How long does a normal erection last from the time you are first erect to penetration and after?

OOPS....there's that word again - normal! Be concerned if your erection does not last long enough for you and/or your partner to achieve fulfillment. Throw the clock away during sex play. You have to get rid of performance anxiety and standards and words like "normal".
- Answer provided by Tim Britton, Ph.D., AASECT, ABS, timbritton@yahoo.com.

The length of time for an erection varies from person to person. Some men attain erections easily, while others may take a while. Most men are able to maintain an erection sufficient for penetration and continue to ejaculation. Once they have ejaculated, they lose their erection. Some men maintain an erection after ejaculation but it is not as rigid as prior to ejaculation. The length of time it takes for a second erection after ejaculation also varies from man to man. It also varies with age and the health of the man anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more. Usually as men age their recovery time increases. - Answer provided by Edward A. Dreyfus, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach, www.docdreyfus.com, ead@docdreyfus.com.

There really is no “normal” time for a man to have an erection. Some men get an erection right before penetration that lasts during thrusting and begins to go down on ejaculation. The whole thing may take 10 to 20 minutes. Other men get an erection during foreplay that lasts into penetration and thrusting before ejaculation, when it goes down. The added time during foreplay could be from 10 to 30 minutes. Still other men get several erections during foreplay that go down only to come up again before penetration and ejaculation. This could last several hours. The important thing is not how long an erection lasts but how it’s used when it’s there. Is everyone happy? How much time do you spend doing other things? Most women don’t orgasms through penetration. - Answer provided by Jenny Friend, MFT, Board Certified Clinical Sexologist, JennyFriendMFT@sbcglobal.net, www.CenterForClarity.org.

Erection time can vary by individual and sexual experience. Once ejaculation occurs the penis will enter into a refractory period and will lose its erection. The refractory period will also vary by individual but the younger you are the quicker you will be able to regain an erection. - Answer provided by Jason S. Quintal, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW, DrJ@RelationshipSpecialties.com, www.RelationshipSpecialties.com.

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