Surprise – any time of day when you make love is a good time for sex.
“The benefits of sex basically do not depend on when you have it – it can help you relax, reduce stress, strengthen the feeling of closeness with your partner, and provide other similar benefits,” says licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist Laurie Mintz.
So the debate over whether morning or evening sex is better ultimately depends on personal preferences and what works best for you and your partner.
Much more important than the time of day you have sex is whether you make time for it at all. This is especially relevant in long-term relationships. That is why many specialists recommend that couples even consciously plan sex and include it in their schedules.
However, sex at different times of day can have its own advantages and disadvantages. So what is special about morning, evening, and the often undeservedly forgotten afternoon?
Advantages of morning sex
Although sex at night may seem more romantic and “sexier,” in the morning a person often feels more relaxed, open, and better connected to their body. And morning breath – that’s another story.
Moreover, some people naturally feel a stronger sexual desire in the morning. According to L. Mintz, there is a biological explanation for this.
“Hormone levels are related to sexual desire, and testosterone and estrogen levels are highest in the morning,” explains the specialist.
Therefore, hormonally, the body may be naturally better prepared for sex in the morning.
Therapist Joy Berkheimer also notes that after a good night’s sleep, our bodies are usually more relaxed in the morning, so intimacy can provide more pleasure.
Another advantage is oxytocin released during sex and especially orgasm. It can help you feel closer to your partner for the rest of the day.
Endorphins are also released during sex, so intimacy helps relax and reduce stress. According to L. Mintz, this can be a pretty good way to calm down before work, studies, or other daily worries, and for some people even help concentrate better.
In short, the start of the day can be quite good.
Advantages of evening sex
Sex in the evening seems like a natural choice for many. It is easier to create a romantic atmosphere, relax, and get in the mood for intimacy after dark.
But the advantages of evening sex are not limited to the atmosphere.
Sexologist Marla Renee Stewart says that sex in the evening can be a great way to reduce stress accumulated after a long day and help prepare for sleep.
“Due to the release of feel-good hormones, it may be easier to fall asleep and enter deeper sleep,” says the specialist.
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Evening sex can also help end the day with positive emotions and strengthen the bond with your partner.
“As the sun sets, our bodies naturally transition to a calmer state, so this can be a great time to relax and immerse yourself in closeness with your partner,” explains J. Berkheimer.
According to her, this transition to a calmer state can provide security and comfort and strengthen the emotional connection. Especially if the couple talked about sex in advance, looked forward to it, and created a pleasant sense of anticipation.
This is another argument why planning sex does not necessarily have to be unromantic.
What about sex in the afternoon?
When talking about the eternal competition between morning and evening sex, the afternoon is usually left out. However, sex in the middle of the day has many arguments in its favor.
First of all, it can feel like a small luxury. After all, we usually can have sex in the middle of the day when we are on vacation, have a free weekend, or can forget daily obligations for at least a few hours.
“Sex in the afternoon usually happens when we have more time, for example, in the middle of a weekend day. Therefore, the whole encounter can last longer, leaving more room for playfulness and experimentation,” says L. Mintz.
But the afternoon is also great for a short spontaneous midday sex.
According to the specialist, sex in the afternoon can feel unusual, luxurious, and new, and it is precisely the feeling of novelty that can enhance sexual arousal.
This is important because sexuality experts constantly emphasize that novelty and spontaneity can help keep the sexual life of long-term relationships alive.
“Sex in the afternoon often feels like something extra and spontaneous, so it gives many people energy – especially if recently you felt stuck in routine in your relationship or daily life,” says sexuality expert Angie Rowntree.
Moreover, afternoon sex does not necessarily mean just an escape from duties.
L. Mintz and J. Berkheimer note that a short intimate encounter during a lunch break can help reduce stress accumulated in the first half of the day and later return to work rested and full of energy.
So there is no definitive answer as to which time of day is best for sex. In the morning, hormones may be more favorable for sexual desire, in the evening sex can help relax and sleep better, and in the afternoon spontaneity and the feeling of novelty can add extra playfulness to the relationship.
The most important thing is not the clock, but what works best for you and your partner.
Prepared based on “Cosmopolitan”.
