Everyone knows sex isn't supposed to last too long, so how long exactly does it usually lasts for? But when do you start the timer? Scientists have a much weirder way of phrasing it: What is the mean intravaginal ejaculation latency time?

When does the clock technically start? Is foreplay included?

Also, measuring the time is an awkward matter, as counting out-loud in the sack could possibly ruin the mood.

A group of scientists from the Netherlands actually got 500 couples from all over the world to agree to time themselves having sex for 4 weeks. They literally pressed “start” when the vagina was entered and “stop” when it was all said and done.

The average time for each couple (averaged across all the times they had sex) ranged from 33 seconds to 44 minutes. That, folks, is an 80-fold difference.

The median across all couples, however was 5.4 minutes. All this means is that when you line up the 500 couples from shortest sex to longest sex, the middle couple has an average time-count of 5.4 minutes each time they do it.

The scientists also found that condom use doesn’t affect the time, and neither does circumcision.

Where the couples lived didn’t really matter either, unless they were from Turkey. Their sex seemed to be a lot shorter than couples from other places, clocking in at 3.7 minutes.

Another surprise was that the older the couple, the shorter time spent getting it on.

So the next time you feel inadequate because of however long (or short) the sex was, just remember: it really does happen to everyone.