Is there anything more frustrating than having great sex and wanting
to go for another round, but not being physically able to? There’s
actually a scientific term for this: The refractory period.
“A
refractory period is the time after a man ejaculates when he is no
longer able to have an erection,” Emily Morse, sexologist and host of
the Sex With Emily podcast, tells MensHealth.com.
While
there’s not much you can do to eliminate your refractory period
altogether, there are things you can do
to make your recovery time shorter. Here’s everything you need to know
about refractory periods, from why they occur in the first place, to how
you can try to shorten yours.
Why do guys have refractory periods?
It
all has to do with the changes in your body that occur after you have
an orgasm. Post-ejaculation, “your penis becomes flaccid from neural
signals telling your body to relax,” explains Dr Jamin Brahmbhatt, urologist
at Orlando Health and Assistant Professor at UCF College of Medicine.
“Dopamine and testosterone levels drop, and prolactin [a hormone
produced by your pituitary gland] rises.”
Elevated prolactin levels post-ejaculation
could play a role in your inability to get it up again. “Increased
prolactin and subsequent lower testosterone is like a double whammy
affecting your sex,” says Dr Brahmbhatt.
By contrast, women
generally have a much shorter refractory period – or even none at all.
“Women are designed to be multi-orgasmic, which means they can have one
after another after another,” Morse says.
But just because they
can, doesn’t necessarily mean they want to: Your partner may be
ultra-sensitive post-orgasm, which might make her wary of further
stimulation. You should always check in and make sure your partner is up
for round two before trying anything further.
How long does a refractory period generally last?
Refractory
periods are different for every guy. “Some men can be ready in a half
hour or less, and others may take hours or even a full day,” says Morse.
You
may have noticed that the length of your refractory period changes at
different points in your life. “Recovery depends on age, how much
arousal you get in between sessions, hormones, and your overall health,”
Dr Brahmbhatt says. “Studies have found teenagers can take minutes to
recover, while men in their 30s and 40s can take 30 to 60 minutes or
longer. There is no hard and fast rule on how quickly you will recover.”
Can you do anything to shorten your refractory period?
While it’s often a good idea to let your body rest, if you really want to be able to go again ASAP, there are a few things you can do to try and shorten your refractory period.
“Increasing
arousal is the fastest way for guys to get back into the game,” Morse
says. “This could be doing something different, like trying out a toy or
talking dirty (or dirtier than usual). Even small changes can be just
the novelty and excitement needed to rev up the engines for round two.”
Getting
into shape can also help to reduce your refractory period. “The fitter
you are, the better your hormones will be able to regulate themselves,”
says Dr Brahmbhatt.
If
you’re looking for external help, there are supplements that claim to
be able to get you harder, faster – but you should be extremely wary of
them, says Dr Brahmbhatt. “There is no hard science backing up the
proposed claims. Plus, supplements are not FDA-regulated so what you
think you are taking, may not be what you are taking.” Instead, you can
try manual penile pumps or cock rings to help speed up the process.
And
remember that if your partner wants to go again ASAP, you can always
pass the time by getting her off again, which should help to get you in
the mood for round two.
“Remember that guys don’t need an
erection to give pleasure to their partners,” Morse says. “Just because
he’s not ready to go again, doesn’t mean a female partner isn’t ready
for more. As long as he has his hands and fingers, he’s more than
equipped to keep the party going.”
www.menshealth.com
