Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us? This idea has been continually perpetuated by movies and porn, which portray sex as a rushed deed with rarely any warm-up. In fact, some might even say the foreplay—all that fun stuff leading up to the actual sex—is the best part. FYI: studies show that women get their best orgasms from oral play. But there are lots of reasons to engage in foreplay beyond just finishing.
It gives your body time to prepare for sex—to direct blood flow to the penis for stronger erections and allow the vagina to become lubricated for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Not to mention, it gives you and your partner to build up a sense of connection, intimacy, and excitement before the vulnerable act of sex, which can only heighten pleasure.
Foreplay is anything you do alone or otherwise to get the body prepared for sex, explains sex therapist Chelsie Reed, Ph. For penis-havers, foreplay usually causes increased blood flow to the penis, resulting in an erection. For people with a vagina, blood also flows to the reproductive organs, increasing pleasure, lubrication, and sensitivity. And for everyone, foreplay gets the brain all excited, releasing feel-good chemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin. When in doubt, just come right out and ask what your partner likes during sex.
It can start from the moment you wake up. If sending nudes is something that turns you and your partner on, go ahead and swap some sexy photos with one another. Then you can text what you plan to do to their naked body. So before you start laying on The Moves, spend some time cleaning up.
