Study reveals how long sex should really last and at what point it becomes too long

By admin 28.12.2025 3 min read

Every couple is completely different, from their ideal date night to shared jokes, every pair has their own way of handling things in the bedroom.

Sex can look different for each person, but one variable that tends to come up in conversation is how long intercourse lasts.

While we’ve all been led to believe that the longer the better, this may not actually be the case.

According to a study, there is a recommended length of time for sex and a specific time which is considered far too lengthy.

The study, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine and conducted by sex therapists, found that intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) – the duration of a typical intercourse session – lasts between three and 13 minutes on average.

Once the researchers had worked out their average time range, they then looked into satisfaction among both partners.

This led to the conclusion that two minutes or less of intercourse is far too short, but between three and seven minutes is adequate for the majority of people.

The desirable time, or sweet spot, sits anywhere between seven and 13 minutes.

If your intercourse session is taking anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes, then it’s too long, the experts found.

While these times are useful to consider, it is worth noting that the length of intercourse is different for each couple and sometimes it’s completely out of our hands. A 2005 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that most couples last around five and a half minutes.

Some men simply don’t last very long during vaginal intercourse, but, do remember it’s not all about one person’s pleasure.

Premature ejaculation does not have to mean the end of a sexual encounter. It can actually give you the nudge you need to focus on your partner’s satisfaction.

How to prolong intercourse with your partner?

However, if you’re looking for ways to prolong intercourse with your partner, then luckily there are a number of things you can try out.

The first and most important, according to Men’s Health, is exercising your pelvic floor. The second, is to stop thrusting all the time because it can speed up ejaculation.

With this in mind, it could also be time to look at your preferred position as switching it up could help you to last longer.

Another common technique is called ‘the squeeze’, where you take a tight grip below the head of your penis with extra pressure applied to the urethra, which runs up the underside of your genitals. Then, of course, there is the age-old strategy to last longer; masturbating before you have sex, so that you’re not so sensitive.