Remember thatepisode ofFriendswhere Monica draws Chandler a diagram mapping out the main erogenous zones on a woman?
According to Monica (and the ’90s!
), there were seven female erogenous zonesbut this is a big underestimation.
What are erogenous zones?
A reported 12% of women areable to orgasm from stimulation of nongenital erogenous zonesalone.
How many erogenous zones are there?
The thing about erogenous zones is that they’re different for everyone.
A2016 study1found that practically every single part of the body could be considered an erogenous zone during partnered sex.
Well-known erogenous zones.
Breasts
Breasts are one of the classic erogenous zones.
Squeeze them, lick them, bite them, spank themwhen it comes toboobs, the possibilities are endless.
Nipples
When it comes to nipples, your mileage may vary.
Some people have extremely sensitive nipples and can evenorgasm from nipple playalone.
(And that’s not specific to womenmale nipple playis a thing, too!)
Try light pinches, sucking, ice cubes, hot breath, or little bites.
Try making out while really focusing on the sensations in your lips.
You’ll be surprised by how good it feels.
Why does it feel so good?
The skin of your neck is very thin, and a whole bunch of sensory nerves are clustered there.
Inner thighs
Touching the inner thighs drives a lot of people wild.
Mix it up by using your fingers, mouth, or othersex toys.
The buildup will drive you wild.
Erogenous zones you might not have thought about.
“It can be stimulated using nourishing hair oil alongside a finger massage with gentle pressure and kneading.
Vibrating hair brushes can also be fun.
Hair-pulling during sexual play is often appreciated as a result of the scalp being an erogenous zone.
“This leaves lots of room for the brain to be flushed with stimulation and pleasure.
Also, the ears are in an emotionally vulnerable area of the body: close to the face.
This makes touching them emotionally intimate and sensitive as well.”
He recommends stimulating them with your fingers, lips, or tongue.
“A lot of people feel vulnerable when they’re touched from behind, regardless of gender.
It even elicits a tickle response because of how thin the skin is here.
He suggests lightly touching your partner between their wrist and elbow and then keep running up toward the armpit.
says sexologistMarla Renee Stewart, M.A.
“Being pinned down by the wrists or a firm grip during a make-out session is common.
Pressure play is a great way to explore pleasure with the wrists,” says Howard.
Hands
Hands have fingers, and fingers are perfect for sucking on.
Why does it feel so good?
Backs of knees
The skin at the back of your knee is thin and sensitive.
Play around with different touches there and see what leaves your partner…weak at the knees.
If you’re new to foot play, Zrenchik encourages approaching the area with creativity and confidence.
“This area demands some experimentation, and the results can be explosive.
The brain
The brain is our most important sexual organ!
Without it we’d be lost.
“The brain is truly where all the magic happens.
Keeping your partner’smind bathed in sensual pleasurewill yield fantastic results,” Zrenchik says.
“The brain is, well, the brains of the whole sexual operation.
Keep the brain happy, and the body will respond.”
How to do that?
Anything from watching erotica to setting theright sexual contextas well as clearing outstressors like relationship issuescan all help.
Erogenous zones in the vaginal region.
Clitoris
No discussion of erogenous zones is complete without mention of the beloved clitoris.
It also contains an incredible 8,000 nerve endings.”
As with everything to do with sex, communication is key to clit exploration.
Gently guide your partner as to how you like to be touched.
“Watch how your partner responds.
Some people experience that their clitoris is not particularly sensitive.
If this is the case for you, you might find that asensation-enhancing productapplieddirectly to the clitarea can help.
(Here are someclitoral suction toysandclit pumpsfor some more inspo.)
Vaginal canal
So why does getting penetrated vaginally feel so good?
“Vaginal stimulation activates the medial cortex (medial paracentral lobule).
Use fingers, toys, or a penis to stimulate the vaginal canal.
It can feel good to start slow and build upand with plenty of lube.
The labia minora contain a core of erectile tissue and a great many nerve endings.
Gently stroking or tracing a finger over the lips can help increase arousal and wetness.
For better stimulation, use lube or your own personal lubrication to touch them.
check that you’re using a lube that’s kind to your vaginal pH, such asthis water-based one.
So, don’t get discouraged if you or your partner don’t get much from this area.
However, don’t give up until you try a wide range of touches.”
it’s possible for you to try licking, stroking, squeezing, and caressing the area.
Observe your partner carefully to see what works, and ask them for honest feedback.
“Any attempt to stimulate this area depends on a sufficient level of arousal,” Harrison notes.
So see to it you’re warmed up before diving in.
“Using a curved dildo or G-spot vibrator is your best bet,” instructs Graveris.
“Apply ample lube.
Use your finger or toy in an upward curve toward your navel and use a come-hither motion.
Try different pressures and sensations.
He also recommends that you adapt the toy you choose to your level of sensitivity.
Furthermore, consider a rabbit-style vibrator, which stimulates your clitoris at the same time as your G-spot.
This can make it much more pleasurable.
It’s located between the cervix and the bladder, just a few inches past the G-spot.
“The best way to stimulate the A-spot is using a longer G-spot toy.
U-spot
The U-spot is named for the urethra, which is where your pee comes out.
“When this area is stimulated, there is an orgasmic response.”
This area has delicate tissue, so a light touch and gentle stimulation are key.
Rubbing too hard could cause discomfort, and no one wants that!
(Also, beware ofsex-related UTIs.)
Erogenous zones in the penile region.
Therefore it should be given special attention.
He recommends theCobra Libre 2, theHot Octopuss Pulse, and theArcwave Ion.
It’s super sensitive for most penis owners, especially for uncut folks,” says Graveris.
“To make the most of this spot, use your thumb for grazing it during solo play.
During foreplay, you could tell your partner to use their tongue and pay attention to this spot.
Foreskin
There is a common belief that uncircumcised penises are more sensitive, butsome research3questions this.
“Always be gentle when playing with your balls or having your partner play with them.
Focus on the highly sensitive scrotal raphe or the seam that runs down your scrotum.”
Erogenous zones in the anal region.
For anal play, you want to focus on taking it slow and have lots of lube to hand.
Start by gently pushing at your asshole with a thumb or finger and massaging around the opening.
“Keep in mind the anus can stretch a lot more than people realize,” he adds.
The prostate is a particularly mind-blowing erogenous zone for many people with penises.
(Here’s our full guide to stimulating the prostate, sometimes known asprostate milking.)
The bottom line.
Which ones are your favorites?
