Chocolate cake and the clitoris have one thing in common: Their sole purpose is pleasure. But the clitoris—a (very) important part of cisgender female anatomy—can make you feel good in ways cake can’t.
While many people associate the clitoris with the small “nub” at the top of the vulva, it’s actually a wishbone-shaped network of nerves and tissues that extends both inside and outside of the body, says Holly Richmond, PhD, LMFT, a somatic psychologist, certified sex therapist, associate director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, and author of Reclaiming Pleasure. One of the more sensitive spots of this nerve center is the anterior fornix erogenous zone, or the A-spot. It’s one of the deep vaginal erogenous zones, along with the G-spot, the O-spot, the cervix, and the pelvic floor muscles, according to Richmond.
Anatomically speaking, the A-spot is part of the anterior or top wall of the vaginal canal, and is located a bit deeper in the vagina than the G-spot, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist with Well by Messer in New York City. It can be reached with fingers, a penis, or a sex toy. Although an A-spot orgasm can be a bit logistically challenging to achieve—given how far it’s located inside the vaginal canal and the fact that most people with vaginas don’t orgasm from penetration alone—the benefits of stimulating it are numerous, Dr. Dweck says.
For one thing, A-spot stimulation can be an effective way to bring on the WAP, as Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B would say. Stimulation in this area can lead to more vaginal lubrication and more intense orgasms—that radiate through the entire pelvic floor—than external clitoral play alone, says Richmond.
In fact, just 10 to 15 minutes of A-spot stimulation caused two-thirds of women who usually have dryness or pain during sex to report a significant positive physiological response, according to research in Sexual and Marriage Therapy. And 15 percent of the women in the study responded instantly with orgasms and “copious vaginal lubrication.”
Stimulation of the A-spot can also help those with “female orgasm disorder,” a condition where it’s often difficult or impossible for a woman to achieve orgasm, per a study in the Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Theoretically, such stimulation could also help close the orgasm gap between genders.
Ahead, learn how to get acquainted with your A-spot (wink).
To locate the A-spot, put fingers or a lubed-up toy inside the vaginal canal.
While the A-spot location varies from person to person, it is generally about four to six inches further into the vaginal canal than the G-spot, says Dr. Dweck. One of the easiest ways to find the G-spot is to insert a finger into the vaginal canal and make a “come here” motion, says Dr. Dweck. Just make sure to put as much lube as you’d like on your hand and inside your vagina before diving in, she adds. (The more lube, the better!)
If you are familiar with where your G-spot is, stop in this area and then move inch by inch deeper into the vaginal canal, says Janet Brito, PhD, a nationally- and AASECT-certified sex therapist and the founder of the Sexual Health School in Honolulu, Hawaii. You likely won’t know exactly where the A-spot is when you’re feeling around, but some say it feels like a spongy tissue, Dr. Dweck says. That said, a general rule of thumb when you’re first exploring this spot is to stop in whatever area feels good without pressuring yourself to have an orgasm or some out-of-this-world experience right away.
If/when you find that feel-good area, you can use the same “come here” motion with your fingers, but reach further toward your cervix, or the end of your vaginal canal, which connects the vagina to the uterus. And if you have a partner with whom you feel comfortable letting explore your A-spot, they can try their hand at stimulating this sensitive space.
But if you don’t feel anything A-mazing, don’t fret. The A-spot can be a bit more difficult to reach or find with your hand, both because you may not ever explore it on your own since it’s deeper, and you and/or your partner may not have long enough fingers to reach it.
Because the A-spot is so deep inside the vagina, it can be helpful to use a long sex toy, particularly with a curve, like a dildo or vibrator, says Brito. Some toys, like the Lelo Enigma Double Sonic, are specifically designed to stimulate the A-spot (as well as the G-spot and the clitoris).
Generally speaking, a thinner toy is better than a thick wand or a toy with a big head, since you will be venturing deep into the vaginal canal, Brito says. That way, it’s more likely to fit further into your vaginal canal and, consequently, have a better chance of hitting the A-spot.
Certain sex positions are ideal for stimulating the A-spot.
Want to incorporate some A-spot exploration into your next sex sesh? Here are a few positions to try with a partner:
Reverse Cowgirl
Because of the A-spot’s position on the anterior wall of the vaginal canal, it faces your belly button, says Richmond. The reverse cowgirl position can help hit this area because the partner’s penis or dildo will penetrate in the direction of the anterior wall, where the A-spot is, rather than posterior. (Basically, the penis or dildo will likely curve toward the back of your vagina instead of the front, which is where it usually hits in other sex positions.) And, because of the nature of the position, the person on top can control the pace of the penetration, allowing their partner to venture slowly into this zone.
Doggy Style
Have your partner penetrate you with a penis or a toy from behind to reach deeper into the vaginal canal, says Brito. Or, if you’re flexible, you can try to penetrate yourself this way with a toy. Either way will allow easier access to the depths of the vagina. Another tip: You don’t need to just shove the toy or penis up as far as possible and hope for the best. Stimulating this spot requires a bit of angling and finesse to make sure you are hitting the anterior wall. Try to curve whatever you are using for penetration to hit the back wall, and you are more likely to hit the A-spot.
Anal Sex
Anal sex can stimulate the A-spot by applying pressure on your rectum because you are stimulating the same area of nerves that can then reverberate down the vaginal wall to the A-spot. Go slowly and use even more lube than you would with a toy or fingers for vaginal penetration, more than a quarter-sized amount, for this method, says Dr. Dweck.
Because everyone’s bodies are different, orgasms—including A-spot ones—feel different for everyone.
A-spot stimulation generally results in a “very deep, full pelvis” orgasm, Richmond says. A G-spot orgasm can also bring sensation to the pelvic floor, but since the A-spot is deeper, an orgasm in that area will feel more intense, she says. Generally speaking, it may feel like a build-up of pressure and then a release that causes contractions inside your vagina or even increased wetness, she says. Some report feeling a release and pleasure throughout the whole pelvic floor, while others may not notice a difference in feeling between an A-spot, G-spot, clitoral, or any other type of orgasm, Richmond says.
So, next time you reach for your A-spot, do as Megan and Cardi B suggest—and grab a bucket and mop as well. Things are about to get a bit wet and wild!
Meet the Experts: Holly Richmond, PhD, LMFT, is a somatic psychologist, certified sex therapist, associate director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, and author of Reclaiming Pleasure. Alyssa Dweck, MD, is a gynecologist with Well by Messer in New York City. Janet Brito, PhD, is a nationally- and AASECT-certified sex therapist and the founder of the Sexual Health School in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Jacqueline Tempera is an award-winning writer and reporter living in New Jersey with her many pets. She is a business owner and a double Scorpio who loves all things astrology and reality television. She is passionate about body diversity and representation, mental health, and the fight to end sexual assault and harassment. To learn more about Jackie, follow her on Instagram @jacktemp or visit her website at jackietempera.com.
