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Cory Silverberg
Sexuality Blog

By Cory Silverberg, About.com Guide to Sexuality

Sex Question of the Week: How long does sex last for?

Wednesday July 12, 2006
“I have a very simple question and haven’t been able to find an answer on line. What’s the normal amount of time sex lasts for? I’ve heard stories from both my guy and my girl friends about having sex all night long, or all day long. What none of my friends know (because I haven’t told them) is that technically I’m still a virgin. I’m not that freaked out about having sex, but I like to know what I’m getting into, and I’d feel better if I knew how long I’m supposed to last for.”

You’re right, asking how long sex lasts for seems like a simple question. But it gets harder when you try to answer it. First off, how do you measure the beginning and end of sex? Is it:

  • How long from the first kiss to when you fall asleep, or put your clothes back on?
  • How long from the moment I first think “hey, I’d like to have sex right now”?
  • How long should you spend performing oral sex on your partner (or how long you can expect to receive it)?
  • How long does penetration last for? And is it vaginal penetration or anal penetration?

Read the complete answer to this week's sex question.

Read previous sex questions of the week.

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