NEWS: Good sexual intercourse lasts minutes, not hours, therapists say

Great article. Written by a Penn State student. Great study, because people are getting faster and faster. Just look at the Internet, my God! I will agree that 3-13 minutes can be satisfying, since both partners can feel good knowing that they'll get up nice and early. Or that they'll be done in time for their lunch break to be over! However, I believe a couple should still take some time out their busy schedules at least once a month to truly experience eachother reach the depths of eachother's sensuality. And we know that just can't be done in 13 minutes, nevermind 3.

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Good sexual intercourse lasts minutes, not hours, therapists say

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 U.S. and Canadian sex therapists.

Penn State Erie researchers Eric Corty and Jenay Guardiani conducted a survey of 50 full members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, which include psychologists, physicians, social workers, marriage/family therapists and nurses who have collectively seen thousands of patients over several decades.

Thirty-four, or 68 percent, of the group responded and rated a range of time amounts for sexual intercourse, from penetration of the vagina by the penis until ejaculation, that they considered adequate, desirable, too short and too long.

The average therapists’ responses defined the ranges of intercourse activity times: "adequate," from 3-7 minutes; "desirable," from 7-13 minutes; "too short" from 1-2 minutes; and "too long" from 10-30 minutes.

"A man’s or woman’s interpretation of his or her sexual functioning as well as the partner’s relies on personal beliefs developed in part from society’s messages, formal and informal," the researchers said. “"Unfortunately, today’s popular culture has reinforced stereotypes about sexual activity. Many men and women seem to believe the fantasy model of large penises, rock-hard erections and all-night-long intercourse. "

Past research has found that a large percentage of men and women, who responded, wanted sex to last 30 minutes or longer.

"This seems a situation ripe for disappointment and dissatisfaction," said lead author Eric Corty, associate professor of psychology. "With this survey, we hope to dispel such fantasies and encourage men and women with realistic data about acceptable sexual intercourse, thus preventing sexual disappointments and dysfunctions."

Corty and Guardiani, then-undergraduate student and now a University graduate, are publishing their findings in the May issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, but the article is currently available online.

The survey’s research also has implications for treatment of people with existing sexual problems.

"If a patient is concerned about how long intercourse should last, these data can help shift the patient away from a concern about physical disorders and to be initially treated with counseling, instead of medicine," Corty noted.

Contact: Vicki Fong
vfong@psu.edu
814-865-9481
Penn State

NEWS: Sex Toy Party Draws Students

Vox promotes sex awareness

By: MaryAnn Barone, Staff Writer
Daily Tar Heel
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: University


Senior Maureen Stutzman reacts to a Jeopardy! question during a sex toy party Tuesday night. The Hawaiian-themed event, held by Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, helped promote discussion of sexual health issues.

When students walked into Murphey Hall on Tuesday night, they were handed goody bags of colored condoms, lubricant and candy.

Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood hosted a sex toy party that about 50 students attended.

The theme of the event was Hawaiian, with the tag line on Facebook: "Get lei'd with Vox."

"It's educational but also fun," said Laura Andrews, a member of Vox.

This is the first time Vox has put on such an event. Andrews said the group planned the party to have fun but also to get students to discuss sexual health issues.

"We thought it would be a really fun event to get some progressive people together," she said.

Students who attended Tuesday's event played a game of Jeopardy!, with questions based on sexually transmitted infections and abortion facts.

They were divided into teams of four, which students signed up for when they walked in. The winning team from each of the two rounds received prizes.

A raffle for a German Fun Factory vibrator, valued at $80, was held at the event with tickets selling for $1. [We carry Fun Factory!]

"I want a pretty pink vibrator," Amanda Veazey, a junior anthropology major, said before the raffle.

Vox members also provided free pizza and additional prizes as incentives for attendees.

About five men attended the party.

"I wanted to bring some male support," said David Greenslade, a senior biology major.

Andrews said she hopes people will be influenced by the information they learned from the event.

"It's general facts but also some activism with it," she said.

Laura Ciompi, another member of Vox, said that though the issue of women's sexuality is more open on college campuses because they're usually a more liberal atmosphere, the information from the event can be applied after graduation.

"Just because we are in college now doesn't mean we will be here forever," Ciompi said.

The group, whose name comes from the Latin word for voice, is aimed at this college generation's abortion-rights supporters.

Vox is cropping up on many college campuses across the country. But members said that it has grown especially in North Carolina.

There are Vox programs at UNC-Chapel Hill, as well as at N.C. State University, N. C. Central University, UNC-Wilmington and UNC-Greensboro.

In the past, Vox has put on events such as sex awareness campaigns, safer sex campaigns and book readings.

Later this year, the group will have a birth control campaign to try to decrease birth control prices because they have increased in the past year.

Katelyn Bryant-Comstock, co-chairwoman of Vox, said that the purpose of these events also was to educate campus.

Money raised from the raffle at the event will fund future Vox programs.