There's more to sex than just penetration.

In fact, sex and orgasm can happen even without penetration.

That might be hard to believe, but that's because we all grew up thinking that penetration was the one and only answer to mind-blowing, ultra-satisfying pleasure.

But it's just not true. There's so many more ways to achieve orgasm without ever having to lose all of your clothes — if you want to!

Don't fret! We're all here to unlearn things we once thought were true so let's start here!

If sex isn't all about penetration, then what else is out there?

The answer? A lot! There's fingering, kissing on other erogenous zones, fondling, making out and the like.

But we can start with something simple yet effective — fingering.

What is fingering?

According to WebMD, fingering is a sexual act that involves the use of one's fingers to stimulate someone's erogenous zones, most famously — a woman's clit and vagina for the goal of ultimate pleasure or a strong orgasm. It's such a versatile technique that anyone can do it as long as they put in the effort.

How do you finger your partner?

Fingering may look and sound easy, but it requires a little bit of know-how and practice in order to master it.

With the help of Cosmopolitan, fingering your partner the right way is made easier:

• First, recognize that your fingers are different from your phallic toy or penis. That's because your fingers have more flexibility in movement as opposed to a penis or a phallic object wherein it has no other option than to move back and forth. Your fingers are capable of twisting, turning or bending so the options for touching techniques just got larger.

• Second, learn the vagina. Yup, not just the outside, but the inside too. That's because learning where the sweet spots are around the vagina will make it easier for you to plan a course of action when it comes to fingering.

• Third, cut your nails. This is self-explanatory. You don't want to hurt your partner with your long nails so it's best to nip the bud and trim it down to bluntness to ensure fun and safe fingering. This goes for both vaginal and anal fingering.

• Fourth, experiment with speed. Don't go fast in the first push. Take your time. Slowly push your finger in and feel every inch of the vagina wrap around your digits warmly and softly. Move slowly too because it will help you identify what makes your partner feel good. Keep an eye out for signs such as them throwing their head back or their toes curling. Maybe their back arches as well, or they moan a certain way. Pay close attention and take notes for next time.

• Finally, make lube your best friend. Simply because everything will be rough and will hurt if you don't. To avoid any of that happening, ensure a smooth glide all throughout by getting all of your fingers wet with lube.

If you're a newbie, it's best to start off with these tricks first before going all in and doing all the wild ones next.

What are the best fingering techniques?

With the basics down, allow us and School of Squirt to break down the best fingering techniques to make them scream: "Oh! It feels so good!"

Or just moan really loudly that the neighbors could hear.

Come-Come

As the name suggests, the giving partner uses an upward curling motion with their fingers to touch the receiving partner's upper wall of muscle or their g-spot. To elevate this move, make sure to move your fingers in and out and use your palms as well to grind against the vaginal mound.

Say Hello

While keeping the same finger position as the Come Hither technique, instead of moving it up and down, Wave Away will have your curled fingers moving side to side, mimicking a hand-wave. This will give a slightly different sensation to the g-spot but the effect is still incredibly impactful. Additionally, it gives the receiving partner options based on a core finger position.

Tuck and Roll

Following the nature of slowly intensifying fingering techniques, this is a step up from the Wave Away because the giving partner is twisting their fingers from one hip to another. This movement is intense by nature but if you add more fingers to the mix, then it could double or triple in sensation. It doesn't just stop there, doing the Barrel Roll also gives you the opportunity to use your palms to stimulate the clit on the outside, opening the receiving partner to the possibility of a multiple orgasm or an orgasm that happens from two different places but close together.

Feast

This is more of an advanced technique but this involves fingering the receiving partner while the giving partner eats them out. This puts both the fingers and tongue to work because it stimulates both the receiving partners' g-spot and clitoris. Not only that, the Buffet also uses two different textures to provide an experience that no one will feel bored of at any time so this is perfect for any couple who's willing to let their imagination wild and hit the ground running with their fingering escapade.

Flow

There's no fancy name for this one because the technique itself is already a lot in the best way. If you're familiar with squirting, you might also be aware that it may or may not happen to your partner. Still, it's worth a try!

All the giving partner has to do is to insert two fingers with your palm facing up and with your other hand, use two fingers to rub circles around their clit. So you'll be doing two different kinds of motions simultaneously. Now, this isn't a skill that can be mastered in one go, it takes lots and lots of practice and even then, you still might not get it. Give yourself and your partner patience as well in order to avoid forming disappointment and resentment too.

Prop it up

Another advanced technique is to seek the support of props or sex toys in your fingering conquest. As a couple, several toys can definitely spice up an already flavorful dish.

• Blindfolds like the "No Peeking Blindfold" are the perfect starter! It can help put a pause to some of the senses first and give focus to the only one that matters at the moment!

• Wand vibrators like the "Pomi Wand" are an excellent choice as they provide powerful external stimulation to your sensitive areas while your fingers finish the job. This combination can lead to mind-blowing orgasms and leave you feeling completely satisfied.

• Bullet vibrators like the "Orenda" are a delicious side to the main course because it highlights the scrumptious pleasure of the fingers pleasuring your insides without taking the spotlight away from it.

• Handcuffs like the "Kinky Play Wrist Cuffs" are another option if there's a need to have something completely off the regular path. It works the same as blindfolds — only, instead of obstructing your vision, it obstructs your ability to move. It's temporary, though! Its purpose is to teach a receiving partner to surrender to a giving partner's ministration and fully enjoy without stress or reservations.

FAQs

Can you stimulate the g-spot with your fingers?

Yes, you can! Using your fingers is a great way to stimulate the g-spot just in case you're not in a place to buy sex toys designed for such yet! Using the techniques above are a great way to take advantage of your god-given talents to bring your partner the best pleasure.

Can you stimulate the prostate as well?

Yes, you can! Fingers play a huge role in anal play as well because it can reach and stimulate the prostate as effectively as a toy.

Can fingering help your partner orgasm?

While fingering is an easy yet effective way to stimulate the clit and vagina, it playing a role in orgasm is dependent on your partner because 18% of them could reach orgasm through vaginal intercourse alone, 37% needed clitoral stimulation and 36% said fingering improved their orgasms. So it definitely requires much exploration and it's important to communicate with your partner to see what they like and don't like and improve on your current techniques as you keep on trying them in bed. Remember to take your time as well because the right answer won't come tomorrow — it takes consistent hard work to know a lot of each other's bodies and speak to them in a language they understand. In this case, it's the language of finger-licking pleasure.

Conclusion

There you have it! A quick yet meaningful guide on how to finger someone and give them unforgettable pleasure or even an orgasm! Keep these tips in mind to avoid hurting your partner or ruining their image of what good fingering is like. So lube up, loosen as much as you can and put in one by one very carefully because you can enjoy this whether indoor or outdoor.

Let me know what you think!