Specialists have weighed in on an ASMR-based sex fetish featured in the newest episode of Euphoria, which they say can even cause a so-called “brain orgasm”.
The latest run of the HBO series has split viewers, with some fans online arguing that certain moments have “gone too far”.
In the new season, Sydney Sweeney’s character Cassie steps into the world of OnlyFans, setting up a few unexpected NSFW scenes.
One scene in the most recent episode sees Cassie creating her own ASMR-style content by rubbing her breasts against a microphone.
She then put the microphone down there and asked a client: “Do you want to hear my p***y?”
The moment highlights an ASMR sex fetish that experts suggest is becoming more common behind closed doors.
ASMR—short for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response—blew up online years ago, often tied to calming sounds like eating or tapping.
Since then, it’s expanded into sexual contexts too, which may not be surprising given its reputation for helping people unwind.
Dr Shirin Lakhani, from Elite Aesthetics, told Cosmopolitan: “Sexual ASMR is the erotic use of specific visual and auditory triggers to enhance sexual experience. For some people this may be that a sound such as whispering triggers what is often known as a ‘brain orgasm’.”
Meanwhile, expert Charlotte Fox Weber added: “Sexually, it’s a kind of personal attention that shows close attunement. It’s flirting with intimacy.
“Sex is about so much more than intercourse. It’s about pleasure, sensation, feelings, fantasies, playing. ASMR creates a zone of excitement and titillation.”
Dr Lakhani also noted that experimenting with different kinds of sexual ASMR can be helpful if you’re trying to work out whether it’s something you’d actually want to bring into your sex life.
“The key to using it to enhance your sex life is to find a trigger sound that works for you,” the sex and relationships expert continued.
“These can be any number of things from the sound of your partner whispering, to the sound of a shower running, to a scratching noise to blowing, and so on. The list really is endless and very much down to personal preference.”
Dr Lakhani added: “Sexual ASMR can help you to relax and to reduce anxiety in the bedroom. The benefit is that once people find a type that works for them they can incorporate it into their sex life to make it more exhilarating and fulfilling.”