This Is Exactly How Long Women Want Sex to Last

Sex doesn’t always have to be a marathon

Let’s face it—most of us are profoundly curious about our partner’s experience in the sack, but are too afraid to ask. For instance, do men or women want sex more in relationships? And why do men say no to sex? But most of the time, we tiptoe around these topics for fear of making things awkward. Thankfully, a new survey has gone where no sexual partner has dared to go before.

Dating site Saucy Dates asked nearly 4,000 men and women around the world two things: How long they have sex for, and how long they would ideally like it to last. And as you might imagine, reality does not necessarily live up to expectations.

How long sex should last, according to women and men

Turns out, women wanted sex to go on for 25 minutes 51 seconds, on average. Men, on the other hand, answered with an average time of 25 minutes 43 seconds.

The fact that the two sexes agree on ideal timing in bed is a good sign. But judging by how long sex lasts for the average couple, the majority of respondents are likely to be disappointed. “Our best advice for everyone is to enjoy the time that it does last and if it’s over too soon then go for a second round,” Saucy Dates said. (This is exactly how many calories you could burn having sex.)

There’s some fantastic news for folks south of our border, though: American men appear to last longer than those of any other nation and perform above the international average, the survey found. Sex lasts for 17 minutes and 5 seconds for the average 31-year-old American. Meanwhile, men in the U.K. improve with age and experience, reaching their peak at age 31 with a staying power of 16 minutes and 58 seconds. Canadians are very close to American men, but they out perform everyone else until age 28. And our guys are are also well above the international average.

Practice makes perfect! All the more reason to get frisky in bed tonight—no matter where you’re from. But you might want to consider getting it on twice in one day, because there are amazing perks to having sex at 7:30 a.m., too. And don’t forget these expert-approved tips and tricks to spice up your sex life, stat.