An advice column responding to a reader's question about a viral Twitter discussion cited studies finding that men in stable heterosexual relationships reached orgasm from penetrative vaginal sex in a median of 5.4 minutes, while women took a median of 13.4 minutes. The column, published by Dear Elizabeth and signed E.R.B., stated there is no 'normal' sexual duration and recommended lubricant and an expanded definition of sex.
Advice Column Cites Median Orgasm Times After Viral Twitter Debate
An advice column responding to a reader's question about a viral Twitter discussion cited studies finding that men in stable heterosexual relationships reached orgasm from penetrative vaginal sex in a median of 5.4 minutes, while women took a median of 13.4 minutes. The column, published by Dear Elizabeth and signed E.R.B., stated there is no 'normal' sexual duration and recommended lubricant and an expanded definition of sex.
The reader, identified as Time Will Tell, described a Twitter post with over 12 million views saying one can always tell when a person learned how to have sex via watching porn because they had sex for too long. A second poster quoted it, saying as a lesbian she found this shocking because lesbians always have sex for a really long time; that post had a half million views.
The columnist wrote that 'normal is a problematic word' and that researchers look at statistical averages but statistics should not dictate behavior in the bedroom. She cited a study of 500 couples from multiple countries in stable heterosexual relationships where the median time for a man to reach orgasm from penetrative vaginal sex was 5.4 minutes, a time frame unaffected by condom use. A similar study of over 600 women from different countries in stable heterosexual relationships found the median time to orgasm was 13.4 minutes.
The column stated the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-V diagnostic criteria for premature ejaculation: orgasm in less than one minute during the majority of sexual encounters for at least six months, unrelated to external stress or other medical conditions. It said data on lesbian sex is sparse, noted lesbians often joke sex lasts for hours until someone makes tea, and explained nearly half of women are multi-orgasmic and lack the refractory period men experience. The columnist recommended lubricant and expanding the definition of sex.
- The source does not name the studies or their authors or institutions.
- The source does not state whether the studies were peer-reviewed.
- The source does not provide demographic details of the study participants beyond being in stable heterosexual relationships.
- The source does not provide data on the duration of lesbian sex.
- The source does not reconcile the Twitter claims with the research findings.
- The source does not state the date or location of the Twitter discussion or the date the advice column was published.
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