A new study has revealed how long the average woman actually wants sex to last — and it’s longer than you might think. Researchers found that while most women reach orgasm in about 13 minutes and 41 seconds, their ideal session is almost twice that.

In a global survey of more than 3,800 people, women said they would prefer intimacy to last around 25 minutes and 51 seconds. “It’s not about speed — it’s about connection and comfort,” one relationship expert noted. The findings, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggest that emotional intimacy and foreplay play a big role in satisfaction.

For comparison, the average man lasts just under 20 minutes, showing a clear gap between timing and preference. But experts say there’s no “right” duration when it comes to passion. “Every couple is different,” said one therapist. “What matters is mutual pleasure, not the clock.”

So, while science gives us a number, love doesn’t follow a timer. The key to great intimacy, researchers say, is communication — not counting the minutes.