Do relationships come with an expiration date? Apparently, they do if you’re Leonardo DiCaprio. While the once-boyishly handsome “Titanic” star ages like an avocado in the sun, there’s still no room on the raft once his girlfriends hit 25. For the love of Vassarette, I have bras older than most of the women he dates.

For those who think the old lady doth protest too much, consider this: A study in Psychology Today reported that 64% of men want a younger partner vs. just 17% of women.

No one makes a peep about Donald Trump having a wife 24 years his junior. Yet French president Emmanuel Macron having a wife 24 years his senior generates endless commentary.

When men date women who are much younger, they’re considered legends with trophies. When women date men much younger — or older, for that matter — they’re called cougars or gold diggers. It is most definitely not a judgment-free zone. And it’s no surprise. These assumptions are part of the way we’re taught to think about love and relationships — and who gets a free pass.

My friend S. is in love with a man 23 years younger.

“He’s from a different country, culture and tax bracket,” she says. “But meeting him has been the most beautiful experience of my life. Why would anyone want to piss on that?”

And yet, they do.

“One of my friends told me I should know very well that it’s an impossible situation that will never work,” she says. Even her own sister told her she was crazy.

But S. believes that a relationship doesn’t necessarily have to have a future to have value.

“I’m not running off and getting married and living happily ever after — because the future remains to be seen,” she says. “But our souls don’t know numbers. They know love and joy.” 

True connection is rarely logical in the Mr. Spock sense. As S. points out, it can transcend language, culture, experience — and still work. But even she was skeptical of that connection at first.

When she told him she was too old for him, he looked at her and said, “Do you feel old? Did I make you feel old?”

She shook her head no.

He waved his hand and said, “Then never speak to me of this again.”

Even with that kind of reassurance, S. felt insecure.

“I was self-conscious of my body, like he would have appreciated me more when I was younger,” she says. “I felt like he was getting a lesser version of me.”

That’s just the thing. Aging changes more than our physical appearance. It challenges our notion of our own personal value. Our desirability. That is, until someone sees us as we are — filled with our own vulnerabilities and doubt. And loves us anyway.

While S. found her younger man by chance, my other friend J., in her late 40s, seeks them out. She has no problem attracting men of any age — though she prefers men in their late 20s.

“They’re from a different generation,” she says. “I just find them to be generally more expressive emotionally and way more empathetic than guys my own age.”

S. agrees.

“My ex was older than me and it bothered me that he always suppressed his feelings,” she says. “My younger boyfriend doesn’t.”

And then there’s the sex. Even Charlize Theron, who’s just shy of 50, had this to say on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast: “I did just … a 26-year-old and it was … amazing.”

The assumption may be that older women aren’t into sex. But research shows they’re actually more assertive, more confident and just as, ermmm, excitable as their younger partners.

As one of my friends says, “I find that younger guys are more open,” leaving space for her to explore her own boundaries and fantasies.

When my ex and I split 10 years ago, I experienced my own internalized ageism. I was convinced no one would want this older version of me. But it didn’t take long to see how different it was than dating in my 20s — when women were told they’d have a better chance of being killed by a terrorist bullet than being married past the age of 30. Back then, dating had an end game that involved a husband, a house and maybe a few kids.

Now it was different. And not so much about finding a man, but finding out who I am on my own — on my own terms. When I was ready to start dating again, I was living in Paris where younger men actually love the experience and confidence of older women.

Brigitte Macron aside, there was none of the stigma like there is here in the States. I found that I could actually date like a dude. Which meant it could be more about being in the moment, less about a lifetime of commitment.

As my friend S. points out, “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But if we didn’t explore and follow our hearts, how lonely and sad life would be.”

Does knowing what we want and following our bliss make us cougars? If it does, then, honey, hand me my spots and pop the Veuve. Joy gets better with age.