What Are Erogenous Zones? And How to Stimulate Them

What are erogenous zones?

Erogenous zones are areas of your body that can produce a sexual response when touched the right way. When your erogenous zones get teased, you might feel anything from a tingle of anticipation to a full-blown orgasm.

Any area of the body can be an erogenous zone – not just your genitals. Typically, they’re found in sensitive areas where we have lots of nerve-endings, such as the scalp, back of the neck, or feet. But every body is different; you might love having your nipples sucked, while your partner prefers ear lobe kisses. Finding out is half the fun, right?

Did you know? “Erogenous” comes from the Greek words “eros” (love) and “genous” (producing) – makes sense when you think how giddy you can get just by being touched in the right spot!

Where are your erogenous zones?

There’s only one way to know where your erogenous zones are; and that’s to explore! Sometimes we just get right into penetration, forgetting how much sensual touch and foreplay enhances our pleasure.

“Even when you’re just making out with someone, [remember] to stroke your partner’s cheek, their hair,” advises sex therapist, Dr. Emily Morse, on her podcast, Sex With Emily. “I want you to reimagine your hands as one of the most useful tools in your sexual toolbox.”

With your hands, use a light touch or a vibrator to trace your partner’s (or your own) skin from head to toe and see what makes them shiver (in a good way). Below, you’ll get tips for teasing every common erogenous zone – try them with a partner or on your own.

Brain

Context matters when it comes to pleasure. You might not find certain touch sexy until you’re in the right context – aka the mood – for sex. So, consider checking in with your brain before you ravish those erogenous zones.

Your brain controls all your sexual responses and is key to getting turned on. On the Come As You Are podcast, Dr. Emily Nagoski describes the brain as having “brakes” and “accelerators” when it comes to desire.

“Your accelerators are noticing all the sex related stimuli in the environment,” says Dr. Nagoski. For example, your partner might give you a passionate kiss. But “your brakes are noticing all the good reasons not to get turned on.” Maybe you’re distracted by work stress or need to get the kids ready for school.

Eventually, your brakes need to release if you're going get revved up enough to enjoy sexual pleasure. It can be helpful to schedule sex (even if that doesn’t sound sexy at all!). That way, you’ll have time to shift into the right context for sex, preparing yourself mentally and physically for pleasure.

Try this: Turning down the lights, listening to an erotic audio story, watching porn, or simply cuddling with your partner and sharing what you love about each other.

Scalp

There are so many nerve endings in the scalp; as you know if you love getting a head massage at the salon. The scalp often gets overlooked during sex, but a little attention can make a kiss extra steamy.

Try this: Running your hands through your partner’s hair. If they have short or no hair, lightly trace your nails across the skin for added frisson. If they have long hair, gently squeeze a handful near their scalp to create a tugging sensation.

Ears

First, your ears are close to those sensitive nerves in the scalp and neck, so you can enjoy those lovely shivery chills when they’re touched. Secondly, sounds like moans or sexy music can play a big role in boosting arousal.

Try this: Putting your lips close to your partner’s ear and whispering what you’re going to do to them – or find a sensual ASMR video to watch.

Lips

There are heaps of reasons to love kissing. Your lips are packed with blood vessels and nerve endings that can turn you on when stimulated in the right way.

Try this: Kissing your partner firmly and passionately, gently nibbling their lower lip to encourage blood flow and heighten sensitivity. Or tracing a feather tickler over your cheeks and lips.

Neck

The nape of the neck, throat, and collarbone can feel highly sensual when touched – or highly ticklish for some! But when your body is relaxed, it’s easy to experience sensations like tickling as pleasurable rather than uncomfortable.

Try this: Tracing your tongue behind your partner’s ears, across their throat or along their collarbone. If you’re solo, lightly trace your fingertips over your skin instead.

Nipples

Breasts are pretty magical, so it’s not uncommon for women to have theirs kissed and caressed during sex. But whatever your gender, it can feel amazing to have your chest and nipples stimulated. In fact, research shows that at least half of men (52%) and the majority of women (82%) find nipple play can cause or enhance arousal.

Try this: Wearing nipple suckers to create a soft sucking sensation around the areola that increases sensitivity to every touch (and even breath!). Check out our guide: How to Use Nipple Clamps and Suckers

Inner arms

The soft skin of your inner arms, wrists, and armpits can be very sensitive to touch. The armpits are an especially underrated erogenous zone! Not only are they soft and intimate but it can be incredibly sexy to kiss your lover here and breathe in those musky pheromones.

Try this: Running a pinwheel lightly down your partner’s (or your own) arm, from shoulder to fingertips, then back up the inside of their arm. (Pinwheels look scary, but they’re very gentle, designed to stimulate blood flow and heighten sensitivity.)

Belly button

So close to the genitals, the belly button and lower abdomen is a great place to tease yourself or your partner before you start moving downwards…

Try this: Drizzling a little honey or flavoured lube from your lover’s belly button to just above their underwear line – then licking it all off slowly. Playing solo? Run your fingertips over your stomach, teasing your lower abdomen and inner thighs before you start to masturbate.

Perineum

Also known as the taint or gooch, the perineum is the part of your body between your vagina and anus, or testicles and anus. It’s so close to your genitals, as well as the highly sensitive pudendal nerves, so it's in prime position to offer some deep-seated pleasure.

Try this: Pressing or rocking your palm against the perineum while using your other hand to stimulate the penis or clitoris.

Anus

Everyone's got one, and they're all packed with the potential for some serious pleasure. There are tons of nerve endings around the butt which can enhance all kinds of play, from masturbation to penetrative sex.

Try this: Applying anal lubricant to your finger and gently massaging the rim of the anus. Try sliding the finger slowly inside but only go as deep as feels comfortable. Prefer to use your tongue? Check our guide: What is Rimming?

Inner thighs

Just like the insides of your arms, the soft skin on the inside of your thighs is extra-receptive to touch. Paying attention to the inner thighs will build anticipation for what’s to come!

Try this: Kissing your way up the insides of your partner’s legs, stopping just below their genitals. Gently scrape your teeth on the skin here and exhale to tease them with your breath.

Back of the knees

Here, your blood vessels are close to the skin, making the backs of the knees extra responsive to touch.

Try this: Brushing the back of the legs and lower back with the soft strands of a flogger, switching between long, slow strokes and swirls. If your partner likes spanking, this is the perfect way to tease them before lightly flicking the flogger against their butt cheeks.

Feet and ankles

The feet and genital areas are surprisingly close together in the brain’s somatosensory cortex, which might explain this common type of kink or fetish. But you don’t have to have a foot fetish to enjoy a sensual massage! It’s a great way to relax and get ready for sexual arousal.

Try this: Using your thumbs and a sensual massage oil to knead the pressure points on the foot, such as the big toe, arch, and inner heel. Grasp all the toes in one hand and (gently!) bend them back and forth.

Female erogenous zones (if you have a vulva)

Now you know that any part of the body can be an erogenous zone, let’s talk about the hot spots: your genitals. If you or your lover has a vulva, this section will give you tips on delivering knee-trembling pleasure.

Expert advice: “We don’t all know how to touch a vulva, even if we have one!” says Dr. Emily Morse on Sex With Emily. Every vulva owner likes a different kind of touch ‘down there’, so be curious and listen to your partner.

Vulva

What is a vulva, exactly? Put simply, the vulva is what’s outside, while the vagina is what’s inside. So, take a quick look: You’ve got the pubic mound, which is where pubic hair usually grows. Then the labia or lips, the clitoral hood where the labia meet at the top, and the vaginal opening. The whole area is packed with nerve endings – and it’s worth exploring before you go to work on the clit.

Try this: Cupping the pubic mound and labia with your palm, as this can feel “safe and grounding”, according to Dr. Morse. She also recommends very gently squeezing or tugging the labia. Orgasm balms can also increase arousal with warming or tingling sensations.

Clitoris

The clitoris is, let’s face it, the life and soul of the party. The round, external bit you can see (above the vaginal opening where the labia meet) is the highly sensitive glans clitoris. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! The clitoris as a whole is sort of wishbone shaped, with legs that go deep inside the vagina.

In fact, stimulating the G-spot may be so pleasurable because it’s where the legs of the clitoris meet internally. There’s not enough research to say for sure, but it’s one of the most likely theories to explain this internal pleasure point.

Try this: Using your fingers in a circular motion, rub the clitoris externally. “See what feels good to your partner,” says Dr. Morse. “Maybe they want a harder pressure, maybe they want a soft, feathery touch.”

… and this: With lubed up fingers or a G-spot vibrator, slip inside and press against the inner front wall of the vagina. For a lot of people with vulvas, the G-spot can be found about two inches inside, using a ‘come here’ motion with your fingers.

Male erogenous zones (if you have a penis)

A lot of people go straight to the penis for pleasure, ignoring some of the other deliciously sensitive areas nearby. Here’s what to know about pleasuring anyone with a penis.

Scrotum and testicles

Testicles are designed to be hyper-reactive to touch to protect the valuable sperm within. That doesn’t mean they can’t be a pleasure point. In fact, that hyper-reactivity can make touch feel amazing for some.

Expert advice: Ask first! Not everyone likes their balls to be touched.

Try this: “Maybe you start to hold the balls in your hand, start to tickle them a little bit,” Dr. Morse recommends. “Hold them gently; you don’t wanna go squeezing them too hard or twisting them.”

… and this: Gently (like, super gently) pull the balls down to create a pleasurable tugging sensation in the scrotum. If that feels awesome, you might enjoy playing with a ball stretcher.

Penis and frenulum

“The tip is the most sensitive part of the penis,” says Dr. Morse. Lots of nerve endings are concentrated here, making it a great place to focus when you give a blowjob. Leave the tip ‘til last to build a whole lotta sexual tension.

If the penis you’re playing with has a foreskin, this can be sensation central too. The foreskin is a double layer of tissue around the shaft that can be rubbed up and down or gently rolled over the head of the penis.

At the head, you’ll also see the frenulum, a thin strip of tissue that connects the foreskin to the head of the penis. And guess what? The frenulum is full of nerve endings too! Just treat it with care; it can get damaged if you’re too vigorous…

Try this: “Start with one hand around the base of the penis or balls, then take your thumb or fingers over the tip of the penis to warm them up. Take your hand and move it up and down the shaft, stopping at the top and rubbing again over the tip,” says Dr. Morse.

Prostate

The prostate is a gland that sits next to the rectum inside people who are assigned male at birth. It’s known as the ‘P-spot’ or ‘male G-spot’ because of how pleasurable it can feel to massage.

The easiest way to reach the P-spot is through the anus, which is why a lot of men discover they enjoy anal sex, anal masturbation, or pegging.

If you’re not quite ready for anal penetration, “take the pads of of your fingers and stroke [the perineum],” says Dr Morse. “When you apply pressure, that’s indirect stimulation to the prostate.”

Try this: Inserting a well-lubed finger into the anus, searching for a firm, textured area towards the front of the body. Massage this area in a ‘come here’ motion. If that feels amazing, treat yourself to a prostate massager which will add spine-tingling vibrations to your play.

Special thanks to Sam Scott, former Content Manager at Lovehoney, who contributed to this article.