Huffington Magazine Issue 64-65 | Page 86

Exit LIFESTYLE STOCKBYTE/GETTY IMAGES heterosexual women) found that 66 percent moan during sex to speed up their partner’s climax, while 87 percent did so to boost their partners’ self-esteem, CNN reports. But making noises can be a great way to be clear about what you want in bed, and “there are many women who need to be vocal to help themselves achieve orgasm,” sex educator Patty Brisben told CNN. “There is a difference between faking it like a screamer, and being in the moment and expressing how you’re feeling, which can increase sound,” agreed Levine. Some women are quiet during sex, others are loud — it’s as simple as that. YOU GET A HEADACHE A sex headache is usually a dull ache in your head or neck that builds as sexual excitement mounts, or it can be a more sudden pain, often accompanying orgasm. Most are nothing to worry about, the Mayo Clinic says, but sudden-onset ones may be a sign of something serious. Minkin cautioned that “in rare situations, some women have a severe headache at the time of intercourse, which is possibly related to changes in blood pressure. If you do have it, you’re not crazy, but do mention it to your healthcare provider.” YOU FART Vaginal flatulence is not actually the same thing as passing gas — it’s just air being released through the vagina — but it does make a very similar sound. Dubbed “queefing,” it occurs when air gets trapped in the vagina. There isn’t any way to prevent it, avoiding certain sex positions may help, whereas switching positions several times may increase the chances of it happening. Better yet, just don’t sweat it. “Sex can be awkward — we queef ... bump body parts and miss the mark,” said Levine. “It’s completely natural for it not to be seamless, and your best bet is to laugh it off and keep going.” HUFFINGTON 09.01-08.13