Not for those who easily blush, this was the actual subject of a recently published research study.
Researchers (Brewer & Colin, 2011) actually refer to sex noises and orgasm screams in much more staid, scientific language: copulatory vocalizations. The question they wanted to answer was whether the noises a woman makes during sex are voluntary or a reflex, or consequence, of orgasm.
You have to wonder where researchers come up with these questions…
The researchers were interested in exploring the relationship between sexual vocalizations and orgasm. Their primary question was whether such vocalizations were an involuntary reflex of orgasm (or associated with orgasm), or whether they were independent of the act of reaching climax.
They recruited 71 sexually active, heterosexual women from the local community with a mean age of 22 years old, and administered a questionnaire asking the subjects about their vocalizations during sex.
Consistent with prior research, women most often reported reaching orgasm during masturbation or self-manipulation, and secondly by manipulation by their partner. Oral sex was the third most likely way to achieve orgasm, followed by the way women least frequently achieve orgasm — penetration by a man. Women in the study reported they most often experienced an orgasm during foreplay.
What about vocalizations? Did they most often appear around a woman’s own orgasm?
Perhaps surprising to some, the answer was “No.” The researchers found that a woman’s vocalizations occurred around the man’s orgasm — most often just before or simultaneously with male ejaculation. The researchers theorize why:
These data together clearly demonstrate a dissociation of the timing of women experiencing orgasm and making copulatory vocalizations and indicate that there is at least an element of these responses that are under conscious control, providing women with an opportunity to manipulate male behavior to their advantage.
According to this study, whether they know it or not, women appear to vocalize during sex not to express their own enjoyment so much as to help the man reach climax.
This is in keeping with the idea that we all have sexual scripts in our head of both our idealized sexual encounter, as well as what we believe our partners want:
Both men’s and women’s perceptions of their partners’ ideal duration of foreplay and intercourse were found to be more strongly related to their own sexual stereotypes than to their partners’ self-reported sexual desires, suggesting that people rely on sexual stereotypes when estimating their partners’ ideal sexual scripts (Miller & Byers, 2004).
Maybe these vocalizations are a part of that idealized sexual script, or at least done in response to what women believe their male partner wants.
A good question for a future study. In the meantime, I hope I didn’t ruin it for anyone who thought women were making noises only because they were enjoying it… it appears to be a little more complicated than that.
References:
Brewer, G. & Hendrie, C.A. (2011). Evidence to suggest that copulatory vocalizations in women are not a reflexive consequence of orgasm. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 40, 559-564.
Miller, A. & Byers, S.E. (2004). Actual and Desired Duration of Foreplay and Intercourse: Discordance and Misperceptions Within Heterosexual Couples. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 301-309.
47 comments
Ummmm… they are assuming a lot here. I’m a woman and the noises both parties make are helpful to ME. Maybe the noises are a form of communication during sex… a different wordless “language” of sorts… that bring to people closer emotionally; which in turn makes the whole experience more intense and well… like “good sex”. Sheesh. This study is a little flawed.
I’m a man and the noises are helpful for me too 🙂
Maybe it’s not about stereotypes, but about pleasing each other, which is kind of what sex is all about. Sounds are definitely a part of the game, they make sex so much more exciting.
Hmmm… flawed is a good word for the study. The age of the participants is young and cannot be applied across agegroups, and with masturbation being the primary means of reaching orgasm, well, one has to question the environmental constraints which might prevent the full experience. As a 45 yo with no partner, I can say that masturbation leading to orgasm produces vocalizations that must be stifled. As for producing vocalizations for the benefit of a partner… that is a wonderful enhancer if it is genuine.
LMAO – Wow. Yeah…who cares, right? And I agree with the other commentators… It’s a form of communication. The faces and noises I make are involuntary, first of all, and communicate with my partner that things are “going well” – lol – and the noise gets him going. Something about listening to him start to moan and grunt gets me going more too. But yeah, can we put more money and energy into research of cancer or mental illness instead of how voluntary or involuntary sex moans are?
I agree with the study!
masturbation is it. a woman knows what she wants better than a man. men as a norm are only seeking their own pleasure. they have a tendency to be roch, selfish and lazy.
that word is ‘rough!’
i totally disagree with the conclusions this article expresses. If the suspect sample of 22yr-olds produce a result that says they (the majority) of sample woman make noise in conjunction with the male orgasm; this to me suggests an involuntary reaction, when as the male orgasms, thus signalling the end of penetration, (as the article says) penetration is the least likely method for a woman to orgasm, and a joyous eruption of noises flow from the woman. To clarify, if the majority of sample women make noise at the time of the male climax then the correlation of vocalisation to conscious control if wrong, well at least not necessarily a correlation.
The next point, or misguided conclusion, women use their sex noises to manipulate men (for their own purposes) stinks of paranoia. For this to be true the first point needs to be given, it’s not….
I am too busy blushing to think of a decent comeback to this article.
I like the way people think a study is flawed because the conclusions made aren’t true for them.
The study isn’t exactly “flawed”, although it can’t be considered conclusive proof of the theory, because the test group only consisted of 71 women. A mean age of 22 also leaves room to question the experience of the subjects. Questioning the finding of masturbation being the primary means of reaching orgasm is one that shows lack of information on the part of the person commenting, because as it said, this is consistent with a lot of research. Also, masturbation can & does happen regularly during sex with a partner present. The study didn’t specify the details.
Self-report? Really? This will be a good example for my undergrads about the tendency to minimize the experiences of women in sex research.
I Find in the study to be just a little one sided. The comments made by women, other than the “mean” age is more likely on the mark. Otherwise, I find this study rather interesting.
I’m a man and this is my contribution.
If the vocalizations occur right before or during male orgasm, he’s already past the point of inevitability. I don’t see how she can manipulate him at that point, he’s a goner.
I often wonder if these sorts of behaviors are genuine and spontaneous, or just acting out scenes they’ve read in books or seen in movies.
Although I agree with the other poster that research dollars may be better spent elsewhere, this is quite interesting to me. I am 47 and I have always struggled to stifle my vocalizations. For me, they have been involuntary and occur even when masturbating alone.
All I have to say is HMMMMMMM…… LOL!!!!!
The theory behind the reason why women as having orgasms because they either want to please the man and/or follow a social script of stereotypes to merely be proximate explanations behind women having sexual vocalizations. The ultimate reason is that by a woman making vocalizations, they increase the odds of the man having an orgasm. That ultimately increases the odds of the woman being impregnated. Evolutionary psychology proposes that this coincides with much of human behavior being related to increasing the odds of passing on one’s genes.
When you ask 71 women aged 22, then ask them also how many have had really experience with an orgasm. Guess that they make noise because they want to, but not to influence us men…
I am 14, and the times I’VE had sex, I never make a sound and we both climax fine.
You’re 14 and having sex? I’d say this is a problem in itself providing what you said is true which I doubt it is.
Your Pseudonym suits you well… good luck with Herpes!
In my experience, sex at 22 was much less enjoyable than it is now 10 years on, and orgasm was more difficult to reach. Sometimes the ‘noises’ were simply to encourage my husband to hurry up because the fireworks just weren’t going to happen. Other times they were genuine and involuntary because the the pleasure was good and the orgasm intense. This doesn’t help the insecure man in the bedroom to gauge how well he’s pleasing his partner, but yes sometimes women use noises as a simple ‘tool’, other times they are involuntary and genuine. To women older than 22, having to bite down on a pillow or a shoulder so as not to wake sleeping children is very common.
I just cannot believe there are studies like this. I would never have imagined women make noise in relation to the man?!
Why 22 year olds?
I was 22 once, and I had no idea what got me off compared to now at 29.
I never got off on any penetration either till I learned more about my body.
So I suggest if you want the survey to have the correct answers, you ask woman, not girls.
🙂
A lot of people bring up the age thing of 22. This is a mean age of 22, but it doesn’t preclude having women in their 30s, 40s, or even 50s involved. It only means that the mean age of the 71 participants is 22.
As for the issue of self-report, yeah, that’s perfectly valid. But how else are you going to do this study? It would be monumentally expensive if you had to have the participants come in and be provided an observable facility to have them do the deed, or bring along or provide partners for comparisons and have to control for the unusual location having an effect on the outcome (i.e. can’t achieve orgasm in a lab with researchers watching).
It could be done in the future, but for the monumental additional complexity, it makes sense to see if self-report suggests that undertaking it would even be worthwhile in the first place.
I always make sure my partner is enjoying herself I dont even think about myself until she has had at least 3 or 4 orgasms then i will go for mine, but i found out foreplay and kissing and touching in various places on a women will definitely work in both favors so men listen to what the women want and and see what happens…..
you think she has had 3 or 4 orgasms.. but that might be her voice manipulating you!
I am a 25 year old women and I orgasm way before my boyfriend does and I hold back my screams and I’m still loud and after that if he hasn’t had and orgasm I just keep moving with out making much noise so that he finish too. I only make noise when it feels really really good!:))))
I would say that the young age of the participants puts the findings at risk. AT this age there will be a lot of mixed feelings and messages about sex noises; some will make noise because they think it’s required and some may be quite unconscious & “natural” about it, while yet others keep quiet because of the usual circumstances of sex- in cars, in a room in a shared house etc. There should be a broad age range (28 to 60 sounds right) to allow different possibilities, eg. quiet women becoming noisier and loud ones quieter with age/experience/stability. I also think you’ll find some people make involuntary noises even during masturbation as they get older etc. Also, I would doubt many women over the age of 30 would make noises to encourage men! Let’s see- who is going to do this lovely piece of research for their PhD??
Although women don’t orgasm 100% of the time through penetration that does not mean they don’t get enjoyment out of it and pleasurable feelings. I would say it is the feeling caused by the changing motions of the man as he is about to orgasm that may affect my noises.
I’m 29 and have been with several! guys. I have never orgasmed as frequently or has intensely as I did at the age 17/18 (with penetration). it is different for everyone and does NOT always improve with age.
and as far as you ladies making sounds to please your man – STOP. stop faking orgasms or doing anything remotely close to it. you’re ruining it for the rest of us. out of the 30 guys ive had sex with, maybe 4 knew what they were doing. if your a man reading this, you are probably the RULE, not the exception.
Part of what seems odd here might be the word choices in the responses and results. Just because a vocalization isn’t prompted by one’s own orgasm doesn’t mean it’s either voluntary or controllable . . . just sayin’. My ex didn’t believe I liked intercourse, because I didn’t have orgasms during it. But I could have an orgasm any old time by myself. I liked intercourse for completely different but intensely pleasurable sensations, which made me make noise. Maybe those moments were based on what was going on with him and it was a fortunate coincidence. Some say it’s mostly in our minds, anyway.
I bang lots of girls and they all orgasm and some of them scream when they squirt… I’ve had girls who have to bite on pillows or stuff their mouths with sheets to not piss off my roommates because they can’t keep quiet. I don’t think any of those 71 respondents have come across a big dick yet…
Are you joking!? I hate idiots like yourself who think they are the god of sex and have the biggest cock! People are such selfish asshole’s sometimes! Get over yourself.
Just throwing it out there, but I vocalize more around my husband’s climax not to encourage him but because it feels good. At climax a man’s member will pulsate and swell just prior to ejaculation. This generally causes the vaginal walls to contract as well. I really don’t think the researchers were asking the right questions. I also agree with the others in that it seems they should have broadened the age group. I understand what Keith is saying about the mean (or average) being 22 but this in itself means that there were more younger ladies interviewed than the more mature ladies who have more experience. Anyhow, that’s my two cents for what it is worth.
I thought exactly that after reading the study. Must have been a bunch of men conducting the study as they haven’t taken into account the heightened sensations as a man approaches orgasm. It is likely you are more wet, and potentially approaching orgasm/had an orgasm already yourself. He will be slowing down as much as possible to delay orgasm which heightens sensation and is more pleasurable (in my experience at least). He will be getting harder as he approaches orgasm, again increasing sensation and pleasure for the woman and ejaculation might also be a pleasurable sensation increasing her vocalisation further. Also as a mans ejaculation (usually) terminates the penetrative sex that will be the peak of her vocalisation as the fun is essentially over. Regarding the comments about the age of participants… Really? People think that 22 year olds don’t enjoy sex? I enjoy it less now than I did then. 🙁
Those researchers must be pretty young….really just surveying & asking questions? Mean age of 22 translates into 35 women being younger than that! How many experiences at that age? No direct observation? At age 22 I was quiet, at age 55, with a great partner I jerk, jump, shake, yell, scream, sometimes shake all at his hand. This can be with him fully clothed and just touching me. It is entirely involuntar, y happens separate and with orgasm, surprising to me as well and often I am holding back for fear neighbors or whoever if were not home will hear.yes I do get turned on when he is, and vocalize then as well, and vocalize when he starts to ejaculate.Its called EXCITEMENT, pure and simple!
Was looking for some real research on this matter….not here
the sample used isnt a true representation of the whole population, i agree sex at 22 isnt usually as gud as it is wen u get older. this study also dusnt allow for same sex sex…… i certainly dont vocalise to help my partner, i do it out of sheer enjoyment 🙂
I agree very much with this study. I never, NEVER do any sound while masturbating, no matter how good the orgasm is. I’ve also lived in the same house with other female flatmates, wall to wall, and have never heard them making any sound (and I suppose that they have masturbated at some moment or other). I only make some sounds during sex, specially if the man moans as well, just to not look as if I didn’t care. I think that when men moan is more because of pleasure, while women do it more because is socially accepted and as means to communicate.
I always knew that my wife’s vocalizations were real. What happened to her voice during intercourse could not be done with conscious control. She told me so. She made almost no noise when cumming but would get operatic during orgasm.
I think having sex with your girl whom to screams at loud, makes it so intimate. Because they are pleased to do it and not voluntarily.
And thanks for the researches on this blog by the way. 🙂
I used to be real quiet during sex and having an orgasm was more difficult. Since I started being more vocal when masturbating and when stimulating myself during intercourse (penetration alone doesn’t bring me to climax), I find that vocalization and moaning helps me be more in the moment and if it’s in sync with what my fingers (or little vibe) are doing, I tend to climax faster and it’s more satisfying. I didn’t expect that. I’m a scientist so my own empirical evidence is that vocalizing helps me reach climax and it helps me climax more strongly.
Even with my partner when I’m not working towards my own orgasm, there’s some intangible quality to letting whatever come out. Sometimes, it’s about turning my partner on. Sometimes, it just feels good.
Sound helps me stay in the moment and it gets me out of my head so I’m present with my partner.
The points you touched on (no pun intended) would certainly make for some interesting research.
I’m not a doctor but my opinion on women sex noises, I believe that sex noises are caused from stress relief and sexual fatigue stemming from sexual excitement. When sexually aroused from your partner signals are sent to your brain which release hormones (Adrenalin & Dopamine) which causes your heart rate to rise. Also causing heavy breathing, increase sweating, a natural high, and sometimes premature ejaculation (Men & Women), all coming from the thought of sexual pleasure. The more intense sexual pleasure gets the more hormones are released until you reach and orgasm from stimulation.
some partners I talked to (who were loud) said they did so because it encouraged their partner.
I tend to be on the quiet side, and several partners have found this off putting. And they have shown preference for position/locations etc where I have been unusually (and for me, uncomfortably) louder.
Seems to be a definately aural feedback for many people – at least those without children in the next room…..
the call of the wild?
Love sounds, female or male, many of which are almost involuntary work for both parties.One advantage of being alone is I can yell as loudly as I please. If vocalization works in playing tennis why not in other activities? Karate? Remember Bruce Lee? Lots of noises there, some sounding pretty sexual. I love noises of all kinds: barking dogs, babies yelling, old people calling out, not in pain, but to hear the sounds of their own voices. Cicada sounds, soothing. Vocalizations. I love most of the happy sounds. Listen to the female voice in Annie’s Song by John Denver, O Lord what a pleasure.
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