In a world obsessed with what’s between your legs, it’s easy to forget about the major erogenous zone above your waist: your nipples. Barring certain factors (such as breast reductions and top surgery), everybody’s nipples have the potential to unleash a powerful new way to orgasm. But are you making the most of your nipples’ orgasm potential?
Wait, what’s a nipple orgasm?
Dr Janet Brito, a sexologist and clinical psychologist in Honolulu, defines nipple orgasms as “a pleasurable release of sexual arousal, centred on nipple stimulation and not caused by stimulating the clitoris [or penis] directly.”
In fact, “by stimulating your nipples and the surrounding breast tissue, you can create a sexual climax much like a genital orgasm,” says Amy Boyajian of Wild Flower, an online sex toy shop with an emphasis on sexual wellness.
Nipple orgasms may seem like small potatoes when you can have a genital orgasm, but they can be just as intense—if not more so, Boyajian notes. Oh, and the best part? Nipple orgasms can be a precursor to a genital orgasm if you want to have multiple orgasms in one go. Boyajian also points out that nipple orgasms can be a mess-free alternative to vaginal orgasming when you’re menstruating.
READ MORE: What Are Inverted Nipples — And What Does It Mean If You Have Them?
How do you achieve nipple orgasm?
Practice, practice, practice. All bodies react to stimulation in their own way so it’s important to experiment, listen to your body, and focus on the pleasure aspect—not necessarily the goal of orgasm.
Brito recommends “experimenting with a variety of touch.” For example, start with a light to moderate nipple touch (using your fingers), or you can try massaging the entire breast, then move on to pinching, twisting, squeezing. Next, you can progress to pulling the nipple, before focusing directly on the nipple.
“Slowly build anticipation, then apply more direct pleasure to the nipple, and let yourself be overcome with pleasure,” says Brito. Still, some people won’t be able to achieve orgasm from nipple play alone, so once you’re close to climax, feel free to include some genital play as well.
If fingers or a tongue (or teeth!) aren’t enough to bring you to nipple orgasm, you may want to try out some toys. One easy way to start is with a toy you might already have, like a vibrator. Your best bet is to use a vibrator that packs a lot of punch, since some nipples need more stimulation than the clitoris or penis to achieve orgasm.
If you want to work with a nipple-specific toy, Boyajian recommends nipple suckers, which “create sucking pressure around the nipple and areola, much like what a person’s mouth would feel like.”
Or, if you want even more pressure, you can try nipple clamps, which work to cut off circulation to the nipples, providing a rush of pleasure when released. And for those with relatively sensitive nipples, you may want to try feather ticklers instead of a more intense toy, or even just adding some lube to your nipple play.
In the end, nipple play and orgasm is all about trial and error. So allow yourself and/or your partner to explore your body’s abilities with no judgement or expectations. “A nipple orgasm, like a clitoral orgasm, requires patience and curiosity. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try various approaches to discover what feels good,” says Brito.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
