Why Laughing During Sex Helps Intimacy and Arousal
Laughing During Sex foreplay playful sexThe moment you both start laughing mid-sex is often the moment you feel closest, and it can make the rest of the encounter more intense, not less.
Why It Works
Laughter triggers the release of endorphins and lowers cortisol, the stress hormone that dampens arousal and sexual responsiveness. Shared laughter also activates the brain's reward circuitry and increases oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which makes partners feel more emotionally safe and physically relaxed with each other. When the body is relaxed rather than performance-anxious, blood flow and sensation tend to be more responsive.
How To Try It
- 1. Keep the mood light from the start by making a playful comment or a small joke during foreplay rather than treating it as a serious performance.
- 2. If an awkward moment happens, like a shifted position or a noise you didn't expect, pause and laugh about it together instead of apologizing or stopping.
- 3. Let the laughter slow your movements down, then reconnect with eye contact and a few deliberate, slower touches.
- 4. Once you're both settled, let the shared giggles fade into a more focused build toward climax, keeping your bodies close and your breathing relaxed.
Pro Tip
Pro tip: Pay attention to whether the laughter is with each other or at each other; playful, mutual laughter builds arousal, while mocking laughter quickly creates anxiety that shuts it down.
Dr. Bloom is a private coach for couples. Free to start on iPhone and the web.