Vaginal Noises During Sex

Some useful expert advice on the physics of penetration:

Question

What causes vaginal noises with position changes during intercourse? A patient who had a TAHBSO [total-abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (tubes-ovaries removal)] in 2000 and is moderately fit has a small cystocele and rectocele. She is on hormone therapy and has no problem with vaginal dryness. Apparently vaginal noises ("gassy/snuffling sounds") are very loud and have affected her sexual functioning adversely. She came to the office for answers, and I need some help on this one.

Response

The sounds are primarily related to air being forced out of the vagina during thrusting of the penis into the vaginal vault. Air can get trapped in the back of the vagina behind the penis during penetration. As the penis is thrust deeper, the pressure builds and vaginal compliance will reach a peak, causing the air to escape around the penis. The sound created is from the slapping of the vaginal walls (think whoopee cushion).

...

I have several suggestions for counseling this patient. The first is for the patient to try to modify sexual activity with her partner. If they are able to change positions with the penis still in the vagina, this may decrease air entry during intercourse. Along this same line, any lessening of the degree of removal of the penis and reinsertion will serve to reduce this effect. Additionally, by inserting the penis slowly, the overall volume of the sound will likely be greatly if not completely diminished, as it will allow for a slow leak of the air. Shallower penetration will also help by not creating as great a pressure differential in the air trapped behind the penis.

You may also suggest to the patient that she and her partner try to determine whether there are positions that are more problematic and perhaps not use those positions at the beginning of intercourse or perhaps avoid a particular position if they find the noise too disruptive.