Glossary
Nipple orgasm
An orgasm that comes from stimulating only the nipples and breasts.
What is a nipple orgasm?
A nipple orgasm (in Dutch: tepelorgasme) is an orgasm that comes from stimulating only the nipples and breasts, without the genitals being touched. Not everyone can have one, but for anyone with sensitive nipples it is very real. Brain research offers an explanation: nipple stimulation activates the same part of the cerebral cortex as the clitoris.
| In Dutch | tepelorgasme |
| Comes from | stimulation of the nipples and breasts |
| Without | touching the genitals |
| Explanation | nipples activate the genital zone of the cerebral cortex |
| Related | erogenous zone |
What the research shows
For a long time it was thought that nipples only stimulate the breast region in the brain. Research by Barry Komisaruk at Rutgers University showed something else with an fMRI scan. According to the CBS News reporting, nipple stimulation in the women studied also activated the genital zone of the cerebral cortex. Komisaruk said about this that it may be the basis for the fact that many women find nipple stimulation erotic, because it stimulates the same area as the genitals. A later study by Wise, Frangos and Komisaruk confirmed that touching the nipple and touching the clitoris both activate the same genital zone of the sensory cortex.
What a nipple orgasm is not
“That’s made up, it’s not possible at all.” It does not happen for everyone, but it is not a myth. There is a neurological explanation for it, and plenty of women experience it. If it does not work for you, that says nothing about whether your body works normally.
What I see myself
The breasts and nipples often get skipped, as if they are only a stopover on the way down. A shame. For some women there is a lot of feeling there, as long as the attention goes to them calmly and without rush. Whether it leads to an orgasm is not the point. The attention itself already does a lot. That calm attention to your whole body is exactly what intimate togetherness is about.
Sources
- Activation of sensory cortex by imagined genital stimulation. Wise, Frangos and Komisaruk, 2016. Provides that touching the nipple and touching the clitoris both activate the genital zone of the primary sensory cortex.
Related terms
- Erogenous zone. The nipples are one of them; this explains the broader concept.
- Blended orgasm. An orgasm from several sources at once.
What is a nipple orgasm?
A nipple orgasm is an orgasm that comes from stimulating only the nipples and breasts, without touching the genitals. It does not happen for everyone, but brain research shows that nipple stimulation activates the same part of the cerebral cortex as the clitoris.
Can everyone have a nipple orgasm?
No. It depends on how sensitive your nipples are and on calm and attention. If it does not work for you, there is nothing wrong: it is one of the many ways bodies differ. It often helps more to relax than to aim hard for it.
Learn more
Curious what attention can do?
I'm Victor, a gigolo for women. I take my time for the places that often get skipped, without rush and without a goal. Wondering how that feels? Ask me your question, there's no obligation at all.