This article was scientifically fact-checked by Social Psychologist Dr. Justin Lehmiller.
One of the reasons that we are so good at making ourselves orgasm is that we know our bodies so well. In fact, it’s that self-exploration of pleasure that helps improve our sex lives with our partners (that and some good old-fashioned communication skills). However, when it comes to our partner’s body (or a new partner’s body) we sometimes don’t pay the same care and attention to all its parts, maybe because we found one erogenous zone they love, or because you’ve both been too shy to communicate. Thus, below we offer you a lesson of the basic anatomy of male pleasure.
The Shaft
Though penises vary in length and girth, their size is mostly made up of the shaft. While the biggest part of a penis, it also has the fewest nerve endings. That doesn’t mean, of course, that it should be ignored during foreplay, just that it doesn’t need to be the be-all and end-all of penis stimulation. Experiment with different pressures and sensations by using different parts of your mouth and hands along the shaft, near the head and the base.
The Glans
The head of the penis is comparable to the clitoris in that it has the majority of the nerve endings are (and the two, in fact, originate from the same material in utero). The highest concentration of these nerves is around the outer ridge, which can be much more pronounced in uncircumcised penises. Kiss, lick, suck, nibble (gently!) all over it for intense sensations.
Foreskin
While in the United States non-religious circumcision is quite common (about 79% of the population) it surprises many that this is not the default elsewhere. Even in Canada, which is quite similar in terms of newness and culture to the United States, has only about 30% of its population circumcised, which varies from almost 0% in one province to 40% in the one next to it.
The Frenulum
This is the V-shaped part under the head of the penis where the glans meets the shaft. It has some sensitivity to it, but less than the glans itself.
The Scrotum & Testicles
The scrotum, which both protects and regulates the temperature of the testicles, can be one of the most sensitive parts of the male anatomy, but not always in a pleasurable way. The scrotum itself is analogous to parts of the vagina, and has a similar number of nerve endings that make it responsive to cupping, sucking, and licking, Some men also enjoy gentle tugging, but treating the area too roughly (without the go ahead and clear communication of interest in that particular kink) can cause intense pain and even nausea, as nerves surrounding the testicles go all the way up the stomach.
The Perineum
The term ‘perineum’ refers to the area between the scrotum and the anus. You can you use your fingers to stroke this area, or apply firm pressure. Doing so in time to thrusting is an amazing way to intensify the sensation while giving a blow job, or during sex when your own legs are elevated, if you can reach!
The Anus
Just as women can enjoy the sensations surrounding anal sex and play, many men enjoy the stimulation of the opening or just within, with mouth, finger, or a vibrator. A water-based personal moisturizer should be used when stimulating this area, and it is important that if not using a toy made just for anal play that the massager is either covered with a clean condom or cleaned thoroughly before it makes contact with a vagina afterward.
The Penile Tissue
Pleasuring all of the tissue throughout his entire penis with deep, resonant sensations can reach all the way down his shaft and stimulate his prostate, if the vibrations are strong enough. When the penis is erect, that’s because of the corpora cavernosa get engorged with blood. These long strips of spongy tissue extends nearly to the prostate, and with a deeply sonorous hummer blowjob or a masturbation sleeve that uses sonic stimulation like the LELO F1S, you can provide these penetrating sensations the give pleasure like nothing else.
The Prostate
This walnut-sized, semen-storing gland located at the root of the penis is often described as ‘the male G-spot.’ Stimulating it can cause powerful orgasms, and has been linked to improved prostate health. It can be stimulated with a finger, though it can be difficult to reach and awkward to stimulating properly, thus making a high-quality prostate massager essential for unlocking the powerful pleasure of the P-spot.
Conclusion
While perhaps one of the most clinical articles we have ever posted on Volonté, (at least in terms of male erogenous zones) we hope that this frank look at all the wonderful, unique pleasure points and how to stimulate them has helped you gain a little understanding into your partner’s body, so you can come to learn it as well as your own.
Facts checked by:
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Dr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He is an award-winning educator, having been honored three times with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence from Harvard University, where he taught for several years. Dr. Lehmiller has published more than 50 academic works, including a textbook titled The Psychology of Human Sexuality that is used in college classrooms around the world. He helps people maintain healthy intimate lives through science-based, sex-positive education via his Sex and Psychology blog, workshops, and frequent media appearances.