Guide to Edging: How to Edge Solo or With a Partner

Edging is the sexual practice of disengaging physical touch before reaching orgasm to prolong sexual pleasure. The term “edging” comes from the concept of approaching the "edge" of ejaculation before pulling back. Other terms for the practice include “peaking,” “surfing,” and “teasing.” Edging is a solo activity or a partnered experience in which one partner brings the other as close as possible to orgasm before disengaging.

Penis owners sometimes use this form of orgasm control to counteract the effects of a refractory period—a period of time after an orgasm when they may be unable to sustain an erection. In some cases, vulva owners also engage in edging to delay clitoral orgasms. Other vulva owners may engage in edging purely for prolonging pleasure.

By using edging to delay an orgasm, a person can experience additional pleasure in their own body and improve their partner's sexual experience. Edging prolongs the overall period of sexual stimulation by exploiting the buildup of sexual energy for a more intense orgasm. Additionally, penis owners may practice edging as a way to stave off premature ejaculation.

Edging is also a component of the BDSM experience, a blanket term for various erotic practices and kinks built upon power dynamics between consenting sexual partners. “BDSM” is a combination of acronyms that stands for three similar but distinct communities that use power imbalance for sexual pleasure: bondage and discipline (B/D), domination and submission (D/S), and sadism and masochism (S/M).

Edging has many benefits, including amplified orgasms and physical sensations, adding variation to a predictable sex life, or combating premature ejaculation. In an intense sexual moment, it may seem counterintuitive to stop stimulation, but many sexologists tout the practice as a way to add variety to a person's sex life.

Edging also allows couples to engage in more than one type of sexual activity (for instance, oral sex followed by vaginal sex) rather than a single activity that ends once the penis owner ejaculates. If you're seeking sexual pleasure without a partner, edging can also positively prolong masturbation.

If you want to try edging, use this step-by-step guide to enhance the sensation of orgasm throughout your (or your partner’s) body:

1. 1. Get consent from your partner. Before engaging in the practice of edging with your partner, you and your partner must both agree on what you’re comfortable with before you begin. Have an open and honest dialogue with your partner about the technique and discuss how far you each want to go so that you both feel comfortable and confident experimenting. If you’re too nervous about bringing edging up directly and are curious about your partner’s level of interest, consider watching some edging videos together to broach the subject.
2. 2. Use a sex toy or manual stimulation for solo play. Vulva owners who want to enjoy a solo edging session can use a vibrator or their fingers to stimulate their clitoris. If using a sex toy, vulva owners can apply it to their clitoris or fully insert it into their vaginal opening and strategically remove it before they reach orgasm. Penis owners interested in solo edging can try the "squeeze method," in which they squeeze the head of the penis to prevent ejaculation.
3. 3. Start with a make-out session. Light a few candles and select a sexy playlist to set the atmosphere for the session. When you’re both ready, ease into a make-out session. Lightly graze your fingertips along your partner’s arms, back, and chest and any of their erogenous zones for additional stimulation.
4. 4. Begin foreplay. Check in with your partner to see if they’re ready to move onto foreplay and what they’re in the mood for. You can focus on manual stimulation (a hand job or fingering) or take things a bit further by performing or receiving oral sex. Use lube to reduce any friction, and mix the pace of the stimulation to foster a sense of unpredictability.
5. 5. Be mindful of your partner’s bodily response. As you get deeper into your session, note your partner’s bodily response so that you can stop short of bringing them to orgasm. Is their body beginning to shake? Is their breath quickening? If they request that you continue working toward orgasm, you can always practice the technique during another session with their consent.
6. 6. Discontinue stimulation before the climax. When your partner is close to orgasm, disengage and sit back but remain in the moment. Physical touch may provoke an orgasm, but eye contact can help maintain intimacy. Wait for a brief period until the physical need to ejaculate has subsided.
7. 7. Ask them when they’re ready to continue. After a while, ask your partner if their body feels ready to resume sexual stimulation. Once they are, begin oral, vaginal, or anal penetration, pushing toward the point of imminent orgasm. At this point, your partner may opt to let the orgasm happen or repeat the process.

Craving a little more intimacy? Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership and learn more about open communication with your partners, experimenting in the bedroom, and being your own best sexual advocate with a little help from Emily Morse (host of the wildly popular podcast Sex With Emily).

Edging is the sexual practice of disengaging physical touch before reaching orgasm to prolong sexual pleasure. The term “edging” comes from the concept of approaching the "edge" of ejaculation before pulling back. Other terms for the practice include “peaking,” “surfing,” and “teasing.” Edging is a solo activity or a partnered experience in which one partner brings the other as close as possible to orgasm before disengaging.

Penis owners sometimes use this form of orgasm control to counteract the effects of a refractory period—a period of time after an orgasm when they may be unable to sustain an erection. In some cases, vulva owners also engage in edging to delay clitoral orgasms. Other vulva owners may engage in edging purely for prolonging pleasure.

By using edging to delay an orgasm, a person can experience additional pleasure in their own body and improve their partner's sexual experience. Edging prolongs the overall period of sexual stimulation by exploiting the buildup of sexual energy for a more intense orgasm. Additionally, penis owners may practice edging as a way to stave off premature ejaculation.

Edging is also a component of the BDSM experience, a blanket term for various erotic practices and kinks built upon power dynamics between consenting sexual partners. “BDSM” is a combination of acronyms that stands for three similar but distinct communities that use power imbalance for sexual pleasure: bondage and discipline (B/D), domination and submission (D/S), and sadism and masochism (S/M).

Edging has many benefits, including amplified orgasms and physical sensations, adding variation to a predictable sex life, or combating premature ejaculation. In an intense sexual moment, it may seem counterintuitive to stop stimulation, but many sexologists tout the practice as a way to add variety to a person's sex life.

Edging also allows couples to engage in more than one type of sexual activity (for instance, oral sex followed by vaginal sex) rather than a single activity that ends once the penis owner ejaculates. If you're seeking sexual pleasure without a partner, edging can also positively prolong masturbation.

If you want to try edging, use this step-by-step guide to enhance the sensation of orgasm throughout your (or your partner’s) body:

1. 1. Get consent from your partner. Before engaging in the practice of edging with your partner, you and your partner must both agree on what you’re comfortable with before you begin. Have an open and honest dialogue with your partner about the technique and discuss how far you each want to go so that you both feel comfortable and confident experimenting. If you’re too nervous about bringing edging up directly and are curious about your partner’s level of interest, consider watching some edging videos together to broach the subject.
2. 2. Use a sex toy or manual stimulation for solo play. Vulva owners who want to enjoy a solo edging session can use a vibrator or their fingers to stimulate their clitoris. If using a sex toy, vulva owners can apply it to their clitoris or fully insert it into their vaginal opening and strategically remove it before they reach orgasm. Penis owners interested in solo edging can try the "squeeze method," in which they squeeze the head of the penis to prevent ejaculation.
3. 3. Start with a make-out session. Light a few candles and select a sexy playlist to set the atmosphere for the session. When you’re both ready, ease into a make-out session. Lightly graze your fingertips along your partner’s arms, back, and chest and any of their erogenous zones for additional stimulation.
4. 4. Begin foreplay. Check in with your partner to see if they’re ready to move onto foreplay and what they’re in the mood for. You can focus on manual stimulation (a hand job or fingering) or take things a bit further by performing or receiving oral sex. Use lube to reduce any friction, and mix the pace of the stimulation to foster a sense of unpredictability.
5. 5. Be mindful of your partner’s bodily response. As you get deeper into your session, note your partner’s bodily response so that you can stop short of bringing them to orgasm. Is their body beginning to shake? Is their breath quickening? If they request that you continue working toward orgasm, you can always practice the technique during another session with their consent.
6. 6. Discontinue stimulation before the climax. When your partner is close to orgasm, disengage and sit back but remain in the moment. Physical touch may provoke an orgasm, but eye contact can help maintain intimacy. Wait for a brief period until the physical need to ejaculate has subsided.
7. 7. Ask them when they’re ready to continue. After a while, ask your partner if their body feels ready to resume sexual stimulation. Once they are, begin oral, vaginal, or anal penetration, pushing toward the point of imminent orgasm. At this point, your partner may opt to let the orgasm happen or repeat the process.

Craving a little more intimacy? Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership and learn more about open communication with your partners, experimenting in the bedroom, and being your own best sexual advocate with a little help from Emily Morse (host of the wildly popular podcast Sex With Emily).