Refractory Period: What It Is & How to Shorten It

There you are — in bed with your partner, panting, sweaty, and ready for round two. Your brain is ready to rock, but your body just... literally can't. 

If you've ever wondered why your penis doesn’t have the limitless energy needed to keep up with your brain, we have a name you can give to this often-disappointing tendency: the refractory period.

What is the refractory period? And why is it the natural enemy of our sexual desire? Like the Friday before a long weekend, the purpose is unclear to most, but we have some answers.

Below, we've covered:

• What the refractory period is

• What happens during the refractory period

• The length of the refractory period

• How to decrease the refractory period

Because, after all, the point is to get back to the thing that put you in this refractory state in the first place — sex.

The refractory period is the time when it’s difficult — if not impossible — to get aroused again after you orgasm and ejaculate during sexual intercourse or masturbation. It is sometimes referred to as part of the “resolution” phase of the body’s sexual response cycle — that sharp transition where things go from “hot and heavy” to “I wonder what's on TV.” 

After you orgasm and ejaculate, your penis returns to a flaccid state, and your level of interest in sex usually goes from intense to virtually non-existent. During this period, you won’t get aroused, nor will you spend much time thinking about sexual activity.

You’ve undoubtedly experienced this countless times, but there’s a lot more going on than being hungry or sleepy.

The sexual response cycle has four phases:

• Excitement. During the first phase of the sexual response cycle, your heart rate quickens, and blood flow to your genitals increases.

• Plateau. In this phase, which begins after the excitement phase, you’re physically ready for intercourse. It continues until excitement starts to build just before you orgasm.

• Orgasm. This phase is self-explanatory (we hope). Your sexual pleasure becomes more intense, and your heart rate and blood pressure reach their highest points. During this phase, you generally orgasm in response to sexual stimulation.

• Resolution. Your body slowly returns to its normal functioning. Your heart rate decreases, your penis becomes flaccid, and you feel simultaneously satisfied and exhausted. Part of the resolution phase is the refractory period, so it will be difficult or even impossible to get an erection and orgasm again.

Okay, time for a hard truth. We actually have no idea why the refractory period happens.

One theory is that the secretion of various hormones during and after orgasm — including oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine — play specific roles in limiting sexual arousal and preventing erection during the refractory period.

But experts still aren’t entirely sure why the refractory period is a thing.

Now that you know at least a theory of how and why, we can discuss the more important question: how long does the refractory period fourth phase last?

Unfortunately, there’s no specific answer to that question because the refractory period can vary in time from one man to another. 

Some men may have a short refractory period that lasts only a few minutes, while others might not feel interested in sex for several hours after orgasm and ejaculation. 

While there are some connections between these numbers and other factors, the truth is that we don’t have much research on the topic.

Carrying out scientific research on the average refractory period isn’t particularly easy, after all — imagine asking hundreds of couples to monitor the amount of time that passes between rounds one and two.

Arguably, the more practical information is what can shorten or lengthen this period. That’s a topic on which we have more to share. 

Here’s the hard-hitting truth, fellas: some baseball players can handle a doubleheader, and some can’t. Some guys can squeeze in 36 holes, and some guys are lucky just to make it through the back nine.

As a society, we know a ton about men's sexual health, from how erections work to the causes of issues like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Why the refractory period happens, however, still isn't one of those things.

There can be a lot of variables involved in the equation of a refractory timetable, but three that may play a role are: 

• Age. According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, younger men may only need a few minutes to recover after sex, while for older guys, it may take as long as 12 to 24 hours.

• Cardiovascular health. Erections are all about healthy blood flow. When you feel sexually aroused, your penis becomes erect as blood flows into your corpora cavernosa — the two areas of soft, sponge-like tissue that form the bulk of your penis.

• The arousal factor. If you’re in the mood for sex, you might feel ready to go again in relatively little time. However, if you’re tired or just not feeling in the mood, you may take longer to feel ready for round two. 

All of these factors, in addition to the hormonal response that occurs in your body after orgasm, likely affect the amount of time it takes to recover after sex. 

Now that you know at least a theory of how and why, we can discuss the more important question: how long does the refractory period of the resolution phase last? Unfortunately, there’s no specific answer to that question because the length of time for a refractory period can vary from one man to another. 

Some men may have a short refractory period that lasts only a few minutes, while others might not feel interested in sex for several hours after orgasm and ejaculation. And while there are likely some connections between these numbers and other factors, there isn’t much research on the topic.

After all, carrying out scientific research on the average refractory period isn’t particularly easy — imagine asking hundreds of couples to monitor the amount of time that passes between rounds one and two and report back.

Arguably, the more practical information is what can shorten or lengthen this period. 

Here’s the hard-hitting truth: some baseball players can handle doubleheaders, and some can’t. And both of these traits are perfectly normal.

As a society, we know a ton about men's sexual health, from how erections work to the causes of issues like erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE). What affects the length of the refractory period, however, still isn't one of those things.

There can be a lot of variables involved in a refractory timetable, but three that may play a role are: 

• Age. Are there differences in refractory period by age? According to the International Society for Sexual Medicine, younger men may only need a few minutes to recover after sex, while older guys may need as long as 12 to 24 hours.

• Cardiovascular health. Erections are all about healthy blood flow. When you feel sexually aroused, your penis becomes erect as blood flows into your corpora cavernosa — the two areas of soft, sponge-like tissue that form the bulk of your penis. Getting this blood flow back can take longer if you have cardiovascular issues.

• The arousal factor. If you’re in the mood for sex, you might feel ready to go again in relatively little time. However, if you’re tired or just not feeling in the mood, you may take longer to feel ready for round two. 

All of these factors, in addition to the hormonal response that occurs in your body after orgasm, likely affect the amount of time it takes to recover after sex.

Because we don’t know much about how or why the male refractory period occurs following sex, there are very few proven, evidence-based strategies for reducing the length of your refractory period and getting ready for sex again after you orgasm. 

However, research has identified a few techniques that may work. We’ve discussed these findings below and explained how they might help you recover faster after sex.

Erectile Dysfunction Medications

A possible option for shortening your post-orgasm refractory period is using medication for erectile dysfunction. 

Oral ED medications belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by increasing blood flow to your penis when you feel sexually aroused. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved ED medications for reducing the refractory period, and studies on their effectiveness are mixed. 

• A study published in 2000 examined the effects of sildenafil on 20 men’s recovery time after sex. One group took 100mg of sildenafil, and the other took a non-therapeutic placebo. The men who took the sildenafil had a significantly shorter post-ejaculatory refractory period (2.6 ± 0.7 minutes) than those who were given the placebo (10.8 ± 0.9 minutes).

• In a different study of men with premature ejaculation, participants were given either sildenafil or a placebo. Although sildenafil didn’t significantly improve ejaculatory latency (time to ejaculation), the men in the sildenafil group had an average post-ejaculation refractory time of around half that of the men in the placebo group.

• A 2005 study published in Urology concluded that while sildenafil has several benefits for sexual performance, it doesn’t appear to shorten the refractory period after ejaculation.

Currently, there are four medications approved by the FDA for erectile dysfunction, all of which can be taken before sex for improved erections and, potentially, a shorter refractory period.

They include:

• Viagra® (sildenafil)

• Cialis® (tadalafil)

• Stendra® (avanafil)

• Levitra® (vardenafil)

Other Tips on How to Reduce Refractory Period

Beyond using ED medications like sildenafil (generic Viagra) or tadalafil, making some changes to your habits and lifestyle may help shorten your refractory period and enhance your sexual performance — and we’re really stressing the may:

• Pay attention to your cardiovascular health. As we mentioned, erections are all about blood and how it flows in your body. If you find it difficult to get hard again after sex (and especially if you’re prone to ED in round one), focusing on your overall health and, specifically, your cardiovascular health may help. We’ve discussed these techniques in detail in our guide to improving blood flow during sex.

• Limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol is closely linked with many forms of sexual dysfunction, including ED and low sex drive. If you’d like to enjoy round two as soon as possible, it’s best to avoid drinking excessively. 

• Try new sex positions, scenarios, and fantasies. Optimal sexual performance is all about stimulation and arousal, so to spice up your sex life, try something new. After you finish round one, try new forms of foreplay or sexual positions to make you feel aroused, excited, and ready to go.

• Try to exercise and eat well. Generally speaking, staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight can do wonders for your sexual performance. Simple things like eating heart-healthy foods and reducing your salt intake can majorly impact your sexual performance. Our guide to techniques for a stronger erection lists even more tactics that you can use to improve your sexual health and well-being.

If your goal is to have multiple orgasms in one night, then you’ve got to work the system. And by “the system,” we mean “your body.”

Understanding how your refractory period affects sexual function is arguably the best way to “hack” more rounds into your sex life.

To get more sex in, remember:

• The refractory period varies from one man to another. It might take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours for you to recover after sex. If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or older, it might even take the better part of a day before you’re ready to have sex again. 

• It’s perfectly normal to have trouble getting hard after ejaculating. You may lose interest in sex or have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection right after you reach orgasm and ejaculate, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

• There are no FDA-approved treatment options that specifically reduce a long refractory period. However, ED medications like sildenafil and tadalafil show potential for getting you ready for round two more quickly.

We offer access to several erectile dysfunction medications online following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider, including several medications that may help improve both your erections and your post-orgasm recovery time.

Interested in finding out more about improving your sexual performance as a man? Our guide to having better sex lists numerous techniques that you can use for a more pleasurable experience in bed — from practicing good communication to trying new positions, exercises, and more.