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Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, Life
Gerrard Kaonga
A study has revealed just how long it takes the average man to orgasm while being intimate and highlighted how the times vary as they get older.
There can be a lot of questions when it comes to sex and we aren’t talking about the biology aspect or the questions of what goes where.
Rather, the ideas of how long is too long to spend having sex? Or have you satisfied your partner enough?
However, one question has long come up and even been the root of problems in a relationship as well as ridicule in the wider world - how short is *too* short to last in the bedroom?
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Well, one 2024 study might be able to dispel some worries or taper some expectations as it looked at the averages of how long it takes for men to orgasm during sex.
The researchers behind the study found that for the vast majority of heterosexual men who have sex, 95 percent of them achieve an orgasm, while comparatively for heterosexual women, only 65 percent do.
With that said, if a man does orgasm, how long until they do can be influenced by a number of factors, including whether he has consumed any alcohol, when he last had sex and age.
It is also worth pointing out that these numbers are averages and health and sex experts have cautioned against constantly attempting to measure up against them rather than focusing on your own and your partner’s pleasure.
A separate Lovehoney 2025 study looked deeper into how age influences orgasm speed and broke down the data.
For this age range, according to the study, men last on average 16.14 minutes in bed.
Speaking to Metro, Lovehoney’s sexual health expert and sexual health nurse Sarah Mulindwa explained: “In your 20s, excitement and novelty are high, which can lead to quicker climaxes, but recovery is fast, and stamina is generally good. At this stage, it’s all about pacing - using edging, breathwork, or condoms strategically can help build control.”
She noted: “However, what matters most at any age is communication, technique, and pleasure - not the stopwatch.”
Between 25 and 34, the number increases slightly and jumps up to 18.29 minutes.
“Experience, rhythm, and better communication usually make sex feel smoother, though stress or time pressure can shave off minutes,” Mulindwa said.
The time starts to falter ever so slightly and drops down to 17.4 minutes.
However, the expert emphasizes that this is nothing to worry about as ‘hormonal changes and early erectile difficulties can affect pace, but many couples naturally focus more on foreplay, variety, and connection’.
At this age range, there is a clear decline in time until orgasm, in regards to averages, as it falls to 14.14 minutes.
According to Mulindwa, this drop could be down to erections becoming ‘less predictable’ for men in their 50s as well as ‘variability in climax timing increases’.
The downward trend continues as the study found that these men are lasting 11.3 minutes on average.
The sexual health expert added: “Intimacy, skill, and connection often deepen.
“Taking time with warm-ups, sensate focus, and incorporating toys can keep experiences pleasurable.”
For men older than 65 years old, the average drops to 8.15 minutes.
It's worth noting that Mulindwa admitted that there is ‘really no single right’ number for how long sex should last.
She added: “Overall, the data shows that mid-range sessions (roughly 10-15 minutes) are most common at any age, with very long encounters being rare.
“But the most important factors are mindset, technique, and communication. Couples who focus on connection, mix up sensations, and communicate openly consistently can experience higher satisfaction.”