If your partner reveals a foot fetish, it might be confusing at first. But it’s important to understand their desires and be open to exploring these kinks with them.
Fetishes are generally thought to develop through conditioning, where we associate an object with sexual arousal. In this article, we’ll share some tips for evoking pleasure with your partner’s feet.
1. Focus on sensory play
Whether you are alone or in a partnered situation, footplay is a great way to experience sexual pleasure. Especially since the soles of your feet contain more sensitive nerve-endings per square centimeter than any other part of your body, stimulation of the right pressure points can lead to orgasms and sexual arousal. Some fetishes involve a particular area of the foot or a specific object, such as shoes or pantyhose. Others focus on the entire foot or a combination of areas. Some submissives even achieve erotic satisfaction by functioning as human furniture, including giving foot massages to their dominants.
Interestingly, your foot neurons are located beside your genital neurons in the brain. It’s possible that when the genital neurons fire, the foot neurons may also fire as well. This is what some experts call a “co-firing” effect and it can be very pleasurable.
If you are interested in exploring a foot orgasm, experiment with different forms of sensory play and don’t be afraid to try new things. Remember that it’s important to communicate and respect boundaries and preferences, and never force a partner into doing anything they are not comfortable with. With open communication and proper hygiene, foot orgasms can be a safe and fun way to enhance your sexual pleasure.
2. Experiment with different forms of touch
Foot arousal can be triggered by a variety of sensations. Tickling, stroking, slapping, rubbing, massage, or the use of lubricants can all elicit erotic pleasure. As the feet contain thousands of nerve endings, these sensations are often more intense than with other body parts.
The soles of the feet have many erogenous zones, including those that correspond to the penis and vagina. Incorporating foot play into a sensual experience can increase arousal and provide new avenues for exploration.
While some people may find it distasteful or even offensive to have a foot fetish, sexual kinks are different for everyone. Many fetishes develop through conditioning, meaning that over time we begin to associate certain objects or activities with sexual arousal. It’s important to keep in mind that foot arousal is still safe and healthy if it is consensual.
One theory about why foot arousal feels good is that our feet contain neurons that co-fire with those in the genital area. The result is that our feet can feel just as arousing as other areas of the body. When it comes to exploring your foot arousal, experiment with different forms of touch and see what you and your partner enjoy. For example, massaging the soles of the feet or sucking on them can help to stimulate the mons pubis, which has a connection to the labia and clitoris.
3. Incorporate scents and aromas
People who have foot fetishes may be aroused by certain scents or aromas. These can include things like feet sweat, foot odor, and even pantyhose or high heels. In addition, some people have shoe fetishes and are aroused by specific shoes. This may be because of the way our somatosensory system groups feet and genitals together, as well as our olfactory senses.
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4. Make your feet the center of attention
Most people assume that foot play is only for fetishists, but it’s actually an extremely versatile form of pleasure exploration. As sex educator Searah Deysach points out to Well + Good, “Having interest in exploring a body part beyond the genitals is not always fetishistic, though some folks might describe it as.”
That’s because feet have thousands of nerve endings and can trigger sexual arousal in many ways—think: stroking, massaging, slapping, licking, sucking, and kicking. So, if you and your partner want to take things up a notch, try adding lube to the equation or incorporating toys into the mix. Feathers, hot or cold objects, and vibrators are all great tools for eliciting different sensations on the erogenous zones of the foot, which include the solar plexus (under the ball of each foot at center) to relax and release anxiety, the pituitary gland (outside the big toe) to increase hormone secretion, and the ovaries/testes (inside the arch of the big toe) to stimulate ovulation.
As with any sexual experience, remember to communicate openly and respectfully. If you have a sexual partner, talk to them about your interest in involving the feet and ask what turns them on, too. Then, work together to explore the full potential of this often-neglected erogenous zone. And, don’t forget to take care of your own feet—make sure to keep your toenails trimmed and to avoid any wounds or sores.