Moaning during painful experiences is an instinctive reaction that many of us have. But does allowing yourself to moan and vocalize pain actually help relieve the sensation or make it worse? Here we’ll explore the science behind moaning and pain perception.
Table of Contents
What causes us to moan in pain?
Moaning and vocalizations during pain are triggered by signals from our nerves reaching the emotional centers of our brain. When we experience something harmful or unpleasant, nerves send pain signals to areas like the thalamus, amygdala, and cingulate cortex. The brain interprets these signals and generates an appropriate emotional reaction – like moaning or yelling.
This emotional reaction is designed to communicate that we are in distress and elicit help from others. But the vocalizations also serve as a physical outlet for our internal experience of discomfort or agony. Releasing the sounds provides a vent for the painful sensations we’re undergoing.
How does moaning affect pain perception?
Research suggests that moaning does seem to lessen the actual perception of pain to some degree. Studies have found that:
- People who vocalize report less intense feelings of pain compared to those who stay quiet.
- Suppressing expressions like moaning increase blood pressure, heart rate, and self-reported pain.
- Letting out moans triggers a series of physiological changes, like increased breathing rate, that may diminish pain.
However, the effects seem to depend on the specific sounds made. One study compared pain reactions from moaning versus screaming. They found that moaning led to lower reported pain, increased endorphins, and higher oxygen saturation. Meanwhile, screaming did not provide the same benefits.
This suggests that low, rhythmic moaning is the most helpful vocalization for pain relief. The sound waves produced may interfere with the body’s transmission of nociceptive (pain) signals. The breathing patterns involved may also help alter pain perception.
How does moaning work to relieve pain?
Researchers have proposed a few key ways that moaning may help dampen painful sensations:
- Distraction – Focusing on making moaning sounds can shift attention away from the main pain stimulus.
- Self-soothing – The act of vocalizing can calm some of the emotional distress linked to pain.
- Physical release – Making sounds provides an outlet for the physical discomfort we feel.
- Respiration changes – Moaning leads to slower, deeper breathing, which has been found to reduce pain feelings.
- Endorphin release – Low moans may stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
The combination of these mechanisms likely contributes to moaning’s influence on pain perception. The effects appear more robust for lower-pitched moans versus high-pitched screams.
Moaning during childbirth
One major situation where moaning is often present with pain is during labor and childbirth. Obstetricians have noted that freely moaning during contractions can help women cope with the intense sensations:
| Study | Findings on Moaning During Labor |
|---|---|
| Han et al., 2007 | Women who vocalized during contractions reported less pain compared to those who stayed quiet. |
| Lowe, 2002 | Moaning during labor correlated with lower pain ratings in the second stage of labor. |
| Bordo, 2017 | Women encouraged to moan loudly during contractions had higher satisfaction with their birthing experience. |
Moaning seems to be an adaptive response for dealing with the severe pains of labor. The vocalizations provide an alternative focus and outlet for sensations. Allowing freer expression elicits higher endorphin levels to help cope with contractions.
Potential benefits of moaning
Here are some of the key potential benefits supported by research on moaning as a response to pain:
Less intense pain perception
Studies consistently show those who moan during painful experimental tests report less intense pain compared to those who stay quiet. Moaning seems to actively dampen pain signals reaching the brain.
Emotional relief
Expressing pain through moaning can alleviate some of the emotional distress tied to painful stimuli. Vocalizations communicate suffering to others but also provide an outlet for internal turmoil.
Social benefits
Moaning and other expressions draw empathy and concern from surrounding people. Vocalizing may facilitate care, comfort, and aid from others around us.
Higher pain tolerance
Research suggests vocalizers are able to withstand more intense and longer pain overall compared to those who suppress expressions.
Endorphin release
Low moaning may promote endorphin production in the brain, providing a natural way to chemically reduce pain sensations.
Potential risks of moaning
While moaning can have benefits, there are also some potential downsides to consider:
Increased distress in others
Moaning sounds may produce distress in nearby people associating the sounds with suffering. This could negatively impact caregivers, children, or others sensing pain.
Lower pain threshold over time
Letting yourself moan readily may subtly lower your overall pain tolerance, making you more sensitive to discomfort over time.
Higher pain expectations
Readily voicing pain through moaning can create expectations of pain or make sensations seem worse than they are.
Social judgment
Frequent moaning may lead to negative judgments from others who feel the responses are exaggerated or inappropriate for the situation.
Higher healthcare use
Vocal expressions like moaning are linked to more frequent healthcare utilization. Moaning may promote dependence on medications or services.
When is moaning less effective or advisable?
While moaning can alleviate pain, there are situations where it may be less effective or not recommended:
- High-pitched screaming tends to increase pain and provide less benefit than low moaning.
- Moaning is less effective for chronic types of pain versus temporary acute pain.
- Individual factors like gender, personality, and culture may influence whether moaning helps.
- Moaning from pain may not provide benefit if it becomes very frequent or habitual.
- In social situations where vocalizing would be awkward or inappropriate.
- When you need to stay silent or conserve energy during painful medical treatments.
Overall, the appropriateness of moaning depends on the individual and social context. While moaning can help alleviate acute pain, it may not offer the same benefits in all cases.
Tips for moaning to relieve pain
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to try using moaning to help manage pain:
- Focus on making low, rhythmic moaning sounds. High-pitched screams are less effective.
- Find a comfortable volume – loudness should match the pain intensity.
- Choose situations where vocalizing won’t disturb or upset others around you.
- Pair moaning with slow deep breaths to enhance the pain-relieving impact.
- Notice if moaning helps distract from and release the painful sensations.
- Be aware of any social constraints and monitor others’ reactions.
- Make sure not to moan or vocalize during unsafe activities like driving.
The bottom line
Moaning can be an adaptive response to pain that helps decrease the intensity of painful sensations. Letting out low moans provides a physical outlet for discomfort and triggers changes that dull pain signals reaching the brain. However, moaning may not help in all contexts. Paying attention to the effects vocalizing has on your own pain experience can help determine if moaning is an effective coping strategy for you.
