From listening to the right music to donning bedroom attire that doesn't exactly scream sexy, it turns out there are loads of weird and wonderful things that can affect your sex life.

We're not entirely sure how the scientists came up with the idea to test out some of these theories but, hey ho, here are 5 surprising things that are proven to give your sexual satisfaction a big old boost...

1. Choose a male partner with a higher BMI

Forget rippling abs, it turns out you might have a better time in bed if you opt for a male partner who's a little on the larger side. And, no we don't mean like *that*.

According to researchers at Erciyes University in Turkey, heavier men with more fat around their middle last for longer in bed.

In a 2010 study of 200 men published in the International Journal of Impotence Research, it was revealed thatthose with visible fat around their middle and a higher body mass index (BMI) lasted for an average of 7.3 minutes, while thinner participants lasted for just 1.8 minutes and were also more likely to experience premature ejaculation.

Apparently, it's all down to them having higher levels of the hormone estradiol, which inhibits ejaculation.

All hail the 'dad bod'?

2. Listen to this random song by Rihanna...

Most couples probably don't carefully choreograph their time in bed with a specially chosen soundtrack, but you might want to give it a try...

A 2016 survey by the music streaming service Deezer revealed that 55% of us think listening to the right song improves sex, with 18% of the blokes surveyed saying certain songs make them last longer.

If you're wondering whether Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' made the list of top songs to get your groove on to then, sadly enough, it did: it was number 2. The winner? Randomly, it was Rihanna's song 'Skin'.

3. Wear socks in bed

Thought sexy lingerie or sleeping naked would make the biggest difference to your sex life? Nah, guess again. According to science, you're better off wearing a big old pair of comfy socks.

Now we know what you're thinking: socks in bed sounds pretty repugnant. But bear with us because researchers at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands discovered that a whopping 80% of participants achieved orgasm while keeping their feet covered up vs. only 50% who managed without socks. And we KNOW no one was faking because they scanned their brains.

It looks like keeping your feet warm helps your blood vessels dialate, which gives you the unexpected boost.

Well, it is cold outside everyone... Worth a shot?

4. Look for a male partner who's rich

This one is a bit depressing, but apparently you're more likely to achieve orgasm if your male partner is 'rich', according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Albany.

The scientists asked a group of heterosexual women about their partners and their ability to make them orgasm, and it turned out that being 'rich' was one of the things that made men better in bed. Backwards much!? It's 2017, people!

Being attracted to him was also up there on the list of criteria, but that one isn't exactly surprising is it? However, another slightly random quality listed was having 'broad shoulders'. Bizarre but there you go – look for those with a swimmer's physique.

5. Try some ginseng

It's a time-old cliché that oysters are a huge aphrodisiac, but science recently suggested that, NOPE, they don't work and you're actually far better off trying something a bit more exotic: ginseng.

According to a 2015 study by scientists from the University of California and the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, published in the journal International Society for Sexual Medicine, this herbal supplement has been shown to improve erectile dysfunction in men, while there is some evidence that it can boost sexual arousal in menopausal women.

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Francesca Rice
Red Digital Editor

Francesca is the Digital Editor of Red, overseeing all sections of the site. She loves travel, books and pizza, so a beach holiday in Italy is pretty much her dream scenario.