The Duration of Coitus1

What is the normal duration of human coitus? Different sexologists have expressed different opinions on this question. Most of the European workers seem to have the idea that the duration of coitus is longer in the Eastern races than in the Western. No reliable statistical data are available for any country or race and the dearth of material makes it impossible to indicate definitely any racial peculiarity if such a thing exists. The Negroes are popularly supposed to be more potent and it is believed that they can hold out longer than the European races. The brown races have also been credited with a similar capacity. I am afraid such statements, even when they come from renowned sexologists, will not be taken as established truths. I do not deny the possibility of racial difference in this matter, but this is yet to be proved statistically.

The very nature of the sexual act makes it extremely difficult if not impossible for the majority of persons to keep count of the time accurately. The impression regarding the duration that one forms after the coitus is over is very often vitiated by psychological factors. Again many people have no clear conception of what is meant by the expression 'duration of coitus'. It is therefore desirable to define the term so that there may be uniformity in the observations of different workers. Directly we try to frame such a definition we are confronted with practical difficulties. Is the duration to be measured from the moment of intromission to the point of discharge in the male or is the limit to be set by the completion of the orgasm in the female? Should the male continue his movements even after the completion of the orgasm is it to be regarded as a part of the coitus and the time measured accordingly? Should the male after intromission refrain from movements at intervals are such pauses to be included in the time estimation? Unless we have definite ideas about these situations it would be impossible to say whether