How long should penetration last

Often what is measured in research is how long penetration itself lasts. And the end point of the sex act is set at the end of penetration.

According to Jern, health professionals should ask men about their own experience of symptoms and also about how long their intercourse tends to last when assessing them for premature ejaculation. Some men do struggle to control their ejaculation over a longer period of time. They always climax in less than a minute or two, whether they want to or not, and it affects their sex life, their partner and themselves.

Jern used twin studies in his research on premature ejaculation, which showed that some heredity seems to be involved. Premature ejaculation is about as hereditary as political orientation. But whether the chicken or the egg comes first, or whether the causal relationships go both ways, is still unclear. When researchers asked couples how long they wanted the entire sex act, including foreplay, to last, both men and women responded that they would like the duration of intercourse to be longer than it usually was for them.

The study also clearly showed that men had a fairly good knowledge of what women desired. Read the Norwegian version of this article at forskning. The average length of intercourse in Europe is about eight minutes, but there are big variations, says one expert. Marianne Nordahl Journalist. May - How fast is too fast?

And what is actually normal? Patrick Jern does research on premature ejaculation. Become A Functional Nutrition Coach!

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Explore Classes. October 1, In This Article. The average duration of sex. Is there an ideal for how long sex should last? Factors that may affect how long sex lasts. Medical issues. Level of arousal. Drugs and alcohol. How you define sex. What sexual acts you do. How to last longer in bed:. Use lube. Try edging. Switch it up.

Take turns. How to reach orgasm faster. Make sure not to masturbate before partnered sex. Touch yourself during partnered sex. Focus on the clitoris. Bring in sex toys. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Does the length of a sex session matter?

How long sex lasts isn't directly correlated to how good the sex was, says Howard. Do I like the sex I'm having? Is my partner responsive to my sexual needs? What can I do to make sex better? Kelly Gonsalves is a multi-certified sex educator and relationship coach based in Brooklyn, as well as the sex and relationships editor at mindbodygreen. She has a degree in journalism More On This Topic Sex. Kelly Gonsalves. Sexual dysfunction challenges like premature ejaculation PE can cause men to climax earlier than planned and cut sex short.

PE is pretty common, affecting about 1 in 3 men ages 18 to It can result from psychological or physical factors and may be temporary or a long-term issue. Delayed ejaculation can also affect the duration of sex. Those who have this condition may need up to 30 minutes of sexual stimulation to reach orgasm, and some may not get to the Big O at all.

The condition may be related to a certain sexual situation or partner, or it may be a sign of an underlying health condition. The shape of your penis or vajayjay can affect what feels painful and what feels amazing. How you feel and what you understand about your body might also be a key component of sex duration.

A study of 1, women found that prior sex education about vaginal orgasms not just the clitoral kind was associated with reaching climax during P-in-V sex. But generally a quickie means you get to the big finish ASAP. Different positions may help different people reach climax sooner. For penetrative sex, try positions that allow deeper penetration.

Variety is the spice of life and sex. Try changing up the time and place you typically have sex to up the ante. Have sex before work or in a bed-free space.

Bathroom sex, anyone? Keeping most of your clothes on can increase the heat of the moment and sense of urgency. If getting a little spank or having your hair tugged will send you over the edge, tell your partner! Going solo or having your partner touch a new area can help you climax quickly. You might try:. Battery-operated buddies can sometimes work faster than their human counterparts. Using a vibrator or another sex toy , like a dildo or cock ring , can bring you to orgasm quickly.

Prolonging sex is possible if you try certain techniques. Here are a few suggestions to take your sex from a sprint to a marathon. Extending your foreplay may help extend your sexy time. Orgasm control , also known as edging or the start-stop technique, means being pleasured almost to the point of orgasm but then deliberately delaying the finale. While it can take some practice to master, edging can be a way to prolong sex. The squeeze technique may help delay ejaculation and is a little different than edging.