Erogenous Zones

The clitoris is extremely sensitive. For most people who have one, the clit is pretty freakin’ important for a journey to O-town. But it’s not just a tiny button of pleasure. The clitoris is actually shaped like a wishbone. The part you can see outside the body is “just the tip.” Internal parts of the clitoris extend down to encircle the vaginal canal and reach toward the anus. You can certainly stimulate the clit externally, but you can also go for a little indirect rub-a-dub from inside or even some butt play.

Now this one is a no-brainer, right? No. Most men go crazy on the vajayjay. Trust us, dear men, your lovely queen probably doesn’t like you just pushing your way in. Take some time, and play around. Be creative but keep it gentle. It’s the most erogenous area, but it’s a little fragile as well. Treat it as the flower that it is. The interior of the vagina contain nerve endings, and women report that deep stimulation leads to more intense orgasms. The outer edge of the vagina, on the other hand, tends to respond to light touch.

The cervix, located at the lower end of the uterus, has its own feel-good nerve pathways. In fact, some research suggests that the vagina, clitoris, and cervix all respond separately and distinctly to sexual stimuli. Nerves in the cervix respond most to pressure stimulation, but light touch has been shown to elicit a response as well.

A recent survey found kissing to be more important in relationship-building than in sexual arousal. But another study suggests that many women rank the lips and mouth highly as erogenous areas. Who says it can’t be both?

According to a large international survey of women, both the nape and back of the neck are among the top 10 erogenous zones. One study found that the neck is very sensitive to light touch, especially (oddly enough) among people with low body fat. Another study found that women with spinal cord injury can get pretty turned on by neck stimulation alone

While both men and women may like to look at breasts (for evolutionary purposes, apparently), they’re not just for show—they play a role in sexual arousal as well. Turns out nipple stimulation sets fireworks off in the same region of the brain that processes sensations from the clitoris and vagina. Just as with the clitoris, pressure and vibration are generally the way to go.

Theoretically, the G-spot is a patch of flesh about the size of a 10 pence piece, located around 2-3 inches up inside the vagina on the front of the vaginal wall (the part closest to the stomach). Some women report that the tissue here feels different to the surrounding area – a little thicker, ridged, or slightly rougher to the touch – and that it plumps up when rubbed or when they’re aroused. The location of the G Spot is the same for all women. To find your G Spot with your fingers, just slide your palm down your stomach, with your palm touching your stomach, all the way down to your vagina. Then enter your vagina with 1 or 2 fingers and curl those fingers backward once they are 2-3 inches deep inside you. You should now be able to feel your G Spot on your fingertips.

While this one’s pretty obvious, it’s worth noting that both survey and lab-based scientific experiments demonstrate that penile stimulation significantly contributes to sexual satisfaction. And while this can be a sensitive subject, circumcision doesn’t appear to decrease sensation or sexual satisfaction.

Highly sensitive, male lips respond to light touch, temperature, or pressure. Kissing also triggers a release of hormones involved in intimacy—especially oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone.” Pucker up!

Ranked No. 3 (behind penis and lips) in ability to produce sexual arousal, the scrotum is one of men’s most notable erogenous zones. Lots of nerves mean that this area is super-sensitive to touch. However there’s no research to back up what sort of touch works best, so you might have to resort to a hunt and peck experiment. Don’t worry, his moan level will give you all the hints you need.

While touching the neck doesn’t appear to be quite as much of a turn-on for men as for women, it’s still ranked pretty highly on the erogenous zones list. The neck has great sensitivity to low-frequency vibration, making it a prime spot for light erotic touch.

As with women, men rank nipples as a definite hot spot. While male nipples don’t appear to serve any real purpose (they’re basically by-products of evolution), that doesn’t mean they’re totally useless—they still have plenty of nerve endings!

The perineum (the area between the anus and scrotum) is hooked up to perineal nerves, which help convey sensations of sexual pleasure from the genitals to the brain. In other words, if you’re not familiar with this area, it might be worth your time to get acquainted.

“Men have a relatively higher concentration of nerve endings in the soles of their feet than women do,” says Mark Michaels, coauthor of Partners in Passion: A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy, and Long-Term Love. “There is an acupressure point about one-third of the way down from the third toe, right in front of the arch in the center of the foot.” Nicknamed the “bubbling spring,” pressing on this point may boost blood flow throughout the body, getting him all hot and bothered.