"If you ask us, the female body is pretty amazing. Despite not being given the time of day in medical research, women have still managed to find pleasure points, stimulate them, and have orgasms for centuries now. Given this, it’s unsurprising that new research is continually popping up about the female orgasm and the various erogenous zones in our bodies. And lately, we’ve been happily doing our own research on yet another pleasure point: the A-spot.
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The A-spot isn’t a new discovery, but it’s an erogenous zone that’s been gaining a lot of traction. More and more women are learning about it and finding it, and let’s just say, they are happy they did. Needless to say, this got us thinking: What exactly is the A-spot, and if it’s so powerful, why aren’t we targeting it more often during solo and partnered sex? A somatic sex educator is helping us get down to the details. Ahead, everything you need to know about the A-spot, including what it is and where it’s located, the benefits of stimulating it, and how to target it, solo or partnered.
Kiana Reeves, Somatic Sex Educator
Kiana Reeves is a Somatic Sex Educator, AASECT Member, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Pelvic Health Practitioner, Certified Doula, and Foria’s Chief Education Officer and Resident Sex Expert with over 10 years of experience in the field of wellness and female reproductive health. With a commitment to helping people feel more connected to their own bodies, especially as they age, Kiana harnesses her certifications and qualifications to help drive Foria’s content and brand education.
What is the A-spot?
Also called the anterior fornix erogenous zone (AFE), the A-spot is one of the lesser-known erogenous zones. Yet, it’s super sensitive and elicits a strong sexual response when stimulated. According to Somatic Sex Educator Kiana Reeves, this pleasure point sits about 4 to 6 inches deep into the vaginal canal, above the bladder and against the front of the cervix. Because it’s located just past the G-spot, the A-spot is often thought to be an extension of it; however, Reeves explained that the G-spot is a smaller, specific pleasure point, whereas “the A-spot is more of a general region where pleasure can be experienced once stimulated.”
What happens when you stimulate the A-spot?
It can increase vaginal lubrication
Vaginal dryness might be super common, but that doesn’t make it suck less; it makes sex more painful and unenjoyable, after all. But it turns out, stimulating the A-spot can combat this. “Because it’s an erogenous zone, the A-spot has a high number of nerve endings that release intense pleasurable sensations and trigger natural vaginal lubrication,” Reeves told me. This tracks with a 1997 study of the A-spot, which found that 10-15 minutes of AFE stimulation drastically improved wetness. Of course, none of this is to say that you should skip the foreplay or lube—because you absolutely shouldn’t. Rather, when used in tandem with A-spot stimulation, you’ll likely experience more natural vaginal lubrication in a shorter amount of time.
It can help you experience new sensations of pleasure
Every body is different; what feels euphoric will vary from person to person. But that’s the beauty of stimulating the A-spot—you get to play around with and experience new sensations of pleasure. Reeves explained that arousing the A-spot can give you an idea of how your body responds when that specific pleasure point is stimulated. This sexual exploration can not only help you discover more about yourself and what you like and don’t like but also help you tap into your erotic energy. Learning the inner workings of your body can be incredibly empowering and liberating. This, in turn, can also lead to great sexual satisfaction during partnered sex since you’ll be able to articulate what works and what doesn’t clearly.
“Stimulation to the A-spot often results in an orgasm experience that’s unlike any others achieved through vaginal or clitoral stimulation.”
It can help you experience a new kind of orgasm
According to Reeves, exploring the A-spot can increase blood flow, heighten sexual arousal, and release feel-good hormones (like serotonin and dopamine). All of these can increase your chances of having an internal orgasm. “Stimulation to the A-spot often results in an orgasm experience that’s unlike any others achieved through vaginal or clitoral stimulation,” she explained. What makes orgasms from A-spot stimulation so unique is that this erogenous zone is extra sensitive. Oftentimes, targeting it enhances pleasure, sensitivity, and pressure, and these sensations can be felt throughout your whole body; you’re essentially more attuned to every sensation and primed for an earth-shattering orgasm.
How to stimulate the A-spot—solo or partnered
They say nothing worth having comes easy, and that sentiment applies here. Finding and stimulating the A-spot is sometimes easier said than done, according to Reeves—but don’t stress. Thankfully, practice makes perfect, and you might need just a few tries to find yours. Here’s how to stimulate the A-spot, solo or partnered:
Use your fingers
If you’re getting acquainted with your A-spot for the first time, you might want to start by using your fingers. This will give you an idea of where your A-spot is located and allow for more precise stimulation when you’re alone or with someone else. To do this, Reeves recommends inserting one or two fingers into the vagina and curling them up toward the belly button. Since you have to move past the G-spot to reach the A-spot, you’ll likely have to insert your entire fingers for this. From here, you can move your fingers in a “come hither” motion to stimulate this erogenous zone. And if you’re letting someone else explore your glorious A-spot, walk them through these same steps.
Enlist the help of a curved sex toy
If you’re indulging in some solo play, Reeves suggests enlisting the help of a curved sex toy. This is especially helpful for those who can’t reach their A-spot because their fingers aren’t long enough or find using their fingers to target it uncomfortable and awkward; you have to go deep, after all. While Reeves is a fan of using a gently curved vibrating wand for this, a curved glass dildo or other curved toy of your choice will also work here as well. Regardless of what you choose, using a sex toy will make it easier to reach your A-spot.
Once you’ve located your A-spot, use the toy to experiment with different movements and methods of stimulation. Instead of moving the toy in and out, try sweeping it side to side, moving it around in circles, or pressing it against the vaginal wall for continuous stimulation. Focusing on exploring this pleasure point rather than orgasming can be helpful here; this mindset will allow you to really take your time, luxuriate in the experience, and feel all the euphoria the A-spot has to offer.
Try slow, gentle penetration
Think stimulating the A-spot isn’t something your partner can do for you? Think again. According to Reeves, using slow and gentle penetration and making a few tweaks to popular penetrative sex positions can get the job done. “Raising one’s legs in doggy style or missionary sex positions can help reach the A-spot,” Reeves explained. If you’re having sex missionary style, try bringing your knees up to your chest, placing a pillow under your butt, or wrapping your legs around your partner’s back. This will inadvertently steer the penetrating partner inside of you in an upward forward motion, which is what you want given the location of the A-spot.
Similarly, if you’re having sex doggy style, make sure your partner is at a higher angle than you. This will ensure they’re penetrating and targeting the vaginal wall and, in turn, the A-spot. You can try lifting one leg and wrapping it around your partner’s thigh if you’re bent over furniture or leaning on cushions for balance, or simply shifting your hips upward and back. And if you want to up the ante, try standing on your tiptoes and leaning away from your partner against a doorframe while they enter you from behind.
Once they’re deep inside of you, try performing the same motions you use while stimulating the A-spot during masturbation. This might mean circling your hips, grinding back and forth against them, or simply holding them against your vaginal wall. As with everything else during partnered play, strong communication is key here; lovingly tell your partner how they can adjust their positioning to reach your A-spot, and trust, you’ll both be experiencing greater sexual satisfaction in no time.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a Rhode Island native, professional blogger, and freelance writer. She’s passionate about helping women develop healthy relationships with money, become financially independent, and invest in themselves for the future. Arianna is a firm believer in going after what you want, taking time to stop and smell the roses, and the importance of a good cocktail.