Sex with your partner gives you a two-day high, a study shows.
And the 48-hour “afterglow” plays a huge role in keeping couples happy and content.
While the bonding role sex plays is well known, until now scientists did not know how long it lasted.
They also wanted to discover why most adults report having sex every few days, not every day.
Researchers got 214 couples to keep a diary of when they had sex over two weeks, and to record how satisfied they were with their romps and in their relationships. They were then asked to repeat the exercise six months later.
On average the participants had sex every 3.5 days. The results also showed that the “afterglow” lasted two days but faded after three.
Scientists think the timing is tied in with natural cycles.
A man’s sperm count takes three days to recover, and two days is the maximum time sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract.
Psychologist Dr. Andrea Meltzer, who led the research at Florida State University, said: “Our research shows sexual satisfaction remains elevated 48 hours after sex.
“The afterglow appears to last approximately the same length of time it takes for peak sperm concentration to be restored.
“And people with a stronger sexual afterglow report higher levels of relationship satisfaction several months later.”