Erogenous zones – keys to pleasurable foreplay

Sometimes it’s good to venture off the usual path you take.  You never know what’s out there just waiting to be found or discovered.  Venturing off-course during sex is sort of like this.  If you only resort to the tried and true methods of sexual pleasure, you may never discover the secret to success in bed – trying out new ways to excite your partner. And what better ways to do this then by finding new erogenous zones turning foreplay into a tantalizing treat. 

What do we mean by “erogenous?” Well, if you associate the word “erogenous” with producing love, you’re on the right track.  The word erogenous comes from the Greek word eros meaning “love” and the English word genous meaning “producing.”  Erogenous zones are any area of the body that when touched can increase and heighten sexual arousal.  Common erogenous zones include the genitals, anus, breasts (consisting of the nipple and areola) and mouth.  

Human sexuality depends upon understanding the various erogenous zones throughout the body. When we are comfortable in being aware of our erogenous zones, sex becomes more fun.  Regular sex is an important healthy habit benefitting us in many ways such as improved immunity, lowered blood pressure, pain relief and better sleep. 

We all have our own special erogenous zones where we particularly like to be touched in a sexual manner. When we know our bodies well and have an understanding of what feels good, we can experience a whole new level of sexual pleasure, physical intimacy, and excitement for us and our partner waiting to be discovered.

Finding potential erogenous zones different from the usual

There are many areas of the body that may hardly ever get touched during sexual foreplay or during intercourse.  By only touching “the usual areas” you could be missing out on a whole new level of excitement keeping your lovemaking sexy and titillating.

In reality, any area of the body can be an erogenous zone since we all have our likes and dislikes of where we want to be touched.  Here are some areas you may be neglecting with erotic potential:

·      Scalp

·      Feet and toes

·      Chest

·      Tailbone

·      Lower part of stomach

·      Fingers and fingertips

·      Arms

·      Thighs

·      Nape of neck

·      Ears and earlobes

·      Naval

·      Lips

·      Behind the knees

·      The upper back

·      Shoulders

Discovering erogenous zones on your partner

If you’re not sure how to find your or your partners erogenous zones, there is a technique you can try with your partner to discover where they are at.  Often used in sexual therapy, the technique is called sensate focus.  Sensate focus was developed by the sex research team of William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson, who pioneered understanding of human sexual response and were experts in diagnosing and treating sexual disorders. 

To practice sensate focus, both partners sit with one partner’s back against the other’s chest while sitting between their legs.  The partner in the back explores the body of the person in front searching for areas that are highly erotic.  The partners then switch and repeat with the other partner.

Some of the most highly sensitized and erotic areas of the female body are the clitoris and nipples.  Male erogenous zones include the frenulum, the small elastic band of tissue located where the glans or the head of the penis meet the shaft on the underside of the penis.  Another area to explore and that is very sensitive on men is the ridge of tissue that extends from the perineum to the midline of the scrotum. 

What makes some areas more erogenous than others?

Parts of the body that have a high number of nerve endings tend to be more highly aroused causing sexual excitement than other areas.  When men and women become sexually aroused, blood flows to the genitals making them very sensitive when touched.  Places such as our forearm or head, even though may be erogenous zones for some, have fewer nerve endings and may not bring about the same sort of sensation. 

Only by exploring and touching one another will you find and discover erogenous zones unique to your partner and yourself increasing sexual desire and deepening intimacy between couples.