Can you make a relationship work despite a wide age gap? Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones enjoy a successful May-December marriage, and as for dating that younger guy — look no further than Justin and Cameron. But, celebrities aside, is age just a number when it comes to dating? And what are the pros and cons of a significantly younger or older partner?

PRO: The younger guy just reached his sexual peak.
With this guy, time in the bedroom is bound to be an adventure. Kathy, 35, who dated a man 12 years younger says, “He had stamina for days and a lack of inhibition with a “no harm, no foul, try anything” attitude. It was fantastic!”

PRO: The older guy has practice in the bedroom.
Your mature man is more likely to know exactly what he wants, both in and out of the bedroom, and has hopefully mastered the art of giving you multiple Os. Jessica, 27, who dated a guy 11 years her senior, says, “There was no awkwardness, no fumbling — everything seemed really easy from the beginning. And it was always good!”

CON: The young guy never sleeps.
If your boyfriend is new to the working world, he may not understand why partying ‘til all hours no longer fits into your lifestyle. Amy, 35, says, “I dated this younger guy and after a while, his party-all-the-time attitude got annoying. He’d call me in the middle of the night and got mad when I didn’t feel like chatting at 2 a.m.!”

CON: The older guy doesn’t know Buffy from Britney.
It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy clubbing with you, it’s just that bumping and grinding doesn’t really become him anymore. (And you should be grateful for that). Lucinda, 29, who dated a guy 13 years her senior, realized how different their pop culture worlds were when she brought him home to meet her parents. The weirdest part of their relationship? “He bonded WAAY too well with my dad over pop culture from the sixties.”

PRO: Younger men carry less baggage.
He hasn’t been hurt, had his heart broken or been mistreated by women, so he’s not yet jaded. Barbara, a woman in her 50s, agrees. “[Younger men] are sweeter and kinder — plus, they’re less selfish in bed!”

PRO: The older guy knows how to treat a lady.
This guy is done driving his parents’ old Honda, and he’s not sharing an apartment with three guys either. By now, he’s probably created a stable world filled with all the things he loves, and he’s ready to share them with you. Jennifer, 32, who married a man 14 years her senior says, “Dating an older man means dating someone your age — with better toys!”

CON: The young guy ain’t looking for a wife.
If settling down and getting hitched is what you’re looking for, just remember that those thoughts probably haven’t even entered his mind. In fact, he’s probably still trying to figure out who he is and where he’s going. And sister — if you’re already there, it’s time to move on.

CON: The older guy probably fears commitment.
If he’s still single after all these years, there must be a reason. Yes, he may not have found “the right one” yet, but seriously — why is he still single? Commitment-phobic? Emotionally stunted? You might want to check out his collection of baggage before you travel any furthe

PRO: The younger guy just reached his sexual peak.
With this guy, time in the bedroom is bound to be an adventure. Kathy, 35, who dated a man 12 years younger says, “He had stamina for days and a lack of inhibition with a “no harm, no foul, try anything” attitude. It was fantastic!”

PRO: The older guy has practice in the bedroom.
Your mature man is more likely to know exactly what he wants, both in and out of the bedroom, and has hopefully mastered the art of giving you multiple Os. Jessica, 27, who dated a guy 11 years her senior, says, “There was no awkwardness, no fumbling — everything seemed really easy from the beginning. And it was always good!”

CON: The young guy never sleeps.
If your boyfriend is new to the working world, he may not understand why partying ‘til all hours no longer fits into your lifestyle. Amy, 35, says, “I dated this younger guy and after a while, his party-all-the-time attitude got annoying. He’d call me in the middle of the night and got mad when I didn’t feel like chatting at 2 a.m.!”

CON: The older guy doesn’t know Buffy from Britney.
It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy clubbing with you, it’s just that bumping and grinding doesn’t really become him anymore. (And you should be grateful for that). Lucinda, 29, who dated a guy 13 years her senior, realized how different their pop culture worlds were when she brought him home to meet her parents. The weirdest part of their relationship? “He bonded WAAY too well with my dad over pop culture from the sixties.”

PRO: Younger men carry less baggage.
He hasn’t been hurt, had his heart broken or been mistreated by women, so he’s not yet jaded. Barbara, a woman in her 50s, agrees. “[Younger men] are sweeter and kinder — plus, they’re less selfish in bed!”

PRO: The older guy knows how to treat a lady.
This guy is done driving his parents’ old Honda, and he’s not sharing an apartment with three guys either. By now, he’s probably created a stable world filled with all the things he loves, and he’s ready to share them with you. Jennifer, 32, who married a man 14 years her senior says, “Dating an older man means dating someone your age — with better toys!”

CON: The young guy ain’t looking for a wife.
If settling down and getting hitched is what you’re looking for, just remember that those thoughts probably haven’t even entered his mind. In fact, he’s probably still trying to figure out who he is and where he’s going. And sister — if you’re already there, it’s time to move on.

CON: The older guy probably fears commitment.
If he’s still single after all these years, there must be a reason. Yes, he may not have found “the right one” yet, but seriously — why is he still single? Commitment-phobic? Emotionally stunted? You might want to check out his collection of baggage before you travel any furth

CON: The young guy never sleeps.
If your boyfriend is new to the working world, he may not understand why partying ‘til all hours no longer fits into your lifestyle. Amy, 35, says, “I dated this younger guy and after a while, his party-all-the-time attitude got annoying. He’d call me in the middle of the night and got mad when I didn’t feel like chatting at 2 a.m.!”

CON: The older guy doesn’t know Buffy from Britney.
It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy clubbing with you, it’s just that bumping and grinding doesn’t really become him anymore. (And you should be grateful for that). Lucinda, 29, who dated a guy 13 years her senior, realized how different their pop culture worlds were when she brought him home to meet her parents. The weirdest part of their relationship? “He bonded WAAY too well with my dad over pop culture from the sixties.”

PRO: Younger men carry less baggage.
He hasn’t been hurt, had his heart broken or been mistreated by women, so he’s not yet jaded. Barbara, a woman in her 50s, agrees. “[Younger men] are sweeter and kinder — plus, they’re less selfish in bed!”

PRO: The older guy knows how to treat a lady.
This guy is done driving his parents’ old Honda, and he’s not sharing an apartment with three guys either. By now, he’s probably created a stable world filled with all the things he loves, and he’s ready to share them with you. Jennifer, 32, who married a man 14 years her senior says, “Dating an older man means dating someone your age — with better toys!”

CON: The young guy ain’t looking for a wife.
If settling down and getting hitched is what you’re looking for, just remember that those thoughts probably haven’t even entered his mind. In fact, he’s probably still trying to figure out who he is and where he’s going. And sister — if you’re already there, it’s time to move on.

CON: The older guy probably fears commitment.
If he’s still single after all these years, there must be a reason. Yes, he may not have found “the right one” yet, but seriously — why is he still single? Commitment-phobic? Emotionally stunted? You might want to check out his collection of baggage before you travel any furth

PRO: Younger men carry less baggage.
He hasn’t been hurt, had his heart broken or been mistreated by women, so he’s not yet jaded. Barbara, a woman in her 50s, agrees. “[Younger men] are sweeter and kinder — plus, they’re less selfish in bed!”

PRO: The older guy knows how to treat a lady.
This guy is done driving his parents’ old Honda, and he’s not sharing an apartment with three guys either. By now, he’s probably created a stable world filled with all the things he loves, and he’s ready to share them with you. Jennifer, 32, who married a man 14 years her senior says, “Dating an older man means dating someone your age — with better toys!”

CON: The young guy ain’t looking for a wife.
If settling down and getting hitched is what you’re looking for, just remember that those thoughts probably haven’t even entered his mind. In fact, he’s probably still trying to figure out who he is and where he’s going. And sister — if you’re already there, it’s time to move on.

CON: The older guy probably fears commitment.
If he’s still single after all these years, there must be a reason. Yes, he may not have found “the right one” yet, but seriously — why is he still single? Commitment-phobic? Emotionally stunted? You might want to check out his collection of baggage before you travel any furth

CON: The young guy ain’t looking for a wife.
If settling down and getting hitched is what you’re looking for, just remember that those thoughts probably haven’t even entered his mind. In fact, he’s probably still trying to figure out who he is and where he’s going. And sister — if you’re already there, it’s time to move on.

CON: The older guy probably fears commitment.
If he’s still single after all these years, there must be a reason. Yes, he may not have found “the right one” yet, but seriously — why is he still single? Commitment-phobic? Emotionally stunted? You might want to check out his collection of baggage before you travel any further on this journey with him.

Of course, when it comes down to it, age isn’t just a number. It can also be the secret to your success. “Sometimes it can be an asset, as it was for us,” says Lucinda. “If he'd been my age it never would have worked; he'd have been a total spaz, emotionally and personality-wise. I wouldn't have been able to keep up with him in the sack. Knock a few years on there, and everything worked just fine.”