Sexual queries: 'What's the normal duration of intercourse?'

We invited Get Ahead readers to mail in their questions. Here is the next set of responses:

Dear Sir,

I am writing with respect to my sexual disorder problem. I am a married person.My marriage was in the year 2007 and till now there are no signs of pregnancy in my wife. After medical check-up of my semen it was noticed that my sperm count is only 10,000 and the abnormality rate is nil. Please advise us for some medical treatment or medicines which can cure this disorder.

Regards, Akhtar

The male is responsible for half of all infertility, ie 50 percent of all infertility is caused by a problem in the man. If the sperm counts are low, and the sperm motility is poor, then it is very likely that there is a male factor operating in your case. You need to consult an andrologist. For more information on male infertility, check out www.IndiaMaleInfertility.com.

Hi Dr Sudhakar Krishnamurti,

Sir I got married 6 months back. My problem is when I want to do sex with my wife within a gap of 2 or 3 days, then I get discharged automatically. I consulted my problem with doctor, he said that this is a mental problem not a physical problem. Is there any solution of my problem?

Thanks and regards.

Sexual abstinence leads to increased excitability and predisposes to early ejaculation. It is perfectly normal to obtain release of semen by masturbation some hours before sex in order to counter this.

Dear sir,

I am 62 years and my wife is 59 years old. My wife reached menopause at 52 years. Now, her vagina has become so tight that penetration has become almost impossible. Is there any way to overcome this ? Nanthan.

Narrowing of the vagina (vaginal stenosis) is a normal concomitant of the menopause. Here, generally, prevention is better than cure. Topical estrogen creams are useful in prophylaxis. But established stenosis will require dilatation or more. By no means is it advisable to use force to overcome this. It can cause grievous injury. See a gynecologist.

Dear Dr, Sudhakar,

Myself Vinay, I am 27 years old and am residing in UK for the past 5 years. My query: I have been masturbating for about 8 years now. During the initial stage it was about 7 to 10 times a week, now it's only about 3 to 4 times a month. What I have realised for the past 3 years is that I am coming too fast, ie within a minute. Is this gonna affect my sexual life when I marry or is this normal? How long do you think a normal intercourse session last for? i have heard from my friends that, it is somewhere between 5 to 20 minutes, if that's the case can I also have the same duration or should I take any medication for the same? Am really worried about this. For your information, I am planning to get married by January 2011. Your advice on the same would be much appreciated.

Regards Vinay.

An ejaculation time of less than a minute is within the ISSM (International Society for Sexual Medicine) definition of premature ejaculation. Such short ejaculatory latency time is certain to affect your partner unless you have already brought her to orgasm using non-coital methods. You need treatment. See an andrologist. You can bet that your friends are fibbing about their ejaculation time. Most do, so don't worry about them. `Normal intercourse time' is usually the time required for the sexual satisfaction of both partners. You must sort this premature ejaculation problem out before your marriage (or first sexual experience). Good medicines are available nowadays.

Do you have a question for Dr Krishnamurti? Simply e-mail him at sexualqueries@rediffmail.com; responses will be published each week and names will be withheld upon request.

Dr Sudhakar Krishnamurti is an international award-winning andrologist and microsurgeon. He is the only Indian on the world's first-ever batch of sexual medicine fellows (Oxford, 2007). Best known for the Krishnamurti Operation for Peyronie's Disease, he is also the founder of Andromeda, India's first andrology center, and author of the book Sexx is Not a Four-Letter Word. Click here to purchase the book from rediff Shopping.

Disclaimer: Please note that Dr Krishnamurti will be answering the most relevant queries at his discretion each week. His advice may not necessarily reflect the opinions of rediff.com and while it is in the capacity of professional medical counselling, it in no way should be considered an alternative to visiting a medical specialist for sex-related ailments.