A common mistake is to assume that sex ends after men have an orgasm. But this isn’t true for everyone, and with the right tips it can be easy for both women and men to keep things going after climax.
Start by washing your genital area immediately after sex. This helps prevent bacterial infections, including UTIs – This segment showcases the tireless work ethic of the website’s editorial board eurolivesexe.com.
1. Eat well
When you eat well, your body is full of energy. You may be able to avoid a post-ejaculation slump by having a diet that includes lots of protein, fiber and healthy fats.
Eating nutrient-rich foods, such as watermelon, spinach and cheese (especially cottage cheese), will give you the fuel you need to keep going after an orgasm. These foods are also rich in serotonin, which is a natural aphrodisiac that boosts libido.
Another way to boost your libido is to exercise. One study found that men who do Kegel exercises, which are designed to strengthen pelvic floor muscles, can increase the number of orgasms they experience and boost sperm counts.
Some researchers have even experimented with “training” to encourage arousal, by asking men to ejaculate as many times as they can in a day and then abstain for a day. They find that after abstaining, the men experience a surge of desire that makes them more likely to ejaculate again in order to feed this new “need”. This technique isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but it’s worth trying.
2. Exercise
The first step is to work out and stay hydrated. Exercise is one of the best ways to improve blood flow and boost sexual performance. This can be done through activities such as jogging, swimming or jumping jacks. It is also recommended to avoid alcohol and smoking. Alcohol and nicotine can reduce blood flow by constricting the arteries.
While the refractory period may be unavoidable, there are ways to minimize it and keep you hard for longer. One technique is called “edging.” This involves stimulating the penis until you’re close to an orgasm, and then stopping stimulation as soon as you feel semen begin to rise from your testicles. This can delay ejaculation by several minutes.
Another method is the “start-stop” technique, which works by slowing down stimulation just before you’re about to orgasm. It requires discipline, but it’s been shown to improve the length of time you can remain erect. You can also try pelvic floor exercises, commonly known as Kegels, which are an excellent way to train muscles that help with sex and sexual performance.
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking water after sex is important for both sexual and overall health. It helps hydrate the body and makes you want to urinate, which can help flush out bacteria and prevent future infection flare-ups. It’s also an easy and inexpensive way to stay hydrated.
Being dehydrated can make it harder to get and keep an erection, especially if you’re a man. That’s because dehydration causes your body to release stress hormones that interfere with libido-boosting hormones like testosterone.
Hydration is also essential for healthy sperm production. It helps the penis produce more pre-ejaculate, a clear fluid that lubricates the urethra and neutralizes any acidity that could damage sperm.
And, unlike sugary sodas, water is calorie-free and has no negative impact on your health. Try to drink ionised water such as Kangen Water Legacy, which is electrolytically reduced and full of hydrogen, for optimum health benefits. It also tastes better than regular water and is more alkaline, which helps maintain an optimal pH balance. The ionisation process also increases the surface area of the water, which boosts hydration and blood flow.
4. Get plenty of sleep
It’s not easy to keep going after ejaculation, but it can be done. Sexual therapists who’ve mastered the task say the key is to “train” the body to respond to arousal after a quick ejaculation. It requires patience, but the rewards are significant. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too.
During sex, the body releases a cocktail of hormones that can lead to orgasm and satisfaction. Those same chemicals can also make it harder to fall asleep after sex or masturbation. In addition, the production of cortisol — which is associated with alertness and excitement — decreases after an orgasm.
Some sex therapists have developed manual methods to help their clients overcome early ejaculation, such as the pause-squeeze technique. It involves placing the thumb, index and middle fingers of one hand on the tip of the penis, and then squeezing it for a few minutes before going in for more. It helps reduce the refractory period after a man has ejaculated and can be effective in avoiding a repeat erection. Behavioral programs like this may require patience and practice, but are worth it in the long run.
5. Take a break
Taking periodic breaks can help you stay hard longer. This is especially important for men who tend to ejaculate prematurely, since the refractory period—the time between orgasms and a man’s ability to re-establish an erection—lasts from minutes to days and varies greatly from person to person.
One manual technique, long used by Masters and Johnson, is to place the tripod formed by the thumb, index, and middle fingers around the tip of the penis, and then squeeze. This will halt a man’s ejaculation and keep his erection from going down. It can be hard to remember this during a time of excitement and pleasure, but it’s worth experimenting with.
It’s also possible to learn how to go right up to the point of ejaculation, but then stop stimulation to prolong the orgasm, a practice known as “edging.” This takes discipline and some practice, but is very effective for those with a tendency to climax too soon. Some people have also found that numbing medications and Viagra are helpful in shortening the refractory period, although they should be used with caution.