When it comes to sex, some people are really keen on stringing out the foreplay for as long as they possibly can, while others prefer to get straight down to business.
No matter which category you or your partner falls into, it seems there’s a very simple way for both of you to improve your sex life in just a matter of minutes.
All you have to do is follow something called the ‘six-minute rule’, which is pretty self-explanatory.
Essentially the rule states that people should spend at least six minutes engaging in pre-sex affectionate behaviour, such as kissing, cuddling and other types of foreplay.
The rule was born out of recent research conducted by Trojan Condoms and the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada who found that just six minutes of foreplay leave people feeling pretty great after sex.
(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Their study involved 1,500 Canadians aged between 18 and 24 of all different sexualities.
Their findings showed that participants who followed the rule reported being “very sexually satisfied” after having sex and this number increased significantly (56 percent of men and 55 percent of women), when the couple also engaged in post-sex affectionate behaviour for the same amount of time.
The six-minute rule was found to be especially important for the women’s sexual experience, with 61 percent of female participants reporting that they could not reach orgasm without it.
Men agreed that following the six-minute rule made things more enjoyable, but the majority were still able to orgasm regardless of it.
Speaking to Refinery29 about the study, sexuality professor, Robin Milhausen, from the University of Guelph, stressed the importance of not rushing sex.
She said: “Particularly in heterosexual relationships, the main event is [typically] penis-in-vagina intercourse.
“Oftentimes, we forget about the opportunity that comes from bonding after sex. We’re vulnerable, we feel relaxed, we feel really connected, and so, that’s a perfect time for intimacy that can lead to more sexual satisfaction.”
She added: “Six minutes is a critical time. People who are the most satisfied in their encounters are doing a variety of activities… It’s a simple thing that people can do in their relationships that doesn’t cost any money.”
