Erogenous Zones: What they are, where they can be found, and how to explore them
What Is An Erogenous Zone?
The word erogenous comes from the Greek words, “eros”- love and “genous”- producing. An erogenous zone is anywhere on the body that has a heightened sensitivity and can elicit a sexual response when stimulated. Stimulating these areas can encourage relaxation, promote blood flow, build arousal, enhance sexual pleasure, and help you or your partner achieve orgasm.
Erogenous zones vary person to person. What feels good for one person may be unpleasant for another. Factors like timing, mood, partner choice, and the type of stimulation can impact your preference. This is why communication is key. Make sure you speak with your partner, or partners, about what you each enjoy. Exploring your erogenous zones together can be a great way to get to know each other more intimately and learn something about each other and yourself in the process.
Where Can I Find Erogenous Zones?
Now that you know what erogenous zones are, you may be wondering where you can find them. It can be helpful to group erogenous zones into genital and extragenital erogenous zones. Genital erogenous zones are the more obvious ones (penis, clitoris, vagina etc.) and extragenital erogenous zones are pretty much everything else.
Male Genital Erogenous Zones
For men, specific erogenous zones in the genital area include the head of the penis, the frenulum (the underside skin where the shaft and the head meet), the foreskin (for uncircumcised men), the scrotum, the perineum (the skin between the penis and anus), and the prostate (reached inside the rectum).
Female Genital Erogenous Zones
For women, specific erogenous zones in the genital area include the pubic mound, the clitoris, the G-spot (two to three inches inside, on the front vaginal wall), the A-spot (four to five inches inside, on the front vagina wall), and the cervix.
Extragenital Erogenous Zones (Male & Female)
Extragenital erogenous zones are parts of the body that elicit a sexual response, outside of the penis and vulva area. Around a quarter of your total body surface can be involved in sexual pleasure, which is why you may be missing out if you only focus on you or your partner's genitals. Men and women share many of the same extragenital erogenous zones.
Some common extragenital erogenous zones for males and females include the following:
Armpits: Your inner arms and armpits are especially sensitive areas, which is why they can be so ticklish.
Behind the knee: Behind the knee is another sensitive, nerve-rich area of the body. Paying particular attention to it during a full-body massage can elicit arousal.
Bottoms of feet: Feet have many nerve endings and pressure points, and stimulating this often-neglected area with a foot massage or light touching can lead to pleasurable sensations.
Belly button and lower abdomen: The belly button and lower stomach are sensitive areas near the genital region. A touch or gentle tickle near these areas can generate a strong sexual response.
Ears: The ears are full of sensory receptors and are one of the most sensitive erogenous zones on the body.
Hands: There are many nerve endings in the hands that you can stimulate during foreplay. Palms and fingertips are especially sensitive to light kissing and licking. Slowing kissing or sucking a finger can also be pleasurable for some recipients.
Inner thighs: The inner thighs are especially sensitive, so using a light touch along this area, especially as you move toward the genitals, is often extremely pleasurable for the receiver.
Lower back: The small of the back is a delicate and vulnerable part of the body for most people, so brushing or holding it during intercourse can evoke pleasure.
Mouth: The mouth is a robust erogenous zone, which is one reason why kissing is such a popular part of both foreplay and intercourse.
Neck: The neck is one of the most popular erogenous zones, from the nape at the back of the neck to the sides below the jawline. Many people enjoy stimulation along the neck with a light touch or kissing.
Nipples: The nipples are an incredibly sensitive hotspot on the body and are closely tied to the sensations in the genitals.
Scalp: The scalp has many sensitive nerve endings, which is why scalp massages can be very enjoyable. Gentle massaging or hair pulling can activate these nerves and send pleasurable sensations throughout the body.
Wrist: The delicate skin of the inner wrist is a small erogenous zone that can build toward extreme pleasure.
How To Stimulate Erogenous Zones
While everyone has different preferences when it comes to erogenous zones and stimulating them, here are some general guidelines to follow.
Make sure everyone is on board. The best way to enjoy erogenous zones is to talk to your partner to determine what they like, or, if you’re both comfortable with it, exploring in a safe environment to see what you both like.
Experiment with different techniques and sensations. You can use your hands and mouth to stimulate erogenous zones. You can also explore using different tools like a feather, a lubricant, a massage oil, or a vibrator or other sex toy. Bringing sex toys and other sexual wellness products into the equation can allow you to experiment with different rhythms, intensities, settings and pressures to learn what you or your partner like best.
Take things slow. Slow foreplay can be extremely rewarding for you and your partner because it builds anticipation and elongates pleasure. As you work to stimulate yourself or your partner, take your time with each body part, building up the pleasure as you enjoy the experience.
Explore Solo. Erogenous zones aren’t just useful during partnered sex. They can be a great way to become more in tune with your own body during solo masturbation. Explore different parts of your body on your own to discover sensitive areas; it’s often a great way to achieve more full-body orgasms.
The bottom line is that experimenting with different erogenous zones can make your sex life more pleasurable and exciting for you and your partner. Hopefully this post gave you some tools to be able to get started!