Some women, though not many, have reported that they can achieve an orgasm simply by having their breasts and nipples stimulated.1 The idea of a woman experiencing orgasm without any genital touching whatsoever might seem perplexing, but new research suggests that there is actually a sound biological basis for it.2
The goal of this study was to see what areas of the brain are active in response to stimulation of different parts of the female body. Female participants were asked to lie inside an fMRI machine and alternate between stimulating the clitoris, vagina, cervix, and nipple. An experimenter instructed the women to “comfortably” stimulate one of those body parts for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds before repeating the process with a different part of the body. All participants were asked to simulate themselves in the exact same way to keep the results as constant as possible (e.g., when it came to nipple stimulation, women were asked to use their right hand to “tap the left nipple rhythmically”).
The researchers discovered that stimulation of the nipple activated an area of the brain known as the genital sensory cortex. This is the same brain region activated by stimulation of the clitoris, vagina, and cervix. What this means is that women’s brains seem to process nipple and genital stimulation in the same way. In light of this, it is not at all surprising that many women are aroused by having their nipples touched and that, for some, this may be enough to lead to orgasm.
If I may offer one note of caution, please keep in mind that when it comes to nipple stimulation, there is good touching and bad touching. The nipple can be a highly sensitive part of the body, which means that more aggressive handling (e.g., twisting) can actually be quite unpleasant. As always, it’s best to communicate with your partner about what is and is not pleasurable.
On a side note, the researchers responsible for this fMRI study recently produced a video of what a complete orgasm looks like inside the female brain (see here). As you can see in the video, the orgasmic experience depends upon a complex interplay of multiple regions of the brain (a “symphony” of activity, if you will). Understanding all of these connections could help us to one day understand why some women seem to have more difficultly achieving orgasm than others.
For our other articles on female orgasm, see here and here.
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1Levin, R. J. (2006). The breast/nipple/areola complex and human sexuality. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 21, 237-249.
2Komisaruk, B. R., Wise, N., Frangos, E., Liu, W. C., Allen, K., & Brody, S. (2011). Women’s clitoris, vagina, and cervix mapped on the sensory cortex: fMRI evidence. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8, 2822-2830.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller – Science of Relationships articles | Website/CV
Dr. Lehmiller’s research program focuses on how secrecy and stigmatization impact relationship quality and physical and psychological health. He also conducts research on commitment, sexuality, and safer-sex practices.
Charles Buzbee says
Dr. Lehmiller is quite correct . I understand that women who achieve orgasm from breast stimulation is rare , but I have found three and consider myself (and them) fortunate . I believe this stems from the limbic portion of the brain , which controls involuntary responses among other things . Women are far more susceptible to these involuntary responses because they are more deeply primal in physical makeup than are men . I've even spoken with women who say that they have achieved orgasm while breast feeding . I am not a researcher , but I'm open to what makes people tick both individually and as a species . Thank you , Chuck
SylverWyrd says
Yes, I am one of those women who achieve orgasm through breast and nipple stimulation alone. This orgasm is much different from a genital or penetration orgasm. For one, it doesn't center on the genitals, it centers on the breasts. The second thing about them is that they can happen very quickly and frequently, and feel a bit like an uncontrolled muscle contraction of the upper torso. My muscles are very relaxed afterward. If women can have these orgasms, I don't see why men can't. I also find genital and penetration orgasms to be very different. The confusion that they are one orgasm may come from the fact that they often happen simultaneously. Genital orgasms are very pleasant and can be intense, but there is nothing like a good penetration orgasm for a woman, probably due to the fact that this comes from the G spot which is connected to the clitoris. You can only reach the G spot by penetration.
NewfoundPleasures says
To SylverWyrd's point – yes, men CAN have them too. I'm one of the (maybe few?) men lucky enough to experience intense nipple pleasure to the point of it being the trigger point for orgasm. Admittedly, the stimulation was not of the nipples only – it was in addition to genital pleasuring – however my ex-wife became an expert at totally controlling my climaxes. When she was pleasuring me – if she decided it was "time" for me to climax then and there – regardless of whether or not I was close – all she had to do was lick, suck and gently bite my left nipple, and that would immediately send me over the top into a very sudden, very intense climax – every time. What was interesting (and obviously extremely enjoyable) was that while the climax itself was genital and involved ejaculation – it was "mirrored" by feeling of pleasure (that honestly is very difficult to describe) in the nipple and areola.
Flavi says
Yeah, woman can orgasm from nipples. But not only woman. Man can too. Its a sensitive area, full of nerve endings. Nipples are not so much direfent in woman and men, so…;
George says
Yet none of this explains why my wife will often orgasm, and strongly, while perfotmibg oral sex on me! We sometimes have simeltaneous climaxes this way, I have no idea how that happens.
As to nipple touching I had a previous partner who often got orgasms from nipole play only.
Danny says
It's not the brain that is very different. It's the fact that the nerve endings in the nipple are undeveloped in men due to lack of estrogen. Most transsexual women can have nipple orgasms or come very close due to the estrogen levels being kept higher.
John says
I am a man that can achieve this type of orgasm. I have issues with anorgasmia because of nerve damage, which I found that stimulating my nipples helped to facilitate an orgasm. Low and behold, I found out I could remove penile stimulation completely at times. It doesn't always work–50% of the time, however, it requires 0 penile stimulation, whatsoever. Also, there are times that it feels like I have a long, extended, non-ejaculatory orgasm before the ejaculation actually occurs; sometime 20-30 minutes worth. I should also add, that when the ejaculation occurs, it tends to be 30-40 muscle contractions instead of the normal 10-15.
curious girl says
I have had nipple orgasms but also my partner has told me he has tasted a tiny amount of liquid from stimulating and/or sucking them. I was wondering if anyone else (female) has experienced this.
Sweeney says
I'm married 18 years. Last time I mentioned this someone told me to have my wife checked for breast cancer…??? So I just let it go… I can't say that my wife cums from nipple stimulation alone but certainly right along with her vaginal orgasm. I usually am apply firm pressure or suction upon her nipples and she explains the feeling of cumming in both her breasts and genitalia. I am always left with a taste in my mouth as if i ate her pussy??? Please any help?? The fluid she releases from her nipples is NOT milk. It is clear and a very small amount… God I love it…
ginger says
For the longest time I thought I was just weird and alone! The first time I experienced a nipple orgasm I was amazed,along with my partner. I honestly can say I feel sorry for anyone who haven't or can't experience this. For me it is the most erotic orgasm of all! I can be completely satisfied with just this type of orgasm, and being able to have multiple orgasm' s with this type of stimulation is amazing. Having my nipples suckled to the point of exploding and being penetrated just at that point has got to be the most satisfied sexually a women could be, at least for this women!
james says
My wife often has orgasms that seem to originate with her breasts. Sometimes her breasts enlarge more than others times during foreplay. When this happens she wants my attention there and sometimes wants them treated rougher than I would think is comfortable. This usually leads to convulsing orgasms without genital touching but are always followed by intercourse and more orgasms. The odd part is that other times she has no response from my touching her breasts, finding satisfaction in other forms of stimulation. I have always wondered why that switch only works about a third of the time – but when it works, it really works well.
Bubba says
Yes…women can orgasm with nipple play but of all women I've been with only my wife has done so…and it came out of the blue for both of us. My wife is Asian, she has small breasts but very long, thick nipples…in our play she's always been super sensitive when I played with her breasts but usually I simply used that sensitivity for foreplay…then one day I persisted longer and a bit rougher in my play with her nipples and she came. I think it surprised her as much as me but it's something we've enjoyed since. So…yes…it can happen…but from my experience it's rare. As with all women each one is unique.
Arun says
Try my way. Use the right size suction cup toy w/glass cylinder to stretch the nipple/areola out to the max. The rubber ring/loop can now be rolled down over the stiff nipple until it gently squeezes at nipple base on the areola. It will have a sexy, pouty pink look. Attach a rubber band w/knot on end to loop and pull to put a nice bend on nipple. Now let it snap back and strike the teat. Repeat process until it's sensitivity is somewhat heightened and it's flushed, screaming pink.
She will love it to the max as you slowly use your lips and tongue to roll the loop up and down the tall stiff shaft of her nipple. The stretch is thrilling as well as when you push it down into the puffy areola
Both will enjoy this tease. Cheers!
BoxedIn says
I too am a woman who can climax over and over by just stimulating nipples. 20 years ago no, that would not have been the case.
Linda says
I can have as many as three orgasms in one session just by having my breast stimulated.whether by fondling or by having my partner suck them, It is quite a pleasure to be able to do this as I can have as many as three orgasms in one session. My breasts are very pleasurably sensitive so I can be aroused at least three or four times a day.
gregg says
My last girlfriend of 9 years could have nipple orgasms no problem… She could also cum 75-100 times while having clitoral and vaginal foreplay for several hours. She also would ejaculate. Finally had to have a liner on her bed…….
Tomh says
There are women who lose sensation in their nipples after breastfeeding (aka numb nipples), and it sometimes takes years for feeling to return. There probably were no such women in this study, but it would be interesting to see how their genital sensory cortex responds to stimulating their nipples.