Is it true that socks worn during sex increase the likelihood of an orgasm by 30%?

There is a belief that if you have sex in socks, the probability of orgasm will increase. We decided to check if this is confirmed by scientific data.

Statement, fully or partially coinciding with the question of interest to us, you can find not only thematic resources, c Lifestail editions or public V social networksbut also in Russian, Kazakhstani And Ukrainian Media. Part of the sources They saythat socks increase the chance of orgasm to 80%, and some resources complement narrative, reporting that the warmer socks, the brighter the orgasm, in particular In women.

Orgasm is a complex physiological and at the same time psychological process, which is the climax of sexual arousal. It is accompanied by intense physical and emotional sensations, as well as various biochemical changes in the body. Orgasm arises As a result of stimulation of erogenous zones, such as the genitals, nipples and other sensitive parts of the body. In turn, stimulation causes excitement, which increases and reaches a peak at the time of orgasm.

The process of sexual reaction consists of some Stages. At first, physical or psychological stimulation leads to an increase in blood flow to the genitals, which causes their swelling and increased sensitivity. Then, at the stage of the plateau, the muscles are tensed as much as possible, the heart rhythm and breathing become more frequent. The vessels are filled with blood, creating the conditions for the occurrence of discharge. At the time of orgasm, the muscles of the pelvic floor and the genitals are sharply reduced, which is usually accompanied by the release of seminal fluid in men and vaginal secretion in women. Finally, the phase of resolution or refractory period occurs. It is usually accompanied by relaxation, a sense of fatigue and drowsiness. At this stage, the body returns to its normal level of functioning.

The ability to experience an orgasm depends from many factors. From the point of view of physiology, the likelihood of female orgasm is affected by the level of supply of the genitals of nerves, which ensures their connection with the central nervous system, and the location of the clitoris, and in men the state of the prostate gland. The emotional background, the level of stress and the presence or absence of psychological injuries can also significantly affect the ability to achieve orgasm. For example, anxiety can complicate excitement. The level of sexual freedom and a comfortable environment also play an important role in achieving orgasm. 

Information that the socks worn during sex increase the likelihood of orgasm appeared in June 2005. Then Professor Gert Holstege from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands told BBC about the results of his experiments. However, the scientist was not at all interested in the connection between clothing and sex, but differences in the reactions of the brain to real and false orgasms. He invited 13 heterosexual couples aged 19 to 49 years for the experiment. At first, one partner was placed so that his head was inside an MRI scanner, and the body was outside. The second partner at that time manually stimulated the erogenous zones of the subject, then they changed places. In order for participants in the experiment to relax, lighting was muffled in the room and all extraneous noises were minimized. 

Nevertheless, the air temperature in the laboratory, apparently, was not entirely comfortable, so the volunteers who passed the brain scan and took partner’s caresses were simply cold to lie without socks and shoes (although in design experiment The subjects were not completely naked, their feet were not covered by anything). They complained about this to the experimenters and asked for permission to put on at least socks, referring to the fact that the frozen legs did not contribute to relaxation. The BBC describes the situation as follows: “When the experimenters gave permission to pairs to wear socks, about 80% of couples were able to reach orgasm compared to 50% before.” However, journalists do not stipulate whether the socks put all 13 pairs or only those who complained, and whether those volunteers who managed to achieve orgasm were repeatedly experiments.

However, firstly, the study was not at all focused on socks and orgasms, it was only an additional observation of scientists. Checking such a hypothesis, in principle, was not the goal of the experiment. Secondly, a sample of 13 pairs is too modest for some conclusions. Thirdly, during the retelling of the phrase torn from the context of the phrase, people made an arithmetic mistake in the future: in the experiment described by the experiment, the number of orgasms reached in the socks did not increase by 30%, but by 60%. 

Ana Rosa Khurado, member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Academy of Sexology and Sexual Medicine, in the commentary to the Catalan Factics -Coker Verificat Fact. Confirmed: “Today there is no evidence that sex in socks increases the likelihood of sexual pleasure.” In the same way expressed And Miguel Angel Rando, president of the Spanish Association of University Psychological and Psychopedagic Services, in his opinion, among factors that can affect the likelihood of orgasm, socks are in last place. 

Moreover, from the point of view of statistics and probability, the data obtained in the experiment of Professor Holstege cannot be called significant. The real probability of orgasm in this sample is unknown under ordinary conditions (after all, people are still placed in an unusual situation: MRI scanner, experimenters in the next room, unusual sounds of a tomograph, etc.). Suppose that this real probability is equidistant to both results that have received with and without socks, that is, 17 out of 26 people still reach sexual discharge. In this case, both resulting results (13 and 21) are from this average at a distance of less than two standard deviations: SQRT (17 * (1-17 / 26)). That is, the results obtained in the situation with the socks and without them are statistically insignificant and some scientific conclusions on their basis cannot be made.

Most likely, the behavior of volunteers observed by scientists was explained not by some mysterious influence of socks. To get pleasure, you need to relax, and do this at any distracting factor: not high temperature, the sounds of a lawn mower outside the window or an annoyingly flashing bulb are more complicated. As soon as the irritant disappears, the brain is better concentrated on pleasant sensations.

No other studies of the connection of the socks and the probability of achieving orgasm were “tested” were found to be found.

Thus, the statement that the chance to get an orgasm increases by 30%, if you wear socks during sex, appeared due to the wrong interpretation of the results of the experiment. It was carried out on a small sample of volunteers, and during it scientists did not set themselves the goal of determining the role of socks in sexual discharge.

Image on the cover: Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Most likely not true

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