From pin drop silence to vocal crescendos, no one can tell you what feels right during sex, but let’s put the pressure to be loud and appreciative behind us, because according to research, it’s OK to be silent when you’re getting it on. Music during intimacy can definitely fill the silence, but it also has the potential to actually enhance sexual pleasure…if the music fits the mood, of course.
Listening to music prompts your brain to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with desire, wanting, and craving; this occurs during sex too. The way our brain chemistry works not only allows “the pleasurable experience of sex to be amplified with music, but [it] also allow[s] music to deepen your connection with your partner while subduing negative emotions,” explains Dr. Rhonda Freeman.
Music affects three parts of the brain – the pleasure system, the bonding system, and the limbic system, which processes emotions, meaning that playing tunes while getting down and dirty can certainly enhance the feeling of intimacy between the two of you.
In fact, in a study done by Sonos, 18% of people said they dropped the L-word because of a song they heard and 67% of couples who listened to music out loud together reported having more sex than their counterparts who didn’t share the bonding activity. When listening to music aloud, you and your partner’s neurons start operating at the same rate which releases oxytocin, the ‘love hormone’, so called because it is released upon snuggling or social bonding.
Here are a few reasons why you may or may not want to play music while having sex:
TO PLAY
1. Music muffles the uncomfortable squelchy noises like slurping and slapping.
2. It can provide rhythm for the bump and grind or set the mood to make you feel your sexiest.
3. Keeping your intimate moments private — keep nosy neighbors at bay.
or
NOT TO PLAY
1. It can detract from the experience. The squelchy sounds can enhance the sensations your body feels while focused.
2. The wrong choice of song can make it really awkward.*
*For some people, choosing the right song or playlist (if you’re ambitious) can be the downfall. Instead of taking on all that pressure to find a good rhythm and lyrics that convey the right message to impress your partner, sit down with them and try creating a sex playlist together. The act itself is intimate, shows that you are both willing to learn about each other and invest in each other’s pleasure, and should bring you closer on multiple levels. If nothing else, it may put you in the mood.
