Why do males have a refractory period

There are no hard numbers here. It varies widely from person to person based on a variety of factors, including overall health, libido, and diet. Average figures suggest that for females, mere seconds may pass before sexual arousal and orgasm is possible again. It may take a few minutes, an hour, several hours, a day, or even longer. As you get older, 12 to 24 hours may pass before your body is able to become aroused again.

A analysis suggests that sexual function most noticeably changes — for both sexes — at age One review looked at data from three different studies of males and females engaging in masturbation or penile-vaginal intercourse PVI to orgasm.

The researchers found that prolactin, a key hormone in the refractory period, levels are over percent higher after PVI than after masturbation.

This suggests that your refractory period may last a lot longer after having intercourse with a partner than after solo masturbation. For men, the penis becomes flaccid again as he goes through a refractory period. His body does not respond to sexual stimulation and he is unable to reach orgasm again until the period is over. The length of the refractory period is different for every man. It may take a half hour or more for his body to perform sexually again.

While that sounds like a bummer, the researchers suggest that this could simply mean that intercourse is usually more physiologically satisfying than masturbation. Another side effect of increased prolactin? It suppresses production of testosterone, a key player in piquing your interest in sex. Also, your brain releases a surge of serotonin, which makes us want to just roll over and sleep after sex.

One research review of post-intercourse brain scans revealed that ejaculation causes a dip in activity in the prefrontal cortex and a release of oxytocin and serotonin, shutting off alertness and mental activity and essentially kneecapping any sexual desire.

Stoleru S, et al. Functional neuroimaging studies of sexual arousal and orgasm in healthy men and women: A review and meta-analysis. So not only are your hormones working to actively make you not aroused, you also have less of the hormones that are responsible for getting your engines running. Everyone is wired differently too.

It can also be an inconvenience for couples who want to have back-to-back romping sessions. How can you minimize the wait time? Some ideas to spice things up: Rent a hotel room instead of having sex at home, have morning sex instead of at night — even small efforts to add novelty may be enough for excitement to overpower your systems, Morgentaler adds.

Pay attention to your cardiovascular health. Erections are all about the flow of blood throughout your body. Simple things like eating heart-healthy foods, avoiding nicotine and reducing your salt intake can have a major impact on your sexual performance. Limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol is closely linked with many forms of sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire. Try new sex positions, scenarios and fantasies. Optimal sexual performance is all about stimulation and arousal.

After you finish round one, try new forms of foreplay or sexual positions to make you feel aroused, excited and ready to go. The refractory period varies from one man to another, meaning it might take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours for you to recover after sex. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.