Edging is a trick for powerful, longer-lasting orgasms. It’s a form of orgasm control that’s exciting to try alone — but it ramps things up with a partner (consider yourself warned).   

Here’s your guide to everything edging — meaning what it is, how to do it, and why you should.   

What is edging? 

Edging is sexual stimulation that involves being brought to the brink of orgasm, either by yourself or by a partner, then deliberately pausing before you go over the edge. This practice creates suspense and heightened anticipation, making the eventual climax better, stronger, and more pleasurable. 

Unlike orgasm denial, which can take place over days, weeks, or even months, edging is a shorter-term practice. It requires less restraint than orgasm denial but still significantly enhances sexual activity.  

Edging for men, women, and nonbinary people is a sexual skill that improves the quality of orgasms. It's fun, versatile, and an excellent way to spice up both solo and partnered sex.  

Edging: Purpose  

Edging in sex has a few primary purposes, which vary depending on the person and whether or not a partner is involved. 

While holding back at the very edge might seem daunting, and it can require some practice to find the will to stop before climax, the benefits of this type of orgasm are worth it. You’ll experience improved sexual stamina (which can help close the orgasm gap) and enhanced emotional connection. Here are four reasons why it's worth trying:  

• Heightened arousal: Edging amplifies arousal by prolonging the build-up to orgasm. This intensified state of anticipation makes it even more intense and sexually satisfying when you finally let go.

• Delayed gratification: Edging can help people with a penis reduce premature ejaculation by learning to intentionally delay climax. This can prolong sexual experiences, transforming quick moments into longer sessions.

• Increased pleasure: The ultimate goal of edging is elevating sexual pleasure. Whether it's practiced solo or with a partner, edging can lead to a richer, more fulfilling sexual encounter.

• Deeper connections: It can be hard to trust your partner(s) to bring you toward climax and deny you finishing. Being able to experience this with them could deepen your connection(s) and sex life. 

Benefits of edging  

Having an edging kink can seriously elevate your solo and partnered sexual experiences. And it isn't just about the big finish. Here's a closer look at five reasons why edging is a game-changer for your sex life:  

Orgasms 

Edging is a powerful tool if you find reaching orgasm challenging. This practice allows individuals to explore their bodies at their own pace, removing the pressure to climax quickly (or at all). By gradually approaching the edge of climax and stopping, you figure out how to have an orgasm according to your needs. This leads to a deeper understanding of your sexual response, making orgasms more accessible and enjoyable by yourself and with your partners.  

Better orgasms 

The build-up, pause, repeat cycle of edging culminates in significantly more powerful orgasms. The heightened anticipation and prolonged arousal that lead to these explosive climaxes magnify the physical pleasure in your body and also contribute to a wilder emotional release — what's not to love?  

Longer sex 

As mentioned, edging can help increase sexual stamina. This is true for people with penises and vaginas, who can use edging to navigate and control arousal levels, enjoy more extended periods of intercourse, and even synchronize their orgasms. Lasting longer fosters feelings of achievement and satisfaction that can boost the quality of your sexual relationships.  

Better self-awareness 

Edging is a fun way to tune into your body and be more mindful. This approach to sexuality encourages examining your sexual desires, triggers, and turn-ons. Through learning how to stop and start your own orgasms, you become better able to communicate your desires and relationship boundaries to sexual partners. 

Less performance anxiety  

Performance anxiety can significantly impact your sexual experiences. Edging combats these nerves, offering a sense of control over your arousal and climax cycles. If you don't feel confident in the bedroom, learning how to extend your sexual pleasure through edging can help you enjoy sexual encounters more. This can be particularly empowering for people suffering from premature ejaculation. 

Better communication and connection  

Practicing edging nurtures emotional intimacy and sexual communication in relationships. This process requires both partners to express their needs and let the other person know when to pause and keep going. The result is collaborative and respectful sexual exploration that helps partners bond (and get each other off). 

6 edging techniques to try tonight  

Before trying edging, engage in your favorite foreplay. This sets the mood and prepares you and your partner for what's to come. Once you're both aroused, choose one of these techniques and get to work:  

• Start-stop: This straightforward edging method involves stopping all stimulation when you feel like you're nearing orgasm or ejaculation. Wait a few moments until the urge to climax subsides, then stimulate yourself again, and repeat until you can't take it anymore (and don't forget the lube).  

• Grounding: Place a hand over your heart during breaks from stimulation. This action, often used during vaginal or yoni massage, helps ground and maintain an emotional and physical connection to your body during heightened arousal. 

• Squeeze: If you're on the verge of orgasm and want to delay it, squeeze the head of the erection for approximately 30 seconds to quickly and momentarily reduce arousal. If you or your partner have a vulva, apply gentle pressure around the clitoral area for a similar effect. 

• BDSM: If you and your partner are into BDSM, incorporate edging for a new twist on dominance and submission play. For those who enjoy power dynamics, edging can be used as a tool of control; for example, the dominant partner can restrain the submissive partner and edge them for hours, or the dominant partner can give the submissive partner "homework" to practice edging while they masturbate.  

• Ballooning: This orgasmic technique involves stopping penis or clitoral stimulation immediately before you orgasm or ejaculate and then performing Kegel exercises. It's an excellent way to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. 

• Tantric: During Tantric sex, edging focuses on breathing and energy flow. To try this edging method, breathe deeply when you stop stimulation as you approach orgasm, imagining you're drawing orgasm energy up through your body. Go back to providing direct stimulation and repeat the process to achieve a full-body orgasm.  

Edging is also fun to explore during masturbation, with or without a vibrator. It helps you learn what brings you pleasure without feeling self-conscious or worried about your partner(s)’ needs. To switch up your self-love routine, dedicate five or 10 minutes daily to edging; you might be surprised how much you learn about your body and how it responds to different stimuli.   

Is edging bad for you? 

Edging is generally considered a safe practice with no proven physical risks. Unlike some myths suggest, edging isn't actually linked to or a cause of delayed ejaculation, sexual dysfunction, or erectile dysfunction. These conditions have other causes, like medical issues or psychological factors. 

That said, individual experiences with arousal and orgasm vary, and for some people with a vagina, pausing stimulation right before climax might lead to a loss of arousal entirely. This doesn't mean edging is harmful, but it does highlight the importance of understanding your sexual response cycle and what might make you gain or lose arousal or desire.  

The key to a positive and erotic edging experience is listening to your body, recognizing your boundaries, and effectively communicating if you're edging with a partner. If you encounter negative feelings or find it difficult to reach orgasm when you want later to, take a break.  

Explore edging with Quinn 

Quinn's audio erotica takes edging to the next level. This diverse and inclusive platform, created by women for everyone, offers ethical sexual content to help you and your partner spice things up in the bedroom. With a range of exciting categories to browse, from kink to bondage, dirty talk, aftercare, and couple, Quinn has just what you need to start, stop, and start again.  

To access thousands of narrated sex stories, guided masturbation sessions, and playlists, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.