Why Do We Moan | Benefits of Moaning

Many people moan during sex. It's called copulatory vocalization. How? Why? What are the benefits? 

Moaning happens when air is exhaled and passes through the folds in the larynx. Essentially the more powerful the stream of air, the louder the moan. The slower the vibrations, the lower the pitch. 

Hormones, genetics, health, even mood can affect the force of an exhale and the speed of the vibrations. For example, when scared or excited the vocal cords tense up, increasing the vibrations and the pitch is a lot higher. 

Why do we do this? 

Sometimes, it's involuntary. The body's automatic, natural way of communicating.

Another reason to moan is to show off. Researcher Stuart Semble found that primates were noisier when ovulating, like a "Come and get it!" Or when they were having sex with a high-ranking partner, like a "Look who I've got!" 

Moaning may also be showing off the physical exertion of giving or receiving, like tennis players grunting as they whack their balls! 

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning found that tennis players aren't working any harder when they grunt, but they perform better when they grunt. Apply this to sex: moaning- same amount of work, better performance. 

A third reason to moan is to signal satisfaction.  According to social psychologist Dr. Lamiller, moaning conveys preferences. It reassures partners they're sexually competent, and shows gratitude. Like I said, this could be involuntary, uncontainable enjoyment. Other times moaning is done with complete, almost strategic control. 

Moaning to manipulate

A study by Bruen Hendry published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that moaning is, quoted... Two-thirds of women in their study said they intentionally make noises to help their partner climax. This can apply to all genders and orientations. Moaning has this way of increasing excitement and speeding up orgasm. 

Sometimes for the fun and thrill of it, other times because it hurts, it's boring, I'm tired, or something else needs to get done, move it along, sir. Sex doesn't have to involve all of the senses, but it's more sensational when it does! 

Moaning is like a soundtrack to sex and masturbation. The way that scented candles serve smell, and satin sheets serve touch, moaning serves sound. 

A sixth reason people moan is because they think that's what they're supposed to do. Let's call this perceived expectations. In TV, film, porn, music, sex is not portrayed as slurping sounds or slapping sounds, it's moaning. We're taught that it's moaning that encourages our partners, it's sexy to moan, the best sex is loud sex. 

Let's go back to athletes and other noisy activities for a moment. A 2011 study published in the North American Journal of Psychology found that the noises of sports audiences impacted the performances of athletes differently for different sports. For example, in baseball, cheering improved the game. In golf, it didn't. Meaning, what's positive for one person in a relationship may be negative for another. 

Moaning's certainly not an expectation. You don't have to do it, and you don't have to like it. All I ask, is that you stay curious.