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Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships
Liv Bridge
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships
Apparently, there's a certain time of day that's the worst for getting frisky beneath the sheets.
Though everyone's libido is different, a better, more satisfying sex life could lie in the simple fact that you're doing it at the wrong time.
While you might be thinking anytime is better than nothing at all, scientists have found that the most popular time for intimacy might actually be affecting the quality of said intimacy.
According to a study in Frontiers of Psychology, what makes it difficult for straight couples is that men's and women's libidos are typically out of sync, with the latter more likely to feel in the mood at night while men are typically raring to go first thing in the morning.
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As a result, the 2018 research found that most couples have sex between 9pm and midnight before hitting the hay.
Yet, according to Michael Breus, the author of The Power of When, a romp before lights-out might not be the best way to go.
"Sex at bedtime is not bad; it’s just that most people are exhausted,” he said, as per Healthy. "When your body is begging for shut-eye, there’s a good chance you won’t have the energy for the most mind-blowing encounter."
Quality aside, sex before sleep also has other consequences when it comes to bagging eight hours of well-needed kip, likely making you feel even more awake from the rush of endorphins and adrenaline.
However, for most, sex before sleep tends to have the reverse effect.
"For the majority of people, sex is a tension reducer and relaxer,” Lisa Thomas, a licensed relationship and sex therapist, added. “People have sex before sleep to help them fall asleep."
As a result, the experts agreed the best time to get frisky is when there's time to relax afterwards, in turn helping recharge your hormones when you do sleep and making you wake up with the most energy.
"You now have a prescription for morning sex,” Dr Breus joked.
Furthermore, age also plays a big factor in when the best time could be.
Mike Kocsis, hormone health expert and founder of Balance My Hormones, told the Metro that this is all to do with our hormones, which are obviously the most 'robust' in the 20s.
"You have a higher libido, especially around ovulation, and you have more energy and emotional response to intimacy," Mike said, therefore making the morning time the sweet spot for younger adults.
However, in the 30s and 40s, the best time shifts from embracing spontaneous moments to booking into the schedule, though the expert says this can often make sex 'deeper and more emotionally satisfying' for couples in this era.
By the time we hit 40 to 50, routines are likely to change again, with this window being dubbed a 'golden era' for a resurgence of spontaneity.
Meanwhile, those aged 60 and over can also look forward to a new phase of sexuality 'that's richer and more intentional than ever' - with the best time falling between afternoons and early evenings.