According to a 2006 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, nipple and/or breast stimulation caused or increased sexual arousal in 82 percent of women and 52 percent of men. It’s clear that this region of the body is an important location for both males and females, but for a number of reasons, it is an especially erogenous zone for women.
One of the reasons women are said to find breast stimulation pleasurable has less to do with physical contact and more to do with social norms and sexual identities. As the only publicly visible trait specific to a woman’s body, society has encouraged us to correlate femininity with the presence of breasts and explaining their growth as one of the first stages of womanhood. Because of these correlations, many women feel that their breasts are a critical component or key to their sensuality and sexuality. As a result, for many women, nipple and breast stimulation helps to unlock feelings of sexual desire, putting them “in the mood” for further interaction and implying that breasts are erogenous simply due for the mindset they inspire.
But your breasts are not important due to mentality alone. Because the attention given to your breasts during a love-making session can resemble the tugging/sucking sensation of a baby’s mouth, stimulation of the nipples helps to release oxytocin, the same hormone released during breastfeeding. Oxytocin is associated with feelings of love and attachment, crucial for baby-mother bonding and just as powerful in a romantic relationship. After giving birth, the release of oxytocin also helps your uterus contract back to its normal size. Similarly, breast stimulation during sexual activity can encourage a different kind of muscle contraction – your orgasm! Therefore, breast stimulation is not simply an aesthetic perk (pardon my pun) but also an essential enhancer of sexual activity.
It’s important to note that not all women enjoy breast and nipple stimulation. For some, this area is extremely sensitive, and anything but gentle caresses detracts from their sexual experience. On the other hand, some women only receive pleasure from more aggressive sucking or kneading. As with every body part, it’s important to experiment carefully with what feels right for you and your partner. If breasts aren’t your forte, spend time exploring the sensitive skin on your neck and earlobes. Pleasure is about discovering your OWN erogenous zones – and you have many!
A Breast Fact Every Woman Should Know:
Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer diagnosed in American women and early detection increases chance of survival exponentially. Most lumps are discovered at home in a self breast-exam, or by a partner during sexual exploration. So get to know your breasts – for the sake of your orgasm AND your overall health!