Research Shows The Actual Amount Of Time That Sex Should Last

It’s safe to say that not every person you sleep with is going to perform the same way. While some people seem to last an eternity in bed, others are done after a few minutes. But how can you know what the average amount of time you should be having sex is? Up until now, there was really no way of knowing. But now, scientists have done some research and have been able to pinpoint just how long the average couple has sexual intercourse for. Read on to find out where you fall on spectrum!

Sex. While adult films might make it seem like sex is supposed to be an all day marathon session, the reality is, sex normally lasts anywhere from 33 seconds to 44 minutes, according to psychologist Dr. Brendan Zietsch. So don’t feel bad if your sex sessions are typically done before an episode of Friends is over because it’s completely normal!

Study. According to the Daily Mail UK, the average amount of time couples spent having sex was 5.4 minutes. These results come from a study done by Zietsch and his team of researchers, where they had 500 couples time themselves having sex with a stopwatch. They hit start the minute penis entered vagina, and end the second of completion.

Results. Because the range of time these couples reported having sex was so wide, researchers determined that there was really no “normal” amount of time to have sex. Instead, they concluded that the median was 5.4 minutes based on this particular group of couples. Interestingly enough, whether a man used a condom and if he was circumcised or not didn’t affect how long sex lasted.

Time. “Very few people have intercourse per se [Latin for by thrust] that goes longer than 12 minutes," sex therapist Barry W. McCarthy told Esquire. Zietsch and his team also noticed that the older the couple having sex, the shorter the amount of time it lasted. So why exactly does sex last for as long as it does? The truth is, researchers don’t really have an answer.

Theory. While there’s no solid reason why people have sex for as long as they do, Zietsch has a theory that a man’s penis is shaped in a way that they’ll be able to “scoop out” previous sperm in a woman’s vagina. By taking out that sperm and replacing it with his own, he’s essentially guaranteeing that his sperm will have a better chance of getting to the egg. This procedure takes several “thrusts” if you will, which is why men spend as much time as they do during sex.

Evolution. Other researchers have noted in their studies that men might have evolved over time to last longer than they actually do, and just a few decades ago, the average amount of time that men lasted was around two minutes. “But more recent studies have reported a median time of between 5.4 and 7.5 minutes — suggesting that men may be adapting their sexual behavior to better fit the social ideal,” says Rachel Hills, author of The Sex Myth, as reported by NY Mag.

Society. Nowadays, Hills explains that it’s not exactly socially acceptable for men to last anywhere less than five minutes. So why exactly has it become expected for men to last longer? Because women have begun speaking out about their own personal satisfaction for the first time in decades.

Orgasms. Women are now becoming more open about their sexuality and are willing to speak up when they haven’t reached orgasm. Because it usually takes women longer to orgasm, men are required to last longer too. Typically, a man who finishes first is considered a “premature ejaculator”, reports NY Mag.

No real results. It’s safe to say that we might never know just how long sex is supposed to last. For one, the aforementioned study with Zietsch only included heterosexual couples, so sex could last longer or shorter for same sex couples. The study also didn’t include foreplay and was only based off of actual penetration.

Foreplay. Another study was done in 2012 at the University of New Brunswick where researchers did include foreplay as part of the study. The study consisted of asking the participants how long they would consider an ideal amount of time spent on foreplay, as well as the actual act of sex itself.

More time. According to NY Mag, the average amount of time spent of foreplay was anywhere from 11 to 13 minutes, while sex lasted between seven to eight minutes. However, the participants noted that they would have wanted the intercourse to last at least double the amount of time that it actually did. Yikes.

Lasting longer. Women reported wanting to spend more time on foreplay, while men wanted more time having intercourse. So what can you do to make sex last longer? According to McCarthy, you can learn to “slow things down” by essentially, masturbating more often.

Switch it up. Aside from masturbation, you can also try switching up positions or spending more time on foreplay in order to make things last longer. Speed also matters, so try slowing things down instead of just jackhammering away.

Communicate. Remember, at the end of the day the way you have sex is all about sexual preference. And if you’re really worried about how you’re performing, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask your partner!

You. Were you surprised at the average amount of time people spend having sex? Where did you fall on the spectrum? Let us know what you thought!