Foreplay Guide: 6 Tips for Better Foreplay

Foreplay is any sexual activity that comes before intercourse. The purpose of foreplay is typically to pave the way for sex, but good foreplay can be enjoyable enough to be the main event. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to foreplay—the possibilities for sexual stimulation are nearly endless. With full consent from all participants, foreplay is an exciting way to explore your own desires, and it can often lead to a pleasurable orgasm.

There are both psychological and physiological benefits of engaging in foreplay. It can strengthen emotional intimacy within your long-term relationship, build your self-confidence with new sexual partners, and even reduce stress. Foreplay also helps with sexual arousal, increasing blood flow to your genitals and preparing your body for sexual intercourse.

There are many ways to improve your foreplay. Consider incorporating these foreplay ideas into your sex life.

1. 1. Be mindful of your environment. Light some scented candles to set the mood, share a bottle of wine, or put on some sexy music and ask your partner to dance. A sensual environment makes you and your partner more comfortable to explore other forms of foreplay.
2. 2. Take your time. Remain present with your partner, and savor every moment of anticipation. There’s no rush. Enjoy a long makeout session; kissing triggers the release of chemicals in your brain like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, giving you a sense of euphoria. If your clothes are still on, try dry humping. If you decide to remove your clothes, try performing a striptease or allowing your partner to help you slowly undress.
3. 3. Consider roleplaying. Roleplaying can add an erotic element to your foreplay. If you’re comfortable with it, share your sexual fantasies with your partner and plan a roleplaying session. Use your imagination to build out the scenario in your mind, and perhaps pretend that you are strangers meeting for the first time. Alter your behavior to fit the role you’re playing, and enjoy experiencing a new kind of sexual encounter with your partner.
4. 4. Perform a sensual massage. Find the erogenous zones on your partner’s body, then use massage oil to rub your partner with whatever intensity they prefer. You can also use feathers to tease your partner’s sensitive body parts, like their thighs, breasts, or back. As long as there is clear consent, consider running your hands down to your partner’s genitals to give their vulva or penis manual stimulation. Stroke and rub your partner with different motions and speeds. Using your lips and tongue on your partner’s erogenous zones is another great foreplay technique.
   
5. 5. Try using sex toys. If you’re trying to shake up your foreplay routine, sex toys might do the trick. Consider using a blindfold or handcuffs to focus your partner’s awareness on every physical sensation. Vibrators are an excellent option to enhance foreplay. Move your vibrator across your partner’s body, searching for erogenous zones and focusing on areas like the nipples, scrotum, labia, and clitoris. The right sex toy can lead to exciting new foreplay techniques between you and your partner.
6. 6. Communicate clearly. The key to long-term sexual satisfaction with your partner is good communication. Becoming more comfortable talking about your sexual desires will lower your inhibitions and generate more intimacy in your relationship. Consider sexting your partner when they are away or using dirty talk as a foreplay technique. Encourage your partner by telling them about the things they do that you enjoy, and ask them what they want out of foreplay. If your conversations about sex and foreplay are difficult, consider talking with a sex therapist to discuss ways of enhancing communication.

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).