The study discovered that on average women aged 45 to 60 have sex 4.5 times a month, compared to 10.4 times a month in their 20s and 30s.

When asked at what age they had felt most sexy, the average was 34.

Makes sense to me, although "average" doesn't really tell you much. The spread is probably pretty wide. Woman at 34 are still quite attractive, and many are married, or into their second "improved" marriage. But what's this? Another poll conducted by another cosmetics company, Bodyform Deo-Fresh, found that it really goes downhill from there.

Most women suffer a crisis of confidence around the age of 44, the research suggests, and then another just four years later as they edge closer to 50.

More than 75 per cent of women questioned said they felt sexier when they were confident and 62 per cent also believe men are far more attracted to a woman who exudes confidence.

The spokesman said: "It appears that for most women teenage angst begins to fade with confidence peaking at 18.

"This dips significantly through the supposedly carefree 20s when doubts about careers and relationships can cause a wobble, before confidence rises again around 30."

According to the survey, the 30s can be a roller-coaster decade for women's confidence, which peaks again at 40 before drastically falling off.

The headline for that newspaper report read "Women feel that 'life is over' at the age of 44". Whatever happened to "Life begins at 40"? What the hell is wrong with these women?

You want my opinion? I have a circle of female friends who are close to my age. Some I've known for many years, some are internet friends, and some I've only met in the past few years. I can't imagine finding any meaning in averaging anything about them. We are all shaped by our life events, and the older we get, the more we've learned from them. Confidence and sexiness are not something that just grows or wanes as we age. A woman's inner personality determines whether she learns and grows from experience, or becomes bitter with it, but those experiences vary so much and have such an effect that you can't lump them together and find an average older woman anywhere.

These are things that can make a woman feel confident and sexy:

She is attractive and knows it. No wonder confidence peaks at 18.

She has a man (or more than one) who admires and desires her. Treat her well and she'll stay sexy enough.

She looks forward to some future goal or dream. Things are only going to get better.

She has focused her life on something else that brings her real joy. Circumstances only shape your happiness if you let them.

I feel particularly sorry for the women who said life was over at 44. No doubt, some of those woman are not yet 44 and are going by what they see around them. Maybe they'll change their minds when they get there. I was widowed at 45, and if they'd asked me those questions, I would have probably said that yeah, it's all downhill from here. You've heard my jokes about not having a date for years running. But now I'm 50. I had seriously given up on sexiness or having anything to do with men when whats-his-name walked in. He not only tells me why he wouldn't consider a younger woman over what he sees in me, but shows me by being a real man about it.

So I'm feeling particularly sexy these days. That's how you do it.

PS. I apologize for the lack of a punch line. I'm sure you can add one in the comments.