12 Unexpected Erogenous Zones (yes, 12… you read that right)

Everywhere we look (I swear, mainstream porn), the most creative, exciting, unpredictable, and tantalizing act out there is a) genital to genital, b) mouth to genital, and maybe, on really good days, a little mouth to mouth or mouth to breast. But knowing that our long, luxurious, complex bodies are actually teeming with a magical terrain of endless pleasure-seeking, electricity-generating nerve endings, why ignore it? And while women are known to have greater erogenous potential, men aren’t limited to their penises, guys. The main difference here is that women have been encouraged to explore more than men, perhaps because men find it “easier to cum,” as if that were the sole purpose of sex. The truth is, men and women share many of the same ecstatic territories.

Maybe you know exactly what you like. Maybe you don’t. Whatever you do, keep in mind that this journey requires communication: letting your partner know what you like, whether it’s through words, sounds, breathing, or full-body shakes, as the case may be. Consider the following 12 unexpected erogenous zones as a quick and concise guide to some of the lesser-known goddess pleasure zones that may just be housing your hidden explosions:

1. Ears

Ears are considered one of the most powerful erogenous zones. The nerve endings in your ear are anything but nonchalant. Personally, just a warm breath on any part of my hungry ear is enough to make me wet, shivers running through my body. Call me receptive. Some find the area just behind their ear, near the hairline, does it. Kissing and sucking on the earlobes can trigger intense arousal. Or your partner can up the intimacy factor by whispering sweet nothings in your ear.

2. Hair and face

Has your partner ever touched your eyelids, eyebrows, temples, cheeks, or hair? It can be incredibly intimate. Ask your partner to gently kiss your eyelids, temples, and cheeks, stroke your hair, or hold it tightly. A head massage before sex seems like the answer, right? Yvonne K. Fulbright, Ph.D., says that a scalp massage releases the hormone oxytocin, which calms us down while increasing arousal at the same time.

3. Feet

Foot fetishism is pretty common (among men), apparently. Feet contain pressure points that trigger arousal, and they’re also full of nerve endings. New York sex expert Ian Kerner PhD suggests incorporating licking and sucking into a foot massage, using your mouth only 20 percent of the time to “minimize the potential for weirdness.” Sex vlogger Shallon Lester has an idea I like: Have your partner pull your knees up, massage the arches of your feet while he kisses you deeply and runs his fingers through your toes (as if he’s holding your foot by the hand).

4. Inner thighs

Nice and close to what many consider the main event, this spot will make most of us feel incredibly horny fast. Your partner doesn’t need any special skills: the lightest touch of this extremely sensitive area can be a huge turn-on. According to Health24, gently caressing, licking, and kissing the inner thigh is where it really happens.

5. Lower abdomen/abdomen

Some women have actually been able to achieve orgasm through core exercises (called “coregasms”), so paying attention to this area is a resounding yes. Amy Levine, a New York City-based sex coach and educator, says: said this place is also likely to cause “anticipatory contraction of the vaginal muscles, increasing your arousal and possibly leading to orgasm without direct genital contact.”

6. Mount of Venus

This often overlooked area above your pubic bone is padded with tissue that can feel incredible when properly stimulated. “Your mound is connected to your genitals and sexual response through sensitive nerve endings and glands that emit pheromones, natural body odor, and sweat,” says Shannon Chavez, a psychologist and certified sexologist in Los Angeles. Your mound, as it’s sometimes called, is considered one of the most “love-making” erogenous zones, along with your vulva.

7. Back/hips

When women on Reddit were asked which erogenous zone men most often neglect, Dandelioness was quick to respond, “Shoulders, spine, any part of my back drives me crazy. Also my hip bones. Mmm!” The sacral nerves, a group of nerves located in a woman’s lower back, are directly connected to her vagina and are a source of BIG pleasure. Have your partner massage the area and see how it feels. Personally, I love it when my man holds my hip bones. It gets me going every time.

8. Neck

Neck kisses are almost always a turn-on. In fact, women classify the nape of your neck above your breasts as an erogenous zone. It’s an extremely sexy area in part because of its vulnerability. Have your partner start at the sides of your neck, kissing or gently brushing it with their lips or fingers.

9. Nipples

For many women, nipples are a key stimulation point (yes, nipple orgasms are real for some). Personally, my breast and nipple sensitivity varies depending on the time of month. It’s definitely worth exploring!

10. Ass

“You might think that something that’s used so often has lost all sensation,” says Zhana Vrangalova, a sex researcher in New York City. But the butt is at the top of the list of erogenous zones. Some people like it soft, others like it hard, and still others like it hard. Only you can know for sure, and there are a few ways to find out.

11. Armpits

If you can get past a little sweat, hair, and taboo, the armpit is a very respectable pleasure spot. “The sensation of being tickled is borderline sexually arousing,” says relationship expert Cory Beth Honickman. “The experience can also be mutually pleasurable, as the hormones released can be quite intoxicating for the person performing the act, too!”

12. The spirit

There is no other way. The mind is and always will be the greatest point of pleasure. Try to connect with your partner on a deeper, more intellectual/emotional level. In the best case scenario, this will make any physical stimulation much better for both of you.

Image source: Matt Crump