Erogenous zones are points on the body that you can touch to stimulate pleasure. Some of these may be obvious, but others might surprise you or your partners.
We all have erogenous zones, but everyone’s different, so you may not feel all that tingly goodness in the same area as another person.
That said, you likely have more of these hot spots than you know. Read on to find out which touchpoints could use a little more TLC.
Scalp
The scalp is full of nerve endings; for some, even the slightest brush of the hair can send tingles through the body.
To amp up the pleasure, run your fingernails lightly over the scalp, paying special attention to the space behind the ears and above the neck.
Ears
With sensitive skin on the outside and hundreds of sensory receptors on the inside, the ears are often considered one of the most erogenous zones.
For some sexy aural action that’s sure to please, try lightly kissing, licking, or nibbling your partner’s earlobes. You can also try whispering or lightly blowing into their ear for more tingly sensations.
Navel and lower stomach
Being dangerously close to the genitals makes this area especially arousing. Use your tongue, fingertips, or even a feather to trace circles around the navel and tease your way down and all around the stomach.
This is a great spot for temperature play, so if your partner is into it, use an ice cube. Playing solo? Caress the area to get yourself in the mood.
Small of the back (sacrum)
A subtle graze can evoke pleasure for many, whether because the nerves in this part of the spine are connected to the pelvis or the vulnerability of being touched from behind.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try using a Wartenberg wheel for some sensory play.
Inner arms and armpits
Think armpits can’t be sexy? Two words: “Dirty Dancing.”
You know that scene where Johnny runs the back of his hand down Baby’s arm, grazing her armpit? She giggles at first, but once she gets past the tickle response, it’s totally hot.
A light touch is all you need to turn the tickle into a titillating sensation. Run your fingertips, tongue, or even a feather slowly along the inner arm to the armpit.
Inner wrists
The inner wrist is highly sensitive.
When trying to set the mood, caress the skin with your fingertips while looking at your partner suggestively from across the table.
Already in the throes of passion? Try intertwining your fingers with theirs and graze the skin on their inner wrists with your lips and the tip of your tongue.
Palms and fingertips
The fingertips are one of the body’s most sensitive areas, and your palms aren’t far behind.
Place your hand under your partner’s so you’re almost touching, and use your index finger to tickle their palm. If you want to increase intimacy, maintain eye contact while you do it.
You can kick it up a billion notches by taking each of their fingers into your mouth, one by one, and sucking lightly.
Behind the knees
This is another often neglected area that’s incredibly sensitive to any touch. It’s even ticklish for some.
Give the area special attention during a massage, or use your mouth and tongue before working your way up or down the leg.
Areolae and nipples
Nipple stimulation lights up the
Trace around the areola before moving to the nipple and sucking, licking, and even flicking. Blow or use an ice cube for some sexy cool.
If your partner likes it rough, graze the nipple with your teeth. Rougher still? Try nipple clamps.
Mouth and lips
Kissing is an art, and we suggest using every inch of a partner’s lips and mouth as your canvas.
Trace the shape of their lips with your tongue before moving to a slow, wet kiss, or gently suck or nibble on their bottom lip.
Fun fact: There are scientifically proven health benefits to kissing, so pucker up.
Neck
Even the slightest touch here can make the entire body tingle.
Wrap your arms around your partner, and run your fingernails along the back of their neck, moving to the area behind the ears before making your way around the front.
Move on to softly kissing the sides and front of the neck before working up to the mouth or heading south where it’s hotter.
Inner thighs
The inner thighs are so sensitive and oh-so-close to the ultimate erogenous zone that even a graze can set your loins ablaze.
Run your fingertips down the front of the thighs, slowly moving inward while you kiss their lips, neck, and chest.
Bottom of feet and toes
When manipulated just right, pressure points on the bottoms of the feet
Experiment with different pressures when massaging the feet, starting light and working your way deeper until you find what works.
If you’re all into it, alternate between rubbing and licking the foot. Move on to gently sucking each toe.
Pubic mound
The mons pubis, the fleshy mound just above the clitoris, is rich in nerve endings that are connected to the genitals. Massaging the area in an up-and-down motion can indirectly stimulate the labia and clitoris.
If your partner is receptive to more, move on to kissing the area, then use the tip of your tongue to lick your way down. If you’re playing with yourself, use a vibrator to up your arousal.
Glans clitoris
This small pleasure bud contains
Want more? Use your fingers or a clitoral vibrator and rub your nub using light pressure. Experiment with direction and tempo to find what feels best.
If you’re going down on a partner, start slow and increase your speed and pressure.
A-spot
The lower part of the vaginal canal is full of erotically charged nerve endings and home to the anterior fornix (A-spot).
Use fingers, a dildo, or penis to penetrate the vagina, and focus pressure on the front wall while sliding in and out.
G-spot
The G-spot is an area capable of causing what’s known as female ejaculation. Fingers or a curved vibrator are your best bet for reaching it.
After applying a good amount of lube, turn your vibrator or finger upward toward the navel and move it in a “come hither” motion. Find what feels good and keep at it, allowing the sensation to build.
Cervix
A person needs to be fully aroused to enjoy cervical stimulation, so “before play” is a must.
Any deep-penetration sex position can do it. Doggy style is a good one that can be performed using a strap-on or regular dildo, too. When you find a depth and motion that feels good, keep going.
Cervical orgasms are similar to what’s called a full-body orgasm in tantric sex, so you’re in for a treat if you get there.
Glans
The glans penis is what’s known as the head. Thanks to approximately 4,000 nerve endings, it’s the
Tease your partner by gently rubbing your wet lips over the fleshy head and using the tip of your tongue around the rim. Next, take the glans into your mouth, swirling your tongue around it.
A well-lubed hand can also work wonders.
Frenulum
This is the elastic piece of skin on the underside of the penis, where the shaft meets the head. It’s highly sensitive and the
To get handy with it, slide your lubed hand up and down the shaft, letting your thumb graze the frenulum. During a blow job, make sure your tongue pays extra attention to this hot spot.
Foreskin
The foreskin is filled with nerve endings that can enhance pleasure for those with an uncircumcised penis.
You can let this thin layer of skin glide over the penis and glans with each stroke or gently retract it to focus on the naked frenulum and head. Just be sure to start slow and use lube.
Scrotum and testicles
The “coin purse” is filled with super-sensitive nerves waiting to be enjoyed. Gently massage the balls or up the pleasure by showing the perineal raphe some love. This is the seam that runs down the center of the scrotum.
Run your finger gently up and down the raphe while masturbating, or let your tongue work its magic on the seam when performing oral.
Perineum
This sensitive patch of skin lies between the scrotum and anus.
Reach below the sack during a hand job or blow job and rub it, or reach between the legs during missionary sex. Use your knuckle to apply light pressure while sliding it back and forth as ejaculation nears for a mind-blowing climax.
Prostate
This walnut-sized gland sits at the internal root of the penis and can lead to powerful, sheet-twisting orgasms. You can only reach the P-spot via anal sex, so a well-lubed finger or prostate vibrator works best.
Gently insert a finger or sex toy a couple of inches into the rectum, applying pressure to the front wall. When you find the right move, keep at it. Stroke or suck the penis at the same time for maximum pleasure.
The human body is filled with sexually charged areas just waiting to be explored. Take the time to learn which spots do it for you and your partners, then engage in a little show-and-tell to make the most of them.
Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board.