How can men be in heat at any time?

In popular perception, men appear to have a stronger desire for the direct pleasure of sexual activity compared to women. It seems that they are more inclined to engage in one-night stands, which are filled with immediate excitement, rather than focusing on building stable emotional relationships. This perception might seem like a stereotype—fixed impressions shaped by mainstream societal thinking. However, Whitney Misitdin from the US AIDS Education Center and his colleagues have seemingly validated this notion through empirical research. Additionally, in the LGBTQ+ community, there are more gay men than lesbian women, yet fewer gay men have long-term partners compared to lesbian women. This could be seen as another example supporting this characteristic of men.

So, there is a more straightforward way people often describe this: men are said to “think with their lower halves.”

Why is this the case? What allows men to seemingly initiate sexual activity at any time and achieve an erection regardless of whether they are in love with their partner? This is something that many women find perplexing, and it is likely a topic that few men seriously contemplate.

It is widely known that women are selective about their sexual partners. If men were as selective as women, it is argued that the human race might not have survived the harsh living conditions of thousands of years ago and could have become extinct early on. Given the high costs of childbearing for women—nine months of pregnancy followed by over a decade of child-rearing—they are understandably very picky about their partners. They not only assess the health of potential partners but also consider their material resources and social status in order to choose the best and most reliable co-parents. This is a complex process that takes time. In contrast, men have minimal costs associated with reproduction, and their “natural mission” is to maximize the spread of their genes, which is crucial for the survival of the human species. This is the so-called “ingenious design” of nature!

The liberation of human hands freed humans from the passive position of competing for survival, allowing them to “indulge in lust when well-fed and warm.”

In the animal kingdom, all male animals are constantly fighting for survival and mating opportunities. Nature has designed them to be in heat only during a specific time of the year. For the rest of the time, they must focus on honing their hunting skills and defending themselves against predators to survive. However, human men can secure enough resources for survival in just a few hours a day. This leaves them with a lot of unused energy for thinking, feeling, and enjoying life, which creates the basis for men to be “always in the mood” in terms of time, energy, and physical strength.

In terms of brain structure, the preoptic area of the hypothalamus, which is connected to the pituitary gland, is twice as large in men as in women. This area is responsible for secreting hormones and controlling sexual thoughts and behaviors. If we imagine that the space in women’s brains for sexual thoughts and impulses is like a small car, then the space in men’s brains is like a luxury business van. As a result, men may have sexual thoughts or images every minute (as it is well-known that men are visual creatures, and even a simple picture can trigger sexual thoughts, not to mention a woman in revealing clothing on the bus). In contrast, women might only have such thoughts once a day (since women are more “sensory beings,” and sexual arousal requires a loving atmosphere). Having these thoughts does not necessarily lead to action, but men may find it easier to act on them compared to women. This is the physiological basis for men’s seemingly constant readiness for sex.

In today’s division of labor, it is undeniable that men still hold an advantageous position, which can lead to a sense of sexual superiority. Although gender equality has been advocated for many years, men still have a dominant position in economics, politics, and power. In front of women who are in lower positions or less capable, men may easily feel a sense of superiority and even use their power to obtain sex. For many men in high positions, sex is not just about the act itself but also involves a sense of “dominance” and “ownership,” which can boost their confidence and satisfaction in their masculinity. Even for men who are not in high positions, the idea that the number of women they “conquer” represents their charm and ability can also drive them to seek sexual opportunities whenever possible.

This desire to display oneself can lead men to seek sexual stimulation outside of their usual relationships. This is the social and cultural basis for men’s seemingly constant readiness for sex.

However, being in the mood is one thing, and cheating is another.

Men may have sexual thoughts countless times a day, but that does not mean they will go behind their partners’ backs to engage in actual sexual behavior. The ancient saying “let emotions arise, but be restrained by propriety” means that although people have emotions and desires, they still treat each other with respect. In modern society, this saying could be rephrased as “recognize and accept your urges, but also take responsibility for your actions.”ks to engage in actual sexual behavior. The ancient saying “let emotions arise, but be restrained by propriety” means that although people have emotions and desires, they still treat each other with respect. In modern society, this saying could be rephrased as “recognize and accept your urges, but also take responsibility for your actions.”