Sexual afterglow lasts for 48 hours and helps keep couples together
HAVING sex with your partner brings a 48-hour “afterglow” that keeps people feeling content in their relationship, a study suggests.
Although it is known that sex plays a central role in bonding, releasing the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin, it was unknown how long the warm, fuzzy, post-coital effect lasted.
To find out, US scientists invited 214 newly-wed couples to fill out sex diaries for 14 days, which recorded how many times they made love, and how they felt about their relationships. They were then asked to re-evaluate their relationships six months later.
The researchers found that feelings of intimacy and relationship contentment, known as the “afterglow”, lasted for two days, but seemed to fade after three.
The scientists believe they know why. Previous research has found that men’s sperm concentration diminishes when having sex too much, but is restored by around day three.
The afterglow could be an evolutionary adaptation to keep partners together while a man’s sperm count recovers, increasing the chance of having a baby.
Two days is also the maximum time that sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract, so by abstaining for two days, the higher quality sperm has a greater chance of success.
“This is the first research to quantify the length of the sexual afterglow and to examine its benefits,” said Dr Andrea Meltzer, a psychological scientist and the lead author of the research from Florida State University.
“Our research shows that sexual satisfaction remains elevated 48 hours after sex. The afterglow appears to last approximately the same length of time that it takes for peak sperm concentration to be restored.”
Dr Meltzer also said that people who reported a strong afterglow – that is, a higher level of sexual satisfaction 48 hours after sex – had higher levels of relationship satisfaction several months later.
Previous research has suggested that sex plays a crucial role in pair bonding, yet it was unclear why most adults report having sex with their partners every few days, not every day.
The participants in the study were all in their twenties. However, the researchers speculated that older couples in longer term relationships may have a longer sexual afterglow, which supports their long-lasting relationships.
In the future, the team is hoping to study whether a stronger afterglow predicts whether a partner will be faithful. The research was published in the journal Psychological Science.