You may have heard the term “edging”, especially when people are talking about masturbating, but what does it actually mean? Below you will find a collection of the basics: what it is, how it benefits you, and how to get started. Welcome to your introduction to the practice of orgasm control.

Edging = Stopping Yourself Before You Orgasm

What is Edging?

Edging is literally about controlling your orgasm. The word literally refers to stimulating yourself (or your partner) till you get to the “edge” of the orgasm. When you are about to climax, you then reduce the stimulation so that the orgasm is delayed. This is a cycle out building anticipation and then pausing before achieving release. 

Why Do People Practice Edging?

You may be asking “why would I want to avoid or delay an orgasm?!” as it seems counterintuitive, but bear with me.

Edging and Mindful Masturbation

Edging is a practice that relies on you knowing your body and it’s response to stimulation. In my previous blog post on mindful masturbation, I talked about how this practice helps you connect deeper with your body, learn more about what you enjoy and increase the pleasure of the experience. While this is related to mindful masturbation in that it relies on you being present and aware of the experience you are having in order to control it. Instead of just jerking off in record time, controlling your orgasm can help you to discover pleasure which is not necessarily dependent on having an orgasm.

... help you to discover pleasure which is not necessarily dependent on having an orgasm.

Benefits of Practicing Edging

Yep, that is correct, there is pleasure and other benefits that lie in delaying orgasm as opposed to sprinting towards the finish line in record time. When used during foreplay, can help people have more intense orgasms, and it can also help people who struggle to reach climax. 

For Women: Closing the O-Gap

Numerous studies have documented women’s difficulty in reaching orgasm (something you may have know as the “O-Gap”). There are multiple factors that contribute to women experiencing difficulty in reaching climax, or having unsatisfying orgasms. Edging is suggested to be a practice that can help women connect with their bodies. Through regular practice women can learn what stimulates and what does not, becoming more attuned to what they want during intimate times. 

For Men: Building Confidence and Control

Practicing control can also assist with premature ejaculation, by extending the time of stimulation and increasing the control over climax. There is no focus on the attainment of orgasm, so it can also be used as a fun way of building sexual confidence and connection with a partner. 

This is done by exploring each other’s bodies, and learning what turns each other on. Although regular ejaculation has been shown to reduce men’s incidence of prostate cancer, edging, which does not result in ejaculation, does not appear to have harmful side effects. “Blue balls” (build up of blood in the testicles due to long periods without orgasm) is generally not associated with this practice, but if it does occur, will only be briefly uncomfortable, not harmful to your overall physical health.

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How To Practice Edging

You can practice by yourself or with a partner, and as with mindful masturbation, give yourself time and a comfy space to enjoy the experience. The goal is to stimulate yourself (or your partner, or whatever combination in between) till you reach the point of climax and then stop the stimulation.

 Understand Your Four Stages of Arousal

There are four stages of arousal and becoming aware of what is happening in your body is key to successfully controlling your climax. When practicing with a partner, clear communication is the only way to enjoy yourselves successfully. After the initial stage of becoming excited, you will hit a plateau when you near orgasm. 

This is the stage where you slow down or stop stimulation for a period of about 30 seconds before beginning again. The 30 seconds is the time when you drop back from the plateau pre-orgasm and return to excitement. Cycle through these periods of stimulation and rest for as long as you want, but then when you do orgasm, reflect on if it was more intense and what contributed to the build-up. 

Final Thoughts on Edging

In short, edging is a fun practice which can provide a more intense orgasm. Be prepared for trial and error when you first start out, start to explore the experience of tuning into what your body is feeling and responding to. 

This practice seeks to build connections between your mind, body and partner that seeks to improve not only your sexual health, but your sexual experience. Beyond the potential health impacts, and closing the "O-gap" edging is another experience that can help connect you not only with your partner, but with yourself as well.