If you didn’t know it already, you soon will. Nipples–when licked, sucked, and flicked–can set off fireworks throughout your body. Including nipple play during sex lights up a particular area in your brain that heightens all of the individual sensations you feel. And you know what that means: a more powerful, not to mention, pleasurable release!
MRI scans show that nipple stimulation activates the same neural pathways as clitoral and genital stimulation. That means your brain essentially can’t tell the difference between the pleasure you get from rubbing your nips and that from your vulva/vagina or penis! (But if you have little-to-no feeling in your nipples, the effect may be dampened).
So, yes–because you can be aroused by having your nipples touched, with the right amount of stimulation, it can lead to the big O. This is what we call a 'nipplegasm,’ an orgasm delivered by nipple stimulation alone. Admittedly, a 'nipplegasm' might take longer to come (pun intended), especially if it’s new to you.
Many women describe a nipplegasm as something that sneaks up on you and explodes out of nowhere. While it can feel less intense than a clitoral orgasm, a nipplegasm can last longer and be more satisfyingly pleasurable as a result. Some women also report having a glandular sensation in the breasts afterward–almost like they’re swollen.
And because hormonal changes during menstruation can increase breast sensitivity, many women also experience ‘deeper, more intense’ nipplegasms when they’re on their period. Score!
Many men, on the other hand, report that it can sometimes feel like their nipples are wired directly to their penises–any stimulation to the nips will send sensations straight down to their dicks, and often to the anus, too.
The resulting nipplegasm feels like an intense build-up of pressure in the penis, sometimes leading to a dry orgasm, where the sexual climax is reached, but there's no (or minimal) release of semen.
That said, nipple play doesn't have to lead to orgasm! You can make use of it to double your pleasure and your fun in bed. If you come, you come. Absolutely no pressure at all.
Here’s how you can experience the joys of nipple play.
Unlike clitoral or penile stimulation, you’re going to need some time before your body becomes primed for nipple play. It’s not going to feel like much in the beginning – especially if you have a ton of random thoughts zooming around in your mind.
So, be sure to find someplace quiet, somewhere you're able to relax and get in the mood. If it helps, consider setting the scene with your favorite candles or incense. Also, keep your favorite lube or massage oil handy–you're going to need it in a while!
As with any sexual activity, you don't want to dive right in. Take your time to get to the nipples! Drip some of your oil or lube in the middle of your chest. Spread it out around your entire body with large, broad strokes–making sure that you're never applying direct pressure onto your nipples. Tease yourself.
At this point, you might notice that your nipples are erect. That’s a good sign! Use a feather-light touch to circle your nipples. Not the nips themselves, mind you–just around them. Savor every touch and sensation. Experiment with the pressure to find what makes you feel good. Continue to build the anticipation.
Move on to the nipples only when your body is begging for it–when you're breathing heavy and already fantasizing about just how good you're going to feel when your fingers land squarely on your nipples. Start to rub them slowly, increasing speed and pressure as your arousal picks up.
And when that’s no longer enough to quench your thirst, you can get even more aggressive with your nipples by pulling them or even twisting them. While you’re doing that, don’t be afraid to introduce pinching to the mix, too! The rush of blood back to your nipples after you let go of your squeeze is going to feel tingly and oh-so-good.
The beautiful thing about nipple play is that you don’t have to only stick to your fingers–you can choose to add in some fun extras to get things super-hot, super-fast. Here are a few sensations to play around with:
Hot and cold
As with oral sex, you can play with temperatures when it comes to the nipples! You can rub them with an ice cube for a few seconds, or drip hot wax from a candle onto your nips (be sure to hold the candle at a safe distance, so you don’t burn yourself). Even better, consider alternating between both temperatures to enhance your sensations.
Don’t attempt to go straight into temperature-play–if you’re not sufficiently aroused, you may find the experience painful, instead of pleasurable. Unless pain is your thing.
Nipple clamps
As implied by its name, nipple clamps are a type of sex toy used to increase sensations to the nipples. You can think of them as clothespins, but with extra features. You’ll find that because of their design, it’ll be much easier for you to adjust the pressure applied on your nipples with the nipple clamps, compared to the clothespins in your house.
As with pinching, you’ll find that the pleasurable sensation happens when the clamps are removed–when the tingling rush of blood floods to the tips of your nipples.
Vibrators
Want to keep your fingers free for, um, other places? Well, vibrators are excellent for this purpose! Just place them smack on your nips, and the vibrations will send wave after wave of intense pleasure coursing through your body.
This is the perfect set-up for you to experience a blended orgasm–your nipplegasm might coincide with your clitoral/ penile/ anal orgasm, depending on where you're putting your fingers! Talk about a mind-blowing session.
Don't forget: you can indulge in nipple play even when you're getting down and dirty with someone else, too! And you might fall in love with the experience even more since your partner is now able to introduce some titillating sensations to your play sessions.
Namely, you can ask your partner to blow, kiss, lick, suck, and even bite your nipples–actions that would be nearly impossible for you to do when you’re alone. Unless you’re incredibly flexible, of course (even then).
You don't need to lie there, completely still, while your partner is going down on your nipples. You can also include nipple play during sex itself to enhance your pleasure!
If your partner is going at you from the back, don’t be afraid to get them to stimulate your nipples with their free hand! Have them flick your nipples or rub them with oil or lube. The combination of sensations is bound to send you over the edge–fast.
Now, it’s also important to note that, while everyone who has nipples has the same number of sensitive nerve endings on them, not everyone is down for nipple play. And that might include you.
So, if you give nipple play a whirl, and you're feeling kind of 'meh' about it, there are plenty of other things to try. At least now, you've been there, done that. But for those loving this new experience, congrats! You just upped your game and unlocked a new way of climaxing.
