How long does it take for the penis to be erect during sexual intercourse?

The virility of a man is still judged by his ability to last long in bed. In fact, the length of time the penile erection endurance in each man can vary. There are also several conditions that can affect the length of an erection. So, what are these conditions and how long is the average duration of a normal erection?

The average length of time the penis has an erection

Erection begins when the penis is sexually stimulated. This stimulation makes the penis muscles relax so that blood can flow into the penis. The blood flow then puts pressure on the penis so that it hardens, enlarges, and eventually experiences an erection.

Although the mechanism of erection is always the same, the duration can vary from person to person. Dr. Brendan Zietsch, a psychologist from the University of Queensland, Australia, researched this by conducting a survey of 500 heterosexual couples from 5 countries.

The survey aims to find out how long the penis can experience an erection. The men who were survey respondents were asked to turn on stopwatch when about to penetrate. Stopwatch then stopped when they ejaculated successfully.

The survey results showed that the shortest erection duration was 33 seconds, while the record for the longest erection was 44 minutes. If calculated on average, male respondents in the survey experienced erections for 5.4 minutes (5 minutes 24 seconds) during sexual intercourse.

Five minutes may seem short. However, another survey conducted in the United States in 2008 yielded interesting findings. Based on the results of the survey, sex should ideally only last 3-13 minutes. This range is considered neither too short nor too long.

The factor that determines how long the penis has an erection

The survey conducted by Dr. Brendan Zietsch found that erections last an average of 5.4 minutes. However, this is not the only determinant of a normal erection. The duration of an erection will remain different for each person.

This difference is caused by several factors. The following include:

1. Health

Healthy men are able to experience erections for a few seconds to tens of minutes. However, the ability to have an erection can be impaired if you have physical or psychological health problems. Severe erection problems can even lead to impotence.

Here are a number of conditions that affect how long it takes for the penis to be erect:

Restriction of blood flow to the penis.
Nerve damage due to diabetes, prostate disorders, spinal cord damage, and so on.
Psychiatric problems such as anxiety disorders, depression, or excessive shyness.
Decreased testosterone.
Take drugs that affect sexual function, such as blood pressure-lowering drugs, antidepressants, or heart disease medications.

2. Age

The amount of the hormone testosterone decreases with age. Testosterone is the main hormone in the male reproductive system. If the amount decreases, sexual arousal can also decrease. As a result, it is more difficult for you to maintain an erection.

3. Types of erections

The type of erection also determines how long the penis can experience this condition. Erections are divided into three types, namely:

Psychogenic, occurs after thinking or imagining something sexual in nature.
Nocturnal, occurs spontaneously during sleep or when you wake up.
Reflexogenic, occurs as a result of physical touch or stimulation of the penis.

For example, a nocturnal erection can last as long as 25 minutes. Meanwhile, other types of erections may occur for a shorter or longer duration.

Every man has an erection with a different duration and condition. Although the average duration is known, there is no absolute rule of thumb as to how long a normal penis erection lasts.

As long as the penis is still functioning as it should, the duration of the erection shouldn't be a big problem. Conversely, consult a doctor if you experience erectile dysfunction or other disorders of the reproductive system.