An erogenous zone is any part of the body that elicits sexual arousal when touched. Although most people think of the genitals when it comes to sexual touch, other parts of the body are erogenous zones as well and can bring a person great sexual pleasure. In fact, a 2016 study that mapped the preferred erogenous zones of 704 participants found that the entire body can be sensitive to sexual touch, but erogenous zones vary from person to person.

What are the most common erogenous zones?

For women, the most common erogenous zones are:

• The clitoris
• The vagina
• The perineum (the area between the vulva and the anus)
• The breasts
• The nipples
• The buttocks
• The lips
• The neck
• The ears

For men, the most common erogenous zones are:

• The penis
• The scrotum
• The perineum (the area between the scrotum and the anus)
• The nipples
• The buttocks
• The lips
• The neck
• The ears

What are other erogenous zones?

Since everyone experiences pleasure differently, one person’s preferred erogenous zones will likely be different from those of another person. Nevertheless, the following are some additional erogenous zones that are fairly common in both men and women:

• The inner thigh
• The forearm
• The wrist
• The hips
• The pubic hairline
• The back (upper and lower)
• The abdomen
• The area behind the knees
• The feet and toes
• The scalp
• The eyelids

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, and if you experience sexual pleasure from a certain part of your body being touched, it is considered an erogenous zone.

Why are erogenous zones important, and what is their relation to satisfying sex?

Due to their heightened sensitivity to touch, erogenous zones can go a long way toward enhancing a sexual experience. In particular, you may find that concentrating non-genital erogenous zones, at least at the beginning of a sexual encounter, is an effective way to improve your sexual connection with a partner.

Although it may seem like focusing on touching your partner’s genitals would be the most direct path to orgasm, this is not always the case. Lightly touching, stroking, kissing, licking, or using a vibratory sex tool on your partner’s preferred erogenous zones can increase your partner’s pleasure and may prime the body for orgasm in a way that directly touching the genitals cannot.

What’s more, exploring different erogenous zones and determining new ways of experiencing pleasure can foster greater intimacy between partners during sexual activity. This may be especially important for couples in which one individual has experienced changes in their sexual functioning after an event such as an injury or cancer treatment. Some research even points to the possibility of non-genital orgasm, which could be significant for individuals who have reduced or absent sensation in their genitals.

Resources:

• Cordeau, D., Bélanger, M., Beaulieu‐Prévost, D., & Courtois, F. (2014). The assessment of sensory detection thresholds on the perineum and breast compared with control body sites. The journal of sexual medicine, 11(7), 1741-1748. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12547
  
  
• Maister, L., Fotopoulou, A., Turnbull, O., & Tsakiris, M. (2020). The Erogenous Mirror: Intersubjective and Multisensory Maps of Sexual Arousal in Men and Women. Archives of sexual behavior, 49(8), 2919–2933. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01756-1
  
  
• Nummenmaa, L., Suvilehto, J.T., Glerean, E., Santtila, P., & Hietanen, J.K. (2016). Topography of human erogenous zones. Archives of sexual behavior, 45(5), 1207-1216. DOI: 1007/s10508-016-0745-z
  
  
• Richa, C. Medically reviewed by Steve Silvestro, MD. (2022, April 14). Erogenous zones for women and men. https://ro.co/health-guide/erogenous-zones-women-men/
  
  
• Younis, I., Fattah, M., & Maamoun, M. (2016). Female hot spots: extragenital erogenous zones. Human Andrology, 6(1), 20-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.XHA.0000481142.54302.08