What Is a Refractory Period - Men's Health

“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 ... SearchAboutMen'sHealthSubscribeMVPExclusivesHealthFitnessWorkoutsWeightLossEntertainmentSex&RelationshipsLifeTechnology&GearStyleNutritionKetoWhole30PaleoDashDietMediterraneanDietGroomingVideoNewsletterFollowfacebooktwitterpinterestinstagramyoutubeWHMHFitnessEquipmentShop90DayAbsChallengeGuideEditors’PicksWeightLossWorkoutsApparelFitnessFlybirdFitnessGeologieSkincareSalePromotionsMen’sHealthSupplyKitUnitedStatesUSUKEspañaNederlandDoNotSellMyPersonalInformationSkiptoContent>HealthEntertainmentFitnessStyleGroomingSubscribesigninOurproductpicksareeditor-tested,expert-approved.Wemayearnacommissionthroughlinksonoursite.HEXIsthereanythingmorefrustratingthanhavinggreatsexandwantingtogoforanotherround,butnotbeingphysicallyableto?There’sactuallyascientifictermforthis:therefractoryperiod.“Arefractoryperiodisthetimeafteramanejaculateswhenheisnolongerabletohaveanerection,”EmilyMorse,sexologistandhostoftheSexWithEmilypodcast,tellsMensHealth.com.Whilethere'snotmuchyoucandotoeliminateyourrefractoryperiodaltogether(hey,youcan'tfightscience),therearethingsyoucandotomakeyourrecoverytimeshorter.Here'severythingyouneedtoknowaboutrefractoryperiods,fromwhytheyoccurinthefirstplace,tohowyoucantrytoshortenyours.MoreFromMen'sHealth ThiscontentisimportedfromGiphy.Youmaybeabletofindthesamecontentinanotherformat,oryoumaybeabletofindmoreinformation,attheirwebsite.Whydoguyshaverefractoryperiods?Itallhastodowiththechangesinyourbodythatoccurafteryouhaveanorgasm.Post-ejaculation,“yourpenisbecomesflaccidfromneuralsignalstellingyourbodytorelax,"explainsJaminBrahmbhatt,MD,UrologistatOrlandoHealthandAssistantProfessoratUCFCollegeofMedicine."Dopamineandtestosteronelevelsdrop,andprolactin[ahormoneproducedbyyourpituitarygland]rises."Elevatedprolactinlevelspost-ejaculationcouldplayaroleinyourinabilitytogetitupagain."Increasedprolactinandsubsequentlowertestosteroneislikeadoublewhammyaffectingyoursex,"saysBrahmbhatt.Bycontrast,womengenerallyhaveamuchshorterrefractoryperiod—orevennoneatall.“Womenaredesignedtobemulti-orgasmic,whichmeanstheycanhaveoneafteranotherafteranother,”Morsesays.Butjustbecausetheycandoesn'tnecessarilymeantheywantto:yourpartnermaybeultra-sensitivepost-orgasm,whichmightmakeherwaryoffurtherstimulation.YoushouldalwayscheckinandmakesureyourpartnerisupforRound2beforetryinganythingfurther.Howlongdoesarefractoryperiodgenerallylast?Refractoryperiodsaredifferentforeveryguy.“Somemencanbereadyinahalfhourorless,andothersmaytakehoursorevenafullday,"saysMorse.Youmayhavenoticedthatthelengthofyourrefractoryperiodchangesatdifferentpointsinyourlife.“Recoverydependsonage,howmucharousalyougetinbetweensessions,hormones,andyouroverallhealth,”Brahmbhattsays.“Studieshavefoundteenagerscantakeminutestorecover,whilemenintheir30and40scantake30-60minutesorlonger.Thereisnohardandfastruleonhowquicklyyouwillrecover.”Canyoudoanythingtoshortenyourrefractoryperiod?Whileit'softenagoodideatoletyourbodyrest,ifyoureallywanttobeabletogoagainASAP,thereareafewthingsyoucandototryandshortenyourrefractoryperiod.“Increasingarousalisthefastestwayforguystogetbackintothegame,”Morsesays.“Thiscouldbedoingsomethingdifferent,liketryingoutatoyortalkingdirty(ordirtierthanusual).Evensmallchangescanbejustthenoveltyandexcitementneededtorevuptheenginesforroundtwo.”Gettingintoshapecanalsohelptoreduceyourrefractoryperiod,“Thefitteryouare,thebetteryourhormoneswillbeabletoregulatethemselves,"saysBrahmbhatt.Ifyou'relookingforexternalhelp,therearesupplementsthatclaimtobeabletogetyouharder,faster—butyoushouldbeextremelywaryofthem,saysBrahmbhatt."Thereisnohardsciencebackinguptheproposedclaims.Plus,supplementsarenotFDA-regulatedsowhatyouthinkyouaretaking,maynotbewhatyouaretaking."Instead,youcantrymanualpenilepumpsorcockringstohelpspeeduptheprocess.AndrememberthatifyourpartnerwantstogoagainASAP,youcanalwayspassthetimebygettingheroffagain,whichshouldhelptogetyouinthemoodforRoundTwo.“Rememberthatguysdon’tneedanerectiontogivepleasuretotheirpartners,”Morsesays.“Justbecausehe’snotreadytogoagain,doesn’tmeanafemalepartnerisn’treadyformore.Aslongashehashishandsandfingers,he’smorethanequippedtokeepthepartygoing.”Sex&RelationshipsMyHusbandCameOutasBiandNowIMayLoseHimZacEfronRanks'Self-Fulfillment'OverDatingIsitTimetoRetiretheWord"Swingers"?IfMyGFTellsAnotherBadStory,IWillPassAwayAdvertisement-ContinueReadingBelow21SexyGiftsfortheManinYourLifeGenderDoesn'tMattertoMe.IJustWantVaginas.JewelryMadeFromSemenAretheHottestNewTrendSexExpertDiscussesTheWeirdHistoryofDoingItHowYourMyers-BriggsTypeImpactsYourLoveLifeWhatHappensWhenYouGetaVasectomyThe14BestDatingandHook-UpAppsforSwingersTheseOliveGardenEngagementPhotosAreStunningAdvertisement-ContinueReadingBelow