From bathroom habits to sharing a bed: How long it takes couples to get comfortable with each other

Almost every event happens quicker for men than women

(Rex Features)

From your first adult sleepover to the first time you say “I love you” - there are myriad events we use to judge the progress of our romantic partnerships - and they happen faster for some than others.

Now, a survey has revealed just how long it really takes to feel completely comfortable around a partner, examining the most nuanced markers of intimacy, such as walking around naked and wearing a retainer to bed.

The survey of 1,000 people, carried out by Mattress Advisor, revealed vast discrepancies between men and women, with the former often taking far less time to feel comfortable around their partner in various circumstances.

For example, it takes men an average of 2.8 months to feel comfortable sleeping naked with a new partner, whereas for women it takes more than a month longer.

(Mattress Advisor (Mattress Advisor)

Meanwhile it takes men roughly 3.4 months to wear a retainer to bed, while for women this won’t happen for at least 8.8 months.

As for walking around the bedroom naked - an anxiety that undoubtedly plagues all relationship newbies - it takes men an average of 2.8 months - for women, it’s 3.9.

One similarity between the genders in terms of feeling comfortable was regarding telling a partner they snore too loud, with both men and women doing so at an average of 4.7 months.

The research found that the one thing that takes the most time for both men and women to feel comfortable doing is to “poop in front of your partner”, taking men 7.1 months and women 10.7.