College Times

Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Ruiz

What would you do if I told you short sex was the best sex? Laugh, right?

Well according to a recent study by Dr. Eric Corty, an associate professor of psychology at Penn State Erie, and student Jenay Guardiani, a seven to 13 minute quickie is the hottest way to get hot and heavy.

ScienceDaily.com recently reported that researchers Corty and Guardiani surveyed 50 members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research and found that 34, or 68 percent, of the members consisting of "psychologists, physicians, social workers, marriage/family therapists and nurses who have collectively seen thousands of patients over several decades" responded that seven to 13 minute intercourse was the most desirable. The group rated this and other "time amounts for sexual intercourse based on penetration of the vagina by the penis until ejaculation."

This did not include the time spent on foreplay prior to the time of penetration, and they noted that optimal times depend on couples.

1 to 2 minutes was considered "too short" and 3 to 7 minutes was believed to be "adequate."

What was shocking is that 10 to 30 minute sex was deemed "too long" and anything longer than 30 minutes, well, that wasn't even worth discussing.

Arizona State University student Steve Bartelt was baffled when he heard the survey's results and simply said, "I disagree," which probably comes as no surprise. Many college students would argue, and past research has found that all-night-long love-making is of utmost importance to men and women in order to achieve optimal pleasure in the sack.

However, Vice President of ASU's Undergraduate Philosophy Club, William Arthur Brindley IV disagreed with Bartelt and said, "Those results don't surprise me at all. It would seem to me that sex all night long is a little ridiculous for anyone's standards. I guess seven to 13 minutes gives me a standard to go for now."

Researchers said in the ScienceDaily.com article, "A man's or woman's interpretation of his or her sexual functioning as well as the partner's relies on personal beliefs developed in part from society's messages, formal and informal. Unfortunately, today's popular culture has reinforced stereotypes about sexual activity. Many men and women seem to believe the fantasy model of large penises, rock-hard erections and all-night-long intercourse."

Corty also noted, "This seems a situation ripe for disappointment and dissatisfaction. With this survey, we hope to dispel such fantasies and encourage men and women with realistic data about acceptable sexual intercourse, thus preventing sexual disappointments and dysfunctions."

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