Glossary
Refractory period
The pause after an orgasm, why it's there and why it varies so much from person to person.
What is the refractory period?
The refractory period is the recovery phase after an orgasm in which the body can’t come again right away. In men it follows ejaculation: the erection subsides and further stimulation of the penis often feels oversensitive or unpleasant. It is the last phase of the sexual response cycle, and its length varies widely from person to person.
| In Dutch | refractaire periode |
| What it is | the recovery phase after an orgasm, part of the sexual response cycle |
| In whom | clearest in men; in women its existence is disputed |
| Length | from minutes to hours, and strongly dependent on age |
| Role of prolactin | disputed: the hormone rises after an orgasm, but probably does not cause the period |
| Noticeable as | the erection subsides and further stimulation briefly feels oversensitive |
How the refractory period works
After an orgasm the body switches over to recovery. The encyclopedia describes the refractory period as “the recovery phase after orgasm during which it is physiologically impossible to have additional orgasms”, and notes how strongly the length moves with age: a man of eighteen needs about fifteen minutes for it, someone in their seventies sometimes as much as twenty hours. For a long time prolactin was thought to be the cause, because that hormone stays elevated for about an hour after an orgasm. But a 2021 study by Valente, Marques and Lima found no evidence that prolactin causes the refractory period. So the hormone does belong to the moment, but it is not the switch that starts the pause.
Why it’s useful to know this
The refractory period explains something that otherwise gets read the wrong way. If the erection subsides after an orgasm and your partner wants nothing for a bit, that is the body at work and not disinterest. That insight takes the pressure off for you: the pause is normal and says nothing about how much he enjoyed it. What it does not do: put a fixed clock on it. The length ranges from minutes to hours, and whether women have such a period is still disputed in science. So don’t count on it being just as long or just as short for everyone.
Where this fits on my site
The refractory period is physiology, not a service I sell. What I do work in is a way where there is no performance pressure on such a moment and a pause is simply allowed to be a pause. If you’re curious how a meeting goes calmly, take a look at intimate togetherness. You may always ask first, and that commits you to nothing.
Sources
- Refractory period (sex). Wikipedia. Gives the definition of the refractory period as the recovery phase after an orgasm in which a new orgasm is physiologically impossible, and the strong variation in length with age.
- No evidence for prolactin’s involvement in the post-ejaculatory refractory period. Susana Valente, Tiago Marques & Susana Q. Lima, Communications Biology, 2021. Gives that artificially raising or blocking prolactin does not shorten the refractory period, and so gives no evidence that prolactin causes the period.
Related terms
The refractory period is the closing phase of the sexual response cycle: the recovery after the orgasm.
- Sexual response cycle. The model the refractory period is the last phase of.
- Penis. Where the erection subsides and the brief oversensitivity is felt most clearly.
- Libido. The urge that briefly drops away during the refractory period.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this term
What is the refractory period?
The refractory period is the recovery phase after an orgasm in which the body can’t come again right away. In men the erection subsides and further stimulation often feels briefly oversensitive. It is the last phase of the sexual response cycle.
How long does the refractory period last?
It varies widely from person to person and ranges from a few minutes to hours. Age plays a large role: a man of eighteen often needs about fifteen minutes for it, someone in their seventies sometimes as much as twenty hours. Whether women have such a period is still disputed in science.
Who can you turn to with questions about the refractory period?
Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience and a background as a psychotherapist. The medical side belongs with your GP or a sexologist, but Victor is glad to talk about how a meeting goes without performance pressure. Ask your question through the contact form or chat for free first.
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Still have questions about the refractory period?
I'm Victor, a gigolo with a background as a psychotherapist. The medical side belongs with your GP or a sexologist, but I work without performance pressure, where a pause is simply allowed to be a pause. Curious how that goes? Tap me a message, I'll take the time for your question.