Originally published @ Women's Health
By Hannah Rimm and Emily Adbbate
In a world obsessed with the goodies 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 upper-body surgery…more on that later), everybody’s breasts have the potential to unleash a powerful new way to climax. Behold: the nipple orgasm.
What exactly is a nipple orgasm, you ask? Janet Brito, PhD, a sexologist and clinical psychologist in Honolulu, defines nipple orgasms as “a pleasurable release of sexual arousal, centered 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 online sexual wellness shop Wild Flower. Your ability to have a nipple orgasm is thanks to the many nerve endings on and around your nipple, adds Holly Richmond, PhD, a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist.
Why bother trying to have a nipple orgasm?
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. Some women say nipple orgasms feel similar to the pelvic sensation they get during vaginal orgasms, while others describe it as a distinctly unique feeling in its own right—one that vibrates through their entire bodies. (Sounds kinda nice, doesn’t it?) However your orgasm presents itself, there’s no right (or wrong) way to have one, says Richmond. If it feels good, keep ’em coming.
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. Plus, nipple ‘gasms can be a mess-free alternative to vaginal Os when you have your period—and just a totally new way to have fun and get off.
Cool, so how do you achieve a 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. In order to figure out what works best for you, definitely “start with self-pleasure” (a.k.a. masturbate), says Richmond. It’s how you’ll figure out what you’d want someone else to do. Plus, you might even find that one of your nipples is more sensitive than the other.
When starting off, Brito recommends “experimenting with a variety of touch.” For example, go for a light to moderate nipple touch (using your fingers), or you can try massaging the entire breast, then move on to pinching, twisting, and squeezing the entire area. Next, you can progress to pulling the nipple, before focusing directly on the nipple itself.
“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 bring vaginal stimulation into the mix, says Richmond. (Yes, this still counts as a nipple orgasm!)
What if my nipples aren’t that sensitive?
That’s a totally real possibility, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester, New York, and assistant clinical professor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. “Women have different levels of nipple sensitivity based on many factors,” she says.
The first is pretty simple: genetics. Sometimes your nipples just can’t be as easily stimulated as someone else’s. In other cases, the nerves on your nipples might have been affected by breast surgery, such as an augmentation, reduction, lift, lumpectomy, biopsy, or other upper-body procedures.
And sometimes, psychological or emotional trauma, including sexual abuse and breast cancer, could interfere with nipple sensitivity. That’s okay—no shame, ever.
How can I maximize nipple sensitivity or sensation?
At various times of the month, like when you have your period, for example, your nipples might be more sensitive. So if the sensation isn’t a painful one, you might take advantage of your increased responsiveness during this time of the month, says Richmond.
If you’re trying out nip play with a partner, have them stroke or twist your nipples to your liking. Then have them bring their mouth into it—a little rolling of their tongue and sucking around your areola and nips can feel ah-mazing. Like a little nibbling? Have them go for it.
If all that stimulation still isn’t quite enough to bring you to the brink, you may want to bring in some toys. Start with a toy you already have, like a trusty vibrator. Your best bet is to use one that packs a serious punch (read: has intense vibration settings), since some nipples need more stimulation than the clitoris 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. They might sound a bit intimidating, like BDSM-esque, but they’re actually pretty low-key. They work by cutting off circulation to the nipples, so that when you release the clamp, the rush of blood creates a wave of pleasure.
What if I don’t have nipple-specific toys?
No sweat! If your toy collection is a little stark, says Richmond, you can improvise with common household items. Stick tape onto your nipples, then peel it off (quickly). Or experiment with temperature play, by rubbing ice on your nipples to make them more erect, then applying heat (try rubbing a warm massage oil them) to give all those nerves a jolt. And for those with super-sensitive nipples, you may want to try feather ticklers instead of an intense toy, or even just rub on some lube, oil, or lotion. Suction toys that simulate oral sex also work incredibly well on nipples, btw.
In the end, nipple play and nipple orgasms are all about trial and error. So allow yourself and/or your partner to explore your body’s abilities with no judgment or expectations. “A nipple orgasm, like a clitoral orgasm, requires patience and curiosity. Don’t be afraid to try various approaches to discover what feels good,” says Brito.
Half the fun is in the experimenting…you can’t really go wrong.
