Just 30 seconds of sex gives you a high for 2 days

IT might last just 30 seconds, but sex can leave you on a high for two days, researchers claim.

And their study found those who basked in a stronger “afterglow” over the 48 hours also reported a happier relationship.

The study of newlyweds indicated partners can experience a similar long-lasting sexual “afterglow”. This association did not differ according to participants’ gender or age.

It also held even after sexual frequency, personality traits, length of relationship and other factors were taken into consideration.

The researchers examined data from two studies over long periods of time – one with 96 newlywed couples and the other with 118.

Overall, participants’ marital satisfaction declined between the start of the study and four to six months later.

But those who reported relatively high levels of sexual “afterglow” fared better relative to their peers.

They reported higher initial marital satisfaction and less steep declines. The same pattern of effects emerged in each study, providing robust evidence.

Psychologist Dr Andrea Meltzer, of Florida State University, said: “Results demonstrated sexual satisfaction remained elevated approximately 48 hours after sex – and spouses experiencing a stronger afterglow reported higher levels of marital satisfaction both at the start and over time.”

Dr Meltzer added: “Sex functions to keep couples bonded.”

Other research has found having sex three times a week could halve the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The findings were published in Psychological Science.