Are you coming…to the gym?
A new study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology found that performing this specific type of exercise for less than ten minutes a day can help men last longer in bed, with results in just two weeks.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) — a workout regimen that alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and periods of lower-intensity recovery — is known for a long list of benefits, including improving cardiovascular and metabolic health.
And now possibly improving men’s sex lives.
Premature ejaculation is a sexual dysfunction that occurs when a man ejaculates before or shortly after penetration, or with minimal stimulation. It often leads to frustration and dissatisfaction in sexual relationships and impacts self-esteem and mental health.
And despite being one of the most common sexual dysfunctions men experience, the cause is still unknown.
It’s typically treated with behavioral treatments or medications, which can be ineffective or come with unwanted side effects.
But according to the new study, just seven minutes of high-intensity interval training a day can help, after 12 days.
The researchers from East China Normal University recruited 76 men aged 18 to 34 with a stable female partner who they had sex with at least once a week.
The men were assigned to one of three groups — one practiced HIIT for seven minutes each day over two weeks, another performed slow breathing exercises for the same duration and the third group took part in normal breathing exercises.
In the end, the analysis revealed that symptoms of premature ejaculation decreased for those who hit the gym and focused on normal breathing exercises.
The researchers explained that during HIIT workouts, people have to pay attention to both how their body is moving and performing, and regulating their breathing.
“After repeated practice, their ability to regulate the attention to the internal and external body sensations may improv,” the study found, which seems to help men control ejaculation.
However, further analysis revealed that attention regulation scores improved across all three groups.
So get in a HIIT workout — or practice some breathing exercises — if you’re wanting to extend your time in between the sheets.
