—helps regulate muscle mass, bone mass, and overall physical function. As it drops off, you naturally become weaker and less able to perform physical feats. Lower testosterone is also tied to:
Additionally, it can contribute to chronic conditions such as:
The more testosterone levels drop in males, the shorter their lifespan.
In females, androgens play a role in the production of estrogens, which are the primary female hormones. So declining androgen levels lead to declining estrogen levels. They’re also linked to:
Researchers still have much to learn about the role of testosterone on female health.
Estrogens
For most of their lives, females have about four times more estrogens than males.
In females, estrogens are responsible for:
In males and females, estrogens:
All of these functions decline as estrogen production drops. In males, that happens gradually. Meanwhile, during the first year of menopause, females lose about 80% of their estrogen production.
Once again, males steadily experience the effects of advancing age while post-menopausal females take a dramatic step.
Given the close ties between sex hormones and sexual function, it should come as no surprise that male sexuality changes slowly while female sexuality changes significantly after menopause.
The common belief that male sexuality peaks at 18 and female sexuality peaks much later is true. Male testosterone levels are highest at 18 and then steadily drop for the next several decades.
For females, sexual desire increases just before estrogen levels (and fertility) begin to drop. This generally starts in the late 20s and continues until perimenopause (the hormonal shift that happens before menstrual cycles stop), which is generally in the 30s or 40s.
Males and females both see drops in sexual interest in their 50s because of physical changes due largely to hormones. That can lead to:
Even so, sex drive and sexual function generally remain strong through the 50s.For many people, serious declines in sexual desire and performance come in their 60s or later.
Importance of SexIn one study, 40% of woman over 60 had a low sex drive but still said sex was an important aspect of their lives.
Importance of Sex
In one study, 40% of woman over 60 had a low sex drive but still said sex was an important aspect of their lives.
What to Expect From Your Sex Life as You Age
Brain aging is also different for males and females. Everyone’s brain shrinks with age, and the brain’s metabolism slows down, as well.
In both cases, changes appear to happen faster to the male brain. According to a 2019 study, the average male brain is about three years older, in functional terms, than the average female brain.
Cognitive impairment appears to have different causal factors for males and females, as well. It’s more common in men who:
It’s more common in females who:
While researchers can make these generalities, they note that the course of natural brain aging varies significantly from one person to the next.
Many other factors affect your lifespan plus how you look, feel, and function as you age. They include:
People who live to the age of 100 or beyond are called centenarians. Studies suggest females are more likely than males to live that long.
Among centenarians, research has found some sex-based differences:
Males who make it to 100 are much more likely to have escaped age-related health issues, while female centenarians appear better able to endure long-term illness.
Summary
When it comes to different aspects of aging, males fare better in some regards and females do better in others.
Females tend to have longer lives (even making it to 100 more often), a “younger” brain age, and more frequent visits to healthcare providers, which may mean diagnosing illnesses earlier.
In appearance and sexual function, males tend to have slow, gradual declines. Females tend to have rapid declines after menopause.
Many factors influence how you age. Some of them are out of your control, such as genetics and declining hormone levels. Others—including nutrition, lifestyle, and environment—you may be able to change.
Frequently Asked QuestionsMales tend to hold on to a more youthful appearance longer than females. This is because they lose collagen—a protein in skin that keeps it hydrated and elastic—more gradually.Learn MoreCollagen SupplementsIn the United States, females live around five years longer than males. According to the National Vital Statistics System, females' life expectancy is 80.2 years, while males' is 74.8 years.Learn MoreHow Healthy Life Expectancy Is CalculatedResearchers believe behavior and hormones play a role in lifespan differences. For example, males are statistically more likely than females to smoke and engage in other risky behaviors. In addition, higher estrogen levels may help females combat heart disease and higher cholesterol levels.Learn More10 Simple Steps to Increase Life Expectancy
Males tend to hold on to a more youthful appearance longer than females. This is because they lose collagen—a protein in skin that keeps it hydrated and elastic—more gradually.Learn MoreCollagen Supplements
Males tend to hold on to a more youthful appearance longer than females. This is because they lose collagen—a protein in skin that keeps it hydrated and elastic—more gradually.
Learn MoreCollagen Supplements
In the United States, females live around five years longer than males. According to the National Vital Statistics System, females' life expectancy is 80.2 years, while males' is 74.8 years.Learn MoreHow Healthy Life Expectancy Is Calculated
In the United States, females live around five years longer than males. According to the National Vital Statistics System, females' life expectancy is 80.2 years, while males' is 74.8 years.
Learn MoreHow Healthy Life Expectancy Is Calculated
Researchers believe behavior and hormones play a role in lifespan differences. For example, males are statistically more likely than females to smoke and engage in other risky behaviors. In addition, higher estrogen levels may help females combat heart disease and higher cholesterol levels.Learn More10 Simple Steps to Increase Life Expectancy
Researchers believe behavior and hormones play a role in lifespan differences. For example, males are statistically more likely than females to smoke and engage in other risky behaviors. In addition, higher estrogen levels may help females combat heart disease and higher cholesterol levels.
Learn More10 Simple Steps to Increase Life Expectancy
10 Simple Steps to Increase Your Life Expectancy
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Health Statistics.Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2022. November 2023.Kelsey TW, Li LQ, Mitchell RT, Whelan A, Anderson RA, Wallace WH.A validated age-related normative model for male total testosterone shows increasing variance but no decline after age 40 years[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0117674].PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109346. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109346Easton JA, Confer JC, Goetz CD, Buss DM.Reproduction expediting: Sexual motivations, fantasies, and the ticking biological clock.Personality and Individual Differences. 2010;49(5):516-520. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.018Kalra G, Subramanyam A, Pinto C.Sexuality: desire, activity and intimacy in the elderly.Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53(4):300-306. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.91902Delamater J.Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis.J Sex Res. 2012;49(2-3):125-41. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.603168Tufts Medical Center.Aging and sex drive.Goyal MS, Blazey TM, Su Y, et al.Persistent metabolic youth in the aging female brain[published correction appears in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 12;116(11):5198].Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(8):3251-3255. doi:10.1073/pnas.1815917116Espeland MA, Carmichael O, Yasar S, et al.Sex-related differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes.Alzheimers Dement. 2018;14(9):1184–1192. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.05.015Fu C, Li Z, Mao Z.Association between social activities and cognitive function among the elderly in China: A cross-sectional study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):231. Published 2018 Jan 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020231Ren J, Zhang Y.Genetics and epigenetics in aging and longevity: Myths and truths.Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019;1865(7):1715-1717. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.005Roberts SB, Silver RE, Das SK, et al.Healthy aging-nutrition matters: Start early and screen often[published correction appears in Adv Nutr. 2021 Jul 30;12(4):1597-1598].Adv Nutr. 2021;12(4):1438-1448. doi:10.1093/advances/nmab032Dominguez LJ, Veronese N, Vernuccio L, et al.Nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4080. Published 2021 Nov 15. doi:10.3390/nu13114080Bektas A, Schurman SH, Sen R, Ferrucci L.Aging, inflammation and the environment.Exp Gerontol. 2018;105:10-18. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.015Evert J, Lawler E, Bogan H, Perls T.Morbidity profiles of centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003;58(3):232-7. doi:10.1093/gerona/58.3.M232Population Reference Bureau.Around the globe, women outlive men.Additional ReadingHorstman AM, Dillon EL, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M.The role of androgens and estrogens on healthy aging and longevity.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012;67(11):1140-1152. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls068
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Health Statistics.Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2022. November 2023.Kelsey TW, Li LQ, Mitchell RT, Whelan A, Anderson RA, Wallace WH.A validated age-related normative model for male total testosterone shows increasing variance but no decline after age 40 years[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0117674].PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109346. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109346Easton JA, Confer JC, Goetz CD, Buss DM.Reproduction expediting: Sexual motivations, fantasies, and the ticking biological clock.Personality and Individual Differences. 2010;49(5):516-520. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.018Kalra G, Subramanyam A, Pinto C.Sexuality: desire, activity and intimacy in the elderly.Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53(4):300-306. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.91902Delamater J.Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis.J Sex Res. 2012;49(2-3):125-41. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.603168Tufts Medical Center.Aging and sex drive.Goyal MS, Blazey TM, Su Y, et al.Persistent metabolic youth in the aging female brain[published correction appears in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 12;116(11):5198].Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(8):3251-3255. doi:10.1073/pnas.1815917116Espeland MA, Carmichael O, Yasar S, et al.Sex-related differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes.Alzheimers Dement. 2018;14(9):1184–1192. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.05.015Fu C, Li Z, Mao Z.Association between social activities and cognitive function among the elderly in China: A cross-sectional study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):231. Published 2018 Jan 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020231Ren J, Zhang Y.Genetics and epigenetics in aging and longevity: Myths and truths.Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019;1865(7):1715-1717. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.005Roberts SB, Silver RE, Das SK, et al.Healthy aging-nutrition matters: Start early and screen often[published correction appears in Adv Nutr. 2021 Jul 30;12(4):1597-1598].Adv Nutr. 2021;12(4):1438-1448. doi:10.1093/advances/nmab032Dominguez LJ, Veronese N, Vernuccio L, et al.Nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4080. Published 2021 Nov 15. doi:10.3390/nu13114080Bektas A, Schurman SH, Sen R, Ferrucci L.Aging, inflammation and the environment.Exp Gerontol. 2018;105:10-18. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.015Evert J, Lawler E, Bogan H, Perls T.Morbidity profiles of centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003;58(3):232-7. doi:10.1093/gerona/58.3.M232Population Reference Bureau.Around the globe, women outlive men.Additional ReadingHorstman AM, Dillon EL, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M.The role of androgens and estrogens on healthy aging and longevity.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012;67(11):1140-1152. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls068
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Health Statistics.Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2022. November 2023.Kelsey TW, Li LQ, Mitchell RT, Whelan A, Anderson RA, Wallace WH.A validated age-related normative model for male total testosterone shows increasing variance but no decline after age 40 years[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0117674].PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109346. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109346Easton JA, Confer JC, Goetz CD, Buss DM.Reproduction expediting: Sexual motivations, fantasies, and the ticking biological clock.Personality and Individual Differences. 2010;49(5):516-520. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.018Kalra G, Subramanyam A, Pinto C.Sexuality: desire, activity and intimacy in the elderly.Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53(4):300-306. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.91902Delamater J.Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis.J Sex Res. 2012;49(2-3):125-41. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.603168Tufts Medical Center.Aging and sex drive.Goyal MS, Blazey TM, Su Y, et al.Persistent metabolic youth in the aging female brain[published correction appears in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 12;116(11):5198].Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(8):3251-3255. doi:10.1073/pnas.1815917116Espeland MA, Carmichael O, Yasar S, et al.Sex-related differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes.Alzheimers Dement. 2018;14(9):1184–1192. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.05.015Fu C, Li Z, Mao Z.Association between social activities and cognitive function among the elderly in China: A cross-sectional study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):231. Published 2018 Jan 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020231Ren J, Zhang Y.Genetics and epigenetics in aging and longevity: Myths and truths.Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019;1865(7):1715-1717. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.005Roberts SB, Silver RE, Das SK, et al.Healthy aging-nutrition matters: Start early and screen often[published correction appears in Adv Nutr. 2021 Jul 30;12(4):1597-1598].Adv Nutr. 2021;12(4):1438-1448. doi:10.1093/advances/nmab032Dominguez LJ, Veronese N, Vernuccio L, et al.Nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4080. Published 2021 Nov 15. doi:10.3390/nu13114080Bektas A, Schurman SH, Sen R, Ferrucci L.Aging, inflammation and the environment.Exp Gerontol. 2018;105:10-18. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.015Evert J, Lawler E, Bogan H, Perls T.Morbidity profiles of centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003;58(3):232-7. doi:10.1093/gerona/58.3.M232Population Reference Bureau.Around the globe, women outlive men.
National Center for Health Statistics.Provisional life expectancy estimates for 2022. November 2023.
Kelsey TW, Li LQ, Mitchell RT, Whelan A, Anderson RA, Wallace WH.A validated age-related normative model for male total testosterone shows increasing variance but no decline after age 40 years[published correction appears in PLoS One. 2015;10(2):e0117674].PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109346. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109346
Easton JA, Confer JC, Goetz CD, Buss DM.Reproduction expediting: Sexual motivations, fantasies, and the ticking biological clock.Personality and Individual Differences. 2010;49(5):516-520. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2010.05.018
Kalra G, Subramanyam A, Pinto C.Sexuality: desire, activity and intimacy in the elderly.Indian J Psychiatry. 2011;53(4):300-306. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.91902
Delamater J.Sexual expression in later life: a review and synthesis.J Sex Res. 2012;49(2-3):125-41. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.603168
Tufts Medical Center.Aging and sex drive.
Goyal MS, Blazey TM, Su Y, et al.Persistent metabolic youth in the aging female brain[published correction appears in Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 12;116(11):5198].Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(8):3251-3255. doi:10.1073/pnas.1815917116
Espeland MA, Carmichael O, Yasar S, et al.Sex-related differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment among overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes.Alzheimers Dement. 2018;14(9):1184–1192. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.05.015
Fu C, Li Z, Mao Z.Association between social activities and cognitive function among the elderly in China: A cross-sectional study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(2):231. Published 2018 Jan 30. doi:10.3390/ijerph15020231
Ren J, Zhang Y.Genetics and epigenetics in aging and longevity: Myths and truths.Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019;1865(7):1715-1717. doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.005
Roberts SB, Silver RE, Das SK, et al.Healthy aging-nutrition matters: Start early and screen often[published correction appears in Adv Nutr. 2021 Jul 30;12(4):1597-1598].Adv Nutr. 2021;12(4):1438-1448. doi:10.1093/advances/nmab032
Dominguez LJ, Veronese N, Vernuccio L, et al.Nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors in the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4080. Published 2021 Nov 15. doi:10.3390/nu13114080
Bektas A, Schurman SH, Sen R, Ferrucci L.Aging, inflammation and the environment.Exp Gerontol. 2018;105:10-18. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.015
Evert J, Lawler E, Bogan H, Perls T.Morbidity profiles of centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003;58(3):232-7. doi:10.1093/gerona/58.3.M232
Population Reference Bureau.Around the globe, women outlive men.
Horstman AM, Dillon EL, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M.The role of androgens and estrogens on healthy aging and longevity.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012;67(11):1140-1152. doi:10.1093/gerona/gls068
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