The Duration of Sex According to a Woman’s Perspective by Lisa
If you’re wondering how long sex should last, you’re not alone. Many people equate longer sex with better sex, but that’s not necessarily the case. While marathon sex sessions can be exciting, they shouldn’t be the norm. Just like indulging in sweets and ice cream, quickies can be enjoyable but shouldn’t make up the entirety of your sexual diet.
There’s no definitive answer to how long sex should last. A 2005 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine asked sex therapists for their opinions. They categorized sex into four groups: adequate, too short, too long, and desirable. They considered 1-2 minutes of penetrative vaginal sex as “too short” and 10-30 minutes as ”too long.” “Adequate” sex lasted 3-7 minutes, while desirable sex lasted 7-13 minutes.
It’s challenging to gather accurate data on the average duration of sex. Many people don’t keep track of how long they’re engaged in sexual activities. Moreover, the definition of sex can vary greatly. Some people and studies only count penetrative sex, which is a narrow and heteronormative way to measure sex. It also doesn’t reflect how most people with vaginas achieve orgasm.
When asked, most women and nonbinary individuals said they’d ideally like sex to last around five to ten minutes, with more time dedicated to foreplay. However, people often express a desire for sex to last longer than it typically does. Many people feel their answers are shorter than average, but in reality, they align with or exceed the average duration of sex, which is approximately 5.4 minutes.
Despite our insecurities about the duration of our sexual encounters, sex doesn’t usually last that long, even for those satisfied with their sex lives. A Twitter poll revealed that 82% of 819 participants have felt bored during penetrative sex. Another Twitter poll of 2,380 people who receive penetrative sex showed that most (61%) wanted penetration to last about 5-10 minutes, excluding foreplay. Only 26% wanted it to last longer than 11 minutes.
So, instead of striving for lengthy sex sessions, consider diversifying your sexual activities. The more varied the sexual acts, the more likely both partners are to orgasm. This is particularly true for women. The takeaway is that the quality of sex is more important than its duration.
Further reading:
Exploring the world of coronavirus erotica
What I learned from coronavirus porn
Managing your coronavirus dating anxieties