There’s been a discussion among women regarding the ideal duration of sex.
According to Healthline, a 2005 study found that vaginal intercourse generally lasts from three to seven minutes.
Although some might find this duration brief, the study indicated that sessions lasting one to two minutes were considered ‘too short,’ whereas those extending from 10 to 30 minutes were viewed as ‘too long.’
Sex therapists concluded that the most ‘desirable’ duration is between seven to 13 minutes. But what do women actually prefer?
GQ published an article exploring average sexual encounters and people’s opinions on their duration in the bedroom.
The publication consulted a group of women and non-binary individuals about their sexual routines, discovering that many favored five to 10 minutes of penetrative intercourse, with extended periods for foreplay.
One participant mentioned that a balance of 10 to 15 minutes of foreplay followed by 10 minutes of sex was ideal for her.
She expressed to GQ: “I find I get rather impatient in bed, or perhaps I just haven’t met someone worth taking more time.”
Another stated: “I feel like this sounds short, but honestly five to 10 mins plus like 15-ish minutes of foreplay.”
A third individual said: “I generally like sex to last 15 to 20 minutes, with intercourse being like maybe a quarter of that.”
However, experiences varied, with some preferring sessions of about an hour (including foreplay), while others felt their preferences were shorter than they ideally should be.
Regarding sexual frequency, variations abound, influenced by factors such as stress and sleep deprivation.
Sex therapist Charlene Douglas offered her expertise on maintaining a healthy sexual relationship and typical frequency among couples.
In a discussion with LADbible Stories during an ‘Honesty Box’ session, Douglas remarked: “So oftentimes, I’ll go to a bar and people will find out that I’m a sex therapist and they’ll say to me, ‘How many times should you really be having sex like in a week?’
“And they’re all waiting for my answer. Everyone leans in waiting for me to give that number to work out whether they’re in the normal range or not.”
She pointed out that ‘statistically speaking’ once a week is common for most couples, echoing findings from a Natsal-3 survey that long-term couples typically have sex about once a week.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to recognize that each couple’s circumstances and preferences vary, making what’s ‘normal’ for one pair potentially quite different for another.