# Actual Time Spent In Sexual Intercouse **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443 "2009-02-04T17:50:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/1 "2009-02-04T17:50:59Z")
I was wondering are there any reliable studies that indicate how much time the average male spends with intercourse (either male/female or male/male)? I’ve done some Googling around and found a lot of opinion and that varies from 5 minutes to three hours. I am not looking for a total “lovemaking session” from start to finish. I am talking about from time of insertion to orgasm. Somehow I doubt that three hours is correct…LOL 🙂 (I’m not saying it’s not possible, just unlikely) Again I don’t mean anything but the actual act of intercourse. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/2 "2009-02-04T17:53:10Z")
For Muddy Waters, it appears that 5 minutes is the usual time: All you little girls, sittin’out at that line. I can make love to you woman, in five minutes time Ain’t that a man. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/3 "2009-02-04T17:59:22Z")
I’m average and just 2 days ago I just happened to look at a clock at the appropriate time; 18 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/4 "2009-02-04T18:21:09Z")
As long as it takes to make her happy 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/5 "2009-02-04T18:31:41Z")
I think we’ve got to define average, first. Certainly there are a lot of instances where premature ejaculation is a culprit. There are most certainly other times where the couple keeps going until they’re too exhausted to continue. All in all, 18 minutes seems about right. Let’s go with that. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/6 "2009-02-04T18:41:45Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I’m average and just 2 days ago I just happened to look at a clock at the appropriate time; 18 minutes. I’m not sure the average person checks the clock following coitus. 🙂 Alfred Kinsey published two studies on this fascinating subject in 1948 and 1953. His sample mainly comprised 5300 white males and 5940 white females. A point to consider is that most of the participants were younger white adults, so his figures need to be viewed with caution if an average of an all-aged population is required. He reported like so: > [@](#): > > **Length of Coitus** : > > Males: > > 17.6% of males reported ejaculation less than 2 minutes after intromission > 47.6% less than five minutes in coitus in first marriage > 22.9% claimed to have lasted 10 or more minutes. > > Females: > > 22.8% of females reported reaching climax less than 2 minutes after intromission > 52.6% less than five minutes in coitus in first marriage > 19% claimed to have lasted 10 or more minutes. > > In the discussion of marital coitus in the Male volume, Kinsey speculated that for perhaps three-fourths of all males, orgasm was reached within 2 minutes after initiation of coitus, and reported this as a frequent source of marital conflict. A more recent study, if any, might reveal different results with the advent of better sex education during the past 56 years. [Link](http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/research/ak-data.html). ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/7 "2009-02-04T19:19:36Z")
According to [this MSNBC article](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23923591/), 7.3 minutes: > [@](#): > > Dr. Irwin Goldstein, editor of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, cited a four-week study of 1,500 couples in 2005 that found the median time for sexual intercourse was 7.3 minutes. (Women were armed with stopwatches.) So I’m feeling pretty good about myself right now. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/8 "2009-02-04T19:47:51Z")
How long is a commercial break during CSI? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/9 "2009-02-04T19:50:40Z")
A recent study (which I can’t find at the moment, but will check for later) suggested the “optimal time” was about 13 minutes for one session. Edit: Optimal in the self-reported fun had by both participants. ---
**Author:** ![Altair33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Altair33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Altair33)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/10 "2009-02-04T20:15:35Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > All in all, 18 minutes seems about right. Let’s go with that. It’s very rare to see a porno scene with 18 minutes of coitus- most of them are in the 8-10 minute range, which seems closer to being correct to me. Not including foreplay, of course. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/11 "2009-02-04T20:18:52Z")
> [@Altair33](#): > > It’s very rare to see a porno scene with 18 minutes of coitus- most of them are in the 8-10 minute range, which seems closer to being correct to me. Not including foreplay, of course. I don’t think porn is a valid measurement. It’s edited and not that realistic in many ways. ---
**Author:** ![Chase\_Ransom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@Chase\_Ransom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chase_Ransom)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/12 "2009-02-04T20:30:34Z")
Average for myself I couldn’t say. Gone up to 1.5 hours without finishing (was just physically exhausted), and as quick as 3 minutes. There is no discernible science that I can read into why sometimes more, sometimes less. It is just different in every situation and with different people. My measurement of success or failure is basically the level of satisfaction I provide for my better half, and I don’t think that can be measured in time. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/13 "2009-02-04T20:37:31Z")
> [@Altair33](#): > > It’s very rare to see a porno scene with 18 minutes of coitus- most of them are in the 8-10 minute range, which seems closer to being correct to me. Not including foreplay, of course. The OP wasn’t asking, “How long does it take to rub one out?” That time is noticeably shorter, at least for me, because I’m doing it with the sole purpose of getting off. The in between steps aren’t as fun. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/14 "2009-02-05T01:30:23Z")
Wouldn’t the position used factor into it? One friend told me he might last 5-8 mins using missionary or doggy-style. However, if it was cowgirl, he could read the sportspage (15-20 mins). ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/15 "2009-02-05T12:59:35Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I don’t think porn is a valid measurement. It’s edited and not that realistic in many ways. Depends - there’s one (gay) porn scence that comes to mind which is shot with one camera and so it’s all one continuous shot, there’s no editing. In it five tops fuck one bottom in succession, and each man’s penetration to orgasm time varies quite a bit (roughly something like 3 minutes, 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30 seconds and 10 minutes). That said how well you know the person you’re having sex with has an impact too; sex with a one night stand is a whole different affair to someone you’re married to. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/16 "2009-02-05T15:43:26Z")
Wait, I got it: > **[Good sexual intercourse lasts minutes, not hours, therapists say](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/760577)** > > Satisfactory sexual intercourse for couples lasts from 3 to 13 minutes, contrary to popular fantasy about the need for hours of sexual activity, according to a survey of US and Canadian sex therapists. Yeah, go tell the missus that scientists proved that good sex lasts only three minutes! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/17 "2009-02-05T15:46:14Z")
> [@Madd\_Maxx](#): > > How long is a commercial break during CSI? In the UK it’s 3 mins. And I thought it was just me:p To the OP. Do dreams count?. Cos if they do I can go for hours ---
**Author:** ![HolyFreakingMoly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ba0ec/32.png) [@HolyFreakingMoly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HolyFreakingMoly)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/18 "2009-02-05T15:55:11Z")
I think 8 minutes is probably about right. THREE HOURS??? Good GOD, who wants THAT??? I’d be screaming “UNCLE” at the 20 minute mark! I dated a guy who was a marathon fucker… I didn’t last long with him, in any respect! It was like, “Ok, ok, I’m impressed, now could you please cum and get the hell off of me!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/19 "2009-02-05T18:54:03Z")
> [@HolyFreakingMoly](#): > > I dated a guy who was a marathon fucker… I didn’t last long with him, in any respect! It was like, “Ok, ok, I’m impressed, now could you please cum and get the hell off of me!!!” That describes me - if I’m being a top you’re guaranteed to get fucked for a looooooooooooooooong time (in fact I’ve only cum from penetrating someone once, but then I don’t top that often). You’d think people would be pleased with such a prospect, but I had to stop seeing a fuckbuddy because he wanted me to fuck him and cum relatively quickly but frequently, and I’m just not able to do that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443/20 "2009-02-05T19:00:34Z")
Are we just measuring insertion to first ejaculation? If it’s kept in for additional ejaculations, are we restarting the clock? And are we including oral in the data? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-time-spent-in-sexual-intercouse/484443.md?page=2)