Do you need to get buzzed or drunk to have sex?
According to a new study from the UK, most women do. Nearly half of the women surveyed said alcohol helps them to lose their inhibitions and feel more adventurous during sex, with 75% of women in committed relationships reporting that they enjoy drinking before doing the deed.
Why? Well, a good buzz helps women transcend the body image issues and insecurities most of us seem to have.
Problem is, according to sex expert Dr. Laura Berman, while one glass of wine can help you relax and get in the mood, a few drinks can have the opposite effect—numbing you and detracting from the experience. Two, three or more drinks can make achieving orgasm more difficult.
So what’s a woman to do? Dr. Berman says practice. Practice turning off negative thoughts (first, look for where they’re coming from). Practice self-stimulation and fantasizing, which can help you channel your sexual energy into your relationship.
She also suggests ditching the granny panties, and finding lingerie that flatters.
Rachel Kramer Bussell wrote a great piece for this blog on learning to have sex while sober, called “Drunk Sex, How I Miss You (Sometimes, Anyway).”
What do you think, readers—how do you prefer your sex? Sober, after one glass of wine, or soused?
Thanks for this important post! I used to not be able to imagine dating or having sex without some liquid courage. It just seemed to make everything a bit easier; in retrospect, it didn’t change anything but my perception of it. I quit drinking several years ago and have found dating to be challenging – answering that initial question of why I don’t drink, etc. – and that first time in bed with someone new can be as awkward and embarrassing as it is exciting and novel. Now that I’m in a stable relationship, I have to say sex is better without alcohol. Even if you don’t stop drinking altogether, it’s definitely worth a try!