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Jan 18, 2026

Man and woman had sex in MRI scan machine to show what really happens to body

If you've ever wondered what it would look like if two people have sex inside a MRI machine, then you've come to the right place.

Ida Sabelis and her boyfriend Jupp decided to put that age-old question to the test by hooking up inside the machine in the name of science.

Their friend, Dutch scientist Menko Victor ‘Pek’ van Andel, had set out to uncover what happens inside our bodies when we have sex.

Thankfully, this was back in 1991 when metallic and magnetic sex toys were far more of a luxury, so there were no unfortunate accidents inside the machine, and both adults came out unharmed - if not a little squished.

Things were certainly a little claustrophobic inside the machine, so some of the more modern positions might not have been possible, with even the old-fashioned missionary position not possible due to a lack of space, and a lack of arousal on Ida's part.

Ever wondered what would happen if you got down and dirty in one of these things? (Getty Stock Image)

Instead, the couple opted for the spooning position, and before you dismiss it as a silly science experiment, the images that were later created actually helped to change a lot of people's minds about what happens to the body during sex.

Their images became the centre of a hugely popular British Medical Journal entry in 1999, which is still read by thousands of people every month, as people who think science is sexy are no doubt forced to get creative in the wake of the UK's new porn crackdown.

Ida was recently interviewed on the What Was It Like podcast, where she shared more about her experience and admitted that she had no idea the impact the experiment would have.

“This was one of the first MRI machines ever, so taking the photos took some time,” she told the host.

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