Researchers at the University of Toronto Mississauga, led by Diana Peragine, analyzed more than 300 scientific studies and concluded that the so-called 'libido gap' between men and women is not biological or hormonal — it's learned.
The team developed the Biopsychosocial Learning and Development Model, which connects early sexual experiences with later sexual interest levels. The critical window is ages 17-18, when most people have their first romantic relationships and sexual encounters, and when the brain is most neurologically receptive to forming lasting associations.
Up to 55% of women report sexual difficulties, and according to this research, those difficulties trace back to their earliest experiences with sex. Women are disproportionately likely to experience painful sex, body insecurity, social repercussions, and physical risks (STIs, unintended pregnancies) during these formative years — creating a 'pleasure gap' rather than a 'desire gap.'
The study argues that low sexual desire in women should not automatically be treated as a hormonal imbalance or medical problem. Instead, it's a learned response to negative experiences during a critical developmental window. This reframes the entire conversation about sexual desire between partners.