Refractory Period – You may know about orgasm, the peak of sexual pleasure, but do you know what happens after that? This cooling off phase after reaching orgasm is known as refractory period. Refractory period happens in both males and females. It is crucial to know about it as refractory period varies from person to person and also across genders. Understanding of it will help in promoting sexual satisfaction and overall sexual health and wellbeing.
Here we will discuss what it is, why it happens, how to reduce refractory time line, and a lot more.
Table of Contents
What is refractory period?
It is the duration after reaching the climax where an individual does not feel sexual stimulation or is not capable of it. Your body releases hormones such as prolactin, oxytocin, and dopamine after climax. These hormones give the feeling of sexual pleasure and relax the body.
During this stage, for men, it becomes difficult to ejaculate, and one also feels uninterested in sex for a temporary period. The length varies from person to person, ranging from a few minutes to 24 hrs. (1) In women, this period is a short time, which means there will be less difficulty for women to achieve another orgasm just after the sexual intercourse. However, intercourse can make the clitoris or vulva hypersensitive, making it painful.
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What affects refractory period?
The length of refractory timeline is affected by many factors such as age, health conditions, and lifestyle.
- Age: With an increase in age, your refractory time increases. Younger men take a few minutes while older men take from 12 to 24 hours or more for the second round of sex. (3)
- Health condition: If you are suffering from any health problems like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, then it extends this period. Any other disease, such as diabetes, also makes the period longer.
- Lifestyle: If there is an unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, and low level of exercise, it adversely affects it, making it longer.
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How to reduce refractory period?
There is no readymade solution to reduce it, or the scientific evidence supporting ways to shorten this.
However, improving your overall health may help you to improve your sexual health. Here are some tips given below:
- Practicing cardiovascular exercise
- Having a nutritious diet
- Performing Kegel exercises
- Managing your other underlying health conditions, such as erectile dysfunction or lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes.
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A Note from Kamarth
Refractory period is a part of the sexual experience. This period is important for recovery, as it allows the body to reset before engaging in further sexual activity. Understanding its different aspects can help couples navigate it more effectively.
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Some Additional Doubts
Question: What is refractory period?
Answer: It is the time after the climax when one is not able to feel sexual stimulation.
Question: For how much time does refractory period last?
Answer: For men, the average is from a few minutes to 24 hrs. For women, it is shorter, ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Question: What affects refractory period?
Answer: Age, health conditions, lifestyle, and libido affect the duration of it.
Question: Why does refractory period happen?
Answer: It happens due to the hormonal shifts in levels of oxytocin and prolactin, that is related to sexual pleasure and sleepiness
Question: What are the phases of sexual intercourse?
Answer: In general, the phases of sex are desire, arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution, and refractory phase. (3)
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