The nipples, as a source of sexual pleasure, have not received the attention they deserve. Some people enjoy the pleasure they bring, while others don't care, and some even don't feel it at all. Mainstream pornographic films and media tend to downplay the sexual potential of the nipples or simplify them to some ordinary actions. However, doing so actually reduces the chances of experiencing nipple orgasm (that is, the sexual orgasm generated by stimulating the nipples themselves or as part of sexual pleasure).

Nipple Pleasure Anatomy

Stimulating the nipples will stimulate the same area in the brain that is responsible for the response to stimulation related to the clitoris, vagina and cervix - the genital sensory cortex. Due to the contraction of the smooth muscle beneath the areola, the nipples change color and size during sexual arousal. Additionally, the nipples have a rich network of nerve endings (approximately 800!) and we can stimulate them in various ways, such as with hands, mouth, other parts of the body, sensory stimulants, and sex toys.

Everyone has nipples, so people of any gender can experience the pleasure of nipples. Hormonal changes during menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and during surgeries can affect the type of stimulation one enjoys. If you want to learn about sexual health, nipple play usually has a very low risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases; except during breastfeeding, breast milk and other body fluids are also considered body fluids. Safe sex also means discussing emotional safety - when exploring sexual behaviors including nipple play, ask your partner if there is anything that makes them uncomfortable or has boundaries. For example, some words may be offensive or trigger gender anxiety. Some fantasies may be taboo or very stimulating, such as adult breastfeeding. Understand how your partner likes others to refer to their body, and what emotions they would like to experience through nipple play.

Just like most types of sexual pleasure, nipple play requires figuring out what works, which demands communication, curiosity and creativity.

Here are 10 ways to explore the pleasure of the nipples starting today:

• Temperature play

Try warming up the nipple with a massage candle or wax candles or cool it down with an ice cube or Ice Chill Vibe. Playing with contrasts of hot and cold sensations can sometimes delight the nerve endings and bring more arousal to the nipples. Hot breath exhaled onto a nipple wet with spit can feel amazing! Get creative with temperature play techniques. 

• Biting and nibbling

Your partner might enjoy your teeth on their nipples. Start with lighter biting and increase in increments of pressure to see what feels best for your partner. 

• Sucking sensations

Try sucking on nipples with your mouth (try a flavoured lube!) or using nipple suction toys. Sucking can stimulate the nerve endings and nipple suction sex toys help bring blood flow and increased sensitivity to the nipple and surrounding area.

• Chest massage

Give an erotic chest massage with varying pressures, speeds, and rhythms to your partner’s chest to relax them. Give the nipple a chance to anticipate and desire your touch by giving attention to the rest of the chest starting on the sides and moving towards the middle of the chest. Try using an edible massage bar that melts onto the body and adds a velvety texture to your massage. 

• Cannabis-infused lube

Explore a cannabis-infused lube to heighten the receptivity of the nipples to sensation. Most cannabis-infused lubes are safe to ingest, so if you put your mouth on the nipples afterwards, it’s not harmful. If you’ve never used cannabis products before, start with a CBD infused lubricant or massage oil.

• Play with pain

Start with nipple pinching to help gauge their pain tolerance. Check-in with your partner and ask if they want you to go harder or softer. If you’ve got consent to increase the pleasure, gently roll the nipples between your fingers or start with a playful pinch. You can encourage your partner to give you non-verbal feedback like arching their back or sticking their chest out if they want more or putting their fingers over yours to show you the pressure of pinch they are aching for. 

For more intense nipples sensations, explore nipple clamps or the wartenberg pinwheel. Intense sensations require you to build up of warmth and blood flow to the area and then move into sharper or stronger sensations. Most nipple clamps are adjustable, so you can enjoy wearing them loosely and then as you get more aroused, tighten the tension on the clamps. If you have a vibrator, you can use them on nipples too!

• Sensual sensations

Whether you’re warming up a nipple or you’ve got someone who doesn’t like intense nipple sensations, feathers are always a great way to tickle and tease someone’s chest. You can also use light touch, hair or lingerie to create sensual sensations for nipples. You can experiment with sensual sensations during masturbation too and learn what you like at your own pace.

• Body to body grinding

It can feel amazing to drag your hard nipples against someone else’s chest or back or along their genitals. Press your nipples into your person’s body and experiment with light dragging or intense grinding.

• Decorate your nipples 

Lingerie, nipple pasties, clamps, coloured wax, chest harnesses or edible body paint are a few of the ways you can decorate your chest area. Many of us are visually aroused. We can turn ourselves and our partners on with accessories to seduce and tease them or prepare for a sexy striptease. 

• Get feedback from your partner. 

Ask them if they want more or less pressure? Harder or softer? Faster or slower stimulation? If you’re excited to try a bunch of different ideas, pick one or two and allow yourself to play with tease, pressure, speed and contrasts to allow the sensation to sink in for your partner. 

It can be really powerful to blend sensations for nipple play. Try to combine nipple pleasure with other types of sexy things that arouse your partner like kissing or genital stimulation or being blindfolded. Encourage your partner to relax, take deep breaths to come into their body and to enjoy receiving sensation. Be playful, patient, and communicative and your erotic nipple exploration will be fun and hot!