What's the Ideal Duration of Intercourse?

4.12.2012 | By: S. J.

The ideal duration of intercourse is probably much shorter than you think.

The ideal duration of intercourse is shorter than most people think. (PhotoXpress)

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Although most people today fantasise about marathon sex, a research, based on the previous findings of American sex therapists - psychologists, psychiatrists and marriage counsellors (also members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research), shows that it takes a much smaller amount of time for a satisfactory sexual intercourse than was believed.

The data on the ideal duration of intercourse (the period of time from the beginning of penetration to ejaculation) were divided into different interval groups and marked as "too short", "too long", "adequate" and "desirable". The findings have revealed that sexual intercourse lasting from 1 to 2 minutes is too short, while 10 to 30 minutes is deemed too long a duration. According to the research, the adequate amount of time for sex with penetration is 3 to 7 minutes, and the most desirable duration of intercourse is 7 to 13 minutes.

Nevertheless, a number of men and women cling to fantasies about long sexual activities. One of researches points out the high percentage of both men and women who believe that the duration of intercourse should be 30 minutes or more.

According to one of the leading researchers in the field, Eric Corty, such findings primarily reflect that the participants in the research are unsatisfied and disappointed with their sex life. "With this research, we want to break the stereotype about the duration of intercourse and encourage people with some realistic data on the acceptable amount of time for sexual intercourse, and thus prevent sexual frustration," says Corty. He wants to reassure those who burden themselves with the duration of intercourse: "These data may help such a person to get rid of their worries and they may reduce psychological disorders that have a considerable impact on the duration of intercourse itself."