5 Underappreciated Female Erogenous Zones Men Need to Know

Getting down to the task at hand (or maybe at mouth?) is a well-meaning mistake plenty of enthusiastic men make with female sexual partners. After all, if an act feels amazing, why wouldn't you want to get to the grand finale?

Well, for one thing, the more you make her wait, the more payoff there might be.

"Rather than going straight to clitoral stimulation, give [her] body time to become fully aroused by touching other erogenous zones and slowly moving towards the genitals," said Danish sex expert Isabelle Uren, a resident sex educator at online sex toy store BedBible. "When fully aroused, you can begin stimulating your clitoris, which should be extra sensitive and ready for action."

This comes down to biology, essentially. The various chambers and sheaths of the penis are designed to rapidly engorge with blood, signifying sexual readiness. After male climax, the blood flow exiting the penis may be equally rapid. It takes a little longer for a vagina to fully engorge, which may not sound sexually relevant but absolutely is: The more blood present, the more sensitive the area. Blood dissipates from the vagina at a much slower rate after female orgasm than it does from the penis after male orgasm, which is why women may remain sexually aroused after climax.

The waiting can be half the fun, especially when you incorporate these parts of her body:

1. The belly button

The belly button is a potential erogenous zone for all sexes. The connection between abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscle contractions is thought to be part of why oral stimulation of this area is so potent.

Sex educator Edwina Caito, an intimacy sex expert and founder of BedBible, advocates what we'll call "tummy-lingus."

"The belly button can be an erogenous zone to some, and a full-on tongue-lashing, swirling, sucking can drive some to the brink," said Caito, of Evansville, Indiana.

If you've never eaten out your partner's belly button, start slowly with kisses in the general stomach area and draw closer if you're receiving a positive reaction. This may be a ticklish or unfamiliar sensation, so don't just stick your tongue directly in their belly button without licking around the brim of the naval. Your hands can be holding her breasts, hips or whatever is within reach.

2. The collarbone

The collarbone? Really?

"Apart from being an exceedingly beautiful area of a woman's body, the collarbone is also highly sensitive to touch because the skin surrounding the collarbone is so thin," said Kelly Nolan, owner of Lush Sensation, an online sex toy vendor. "Gently use your fingers and stroke her collarbone; your fingertips can be run over the bone and your tongue along the underside before working your way down toward the chest. You can also stimulate this erogenous zone by slowly running your tongue over the collarbone up to the neck."

This act can serve as a transition between making out and oral sex or be as simple and benign as nuzzling her neck.

3. The thigh indentations

Proximity to the genitals leaves the thigh indentations on either side as the overlooked middle child of erogenous zones, Caito explained.

"Those little indentations on the upper, inner thigh—vagina adjacent—are way underappreciated," she said. "The indentations are extremely sensitive and often skipped over as our partners dive in for the main course."

Whether you encounter the thigh indentations coming down from the head or up from the legs—think starting with a foot rub—Nolan explained the coed appeal of the area.

"It's no coincidence that gently caressing the inner thighs gets both men and women excited, given how close they are to the genital area," she said. "The fleshy inner thighs, much like the inner arms, are sensitive areas of the body. Due to the abundance of nerve endings, the inner thighs of a woman are particularly sensitive to touch. Slowly move your fingertips inward and upward along the front of your partner's inner thighs [or] your lips, mouth and tongue to make your way up."

4. Anywhere that forks

Exploration takes us to surprising places, and Caito explained any area with enough nerve endings or sensitive skin can be an erogenous zone. Skin sensitivity naturally increases as the skin becomes thinner, and skin is typically thinner at junctions.

"Arms, fingers, hands, feet, toes," she said. "Our hands and fingers are teeming with nerve endings that perk up at any type of touch, especially the palms and in between the fingers. The same goes for the feet and toes and in between the toes—as long as you aren't too ticklish."

Using this "junction" logic, we might also pick out the inside of the elbow as an especially sensitive spot. Whether you interpret that as the top crease separating the bicep and forearm or the inner corner of the elbow that touches the body when your arms are placed at your sides, give it a try.

5. The clitoris deserves variety

The transformation of a woman's genitals from nonaroused to aroused really can't be overstated; every part possesses accordion-like abilities to multiply in size. The clitoris is no exception, and Uren explained how a little help from a toy allows you to be in multiple places at once as a lover.

"Clitoris pumps or clit suckers can help increase sensitivity by encouraging more blood flow into [the] clitoris," she said. "Try wearing one while teasing other areas to maximize arousal."

Following the use of a clitoral pump, you may want to interact with the supersensitive region extra slowly, such as blowing gently on it before actually making contact. This is true of all the other aforementioned areas; you may be surprised what a little breath on her earlobe or collarbone can do.

All of these areas or methods can intensify sex, but consider what you know about your partner's personality and preferences before diving in. Does she enjoy surprises? Or should you have a little debriefing before moving forward, even if you don't get into all the details?

Start slow, monitor her reaction, and the precoital time will fly by.