75% of men reported increased stress in December and difficulties enjoying their own pleasure

The date of December 1 was chosen to celebrate the first edition of Male Libido Day, an unprecedented initiative by a digital publication aimed at an adult male audience, Revista Bella da Semana, which has been tracking the behavior of so-called radical men for more than two decades. The decision comes based on internal data on the profile of readers and the observation that despite speaking openly about topics such as beauty, body and masculinity, many men still avoid addressing issues related to their own desires.

This movement is also supported by surveys conducted by the International Stress Management Association in Brazil (ISMA-BR), which show that Brazilians’ stress levels can increase by up to 75% in December. According to the experts cited by the entity, emotional stress, professional overload and accumulated expectations at the end of the year are factors that directly interfere with well-being and affect male libido.

For CEO Alexander Pechin, setting the date reflects a scenario that has already been observed for years by the editorial team. He states that male audiences talk about masculinity and conquest normally, but show difficulty when it comes to insecurity, desire, and low libido. As he puts it, “The root man has always been seen as strong and assertive, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel pressure. Sexual desire changes with routine, stress and anxiety. Setting this date is a way to legitimize a topic that many experience, but almost no one acknowledges.”

This movement is also supported by surveys conducted by the International Stress Management Association in Brazil (ISMA-BR), which show that stress levels in Brazilians can increase by up to 75% in December - Image: Disclosure — This movement is also supported by surveys conducted by the International Stress Management Association in Brazil (ISMA-BR), which show that stress levels in Brazilians can increase by up to 75% in December – Image: Disclosure

The choice to start the date specifically on December 1 is linked to the dynamics of male behavior at the end of the year. It’s a period that heralds weeks of greater stress, overcommitments and mental exhaustion, elements that align with what the magazine observes among its readers. The proposal for the new appointment is to acknowledge this context and open an annual space to discuss the role of sexual desire as part of adult men’s emotional and sexual health.

The initiative aims to bring experts and readers together, updating the conversation around masculinity, desire and self-care every year, always using direct and taboo-free language. For the creators, turning December 1 into Male Libido Day is a way to include a topic on the calendar that has historically been excluded from discussions of men’s health.