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Information about Foreplay

For the song by Boston, see Foreplay/Long Time.




In human sexual behavior, foreplay is a set of intimate psychological and physical acts between two or more people meant to increase sexual arousal. Foreplay takes place before sexual intercourse or another act meant to induce mutual sexual gratification or orgasm.

Function and effects

Psychologically, foreplay lowers inhibitions and increases the emotional comfort of the partners. Physically, it stimulates the process that produces an erection in men, allowing them to penetrate an orifice. In women, it helps stimulate the process that leads to erection of the clitoris and the production of vaginal lubrication, allowing penetration to take place comfortably. In men and women foreplay is considered the precursor to orgasm, not necessarily the precursor to penetration of an orifice or preparation for penetration. No set of partners, regardless of gender or number, have to penetrate or be penetrated to constitute the sexual act to which foreplay leads.

What constitutes foreplay

Whether an act constitutes foreplay depends on the intent. If no intimate sexual acts are intended, foreplay-type actions are often classified as flirting or, in colloquial terms, being "touchy-feely".

Foreplay is often subtle in its initial stages. Even before the partners are together, foreplay can be introduced by the selection and creation of a particular environment. A romantic, intimate, or overtly sexual atmosphere can be considered a gesture of foreplay.

Foreplay can begin with non-physical behavior that signals sexual availability. Verbally, foreplay may include sexual compliments, subtle comments with double entendre, and intimate conversations. Non-verbally, foreplay can include provocative clothing, preening gestures, licking or biting one's lips, standing inside a partner's personal space, and holding a gaze longer than is acceptable for casual acquaintances.

If the potential partner accepts the sexual invitation, foreplay has begun. Acceptance is often indicated by reciprocating with similar behavior. Since these interactions are non-explicit, there can be misunderstandings about whether an invitation has been extended or accepted. Inadvertent or not, this kind of miscommunication is often termed "leading someone on".

Progression

Foreplay eventually turns physical. Simple and seemingly innocuous acts, such as straightening someone's clothing or hair, bumping into someone while walking, stroking someone's arm, or whispering in someone's ear can constitute foreplay. One may also hold hands, touch the face, kiss, "bite", or massage.

As comfort increases, so usually does the level of intimacy. More intimate examples include:
  • Deep tongue kissing, also known as French kissing;
  • Touching and massaging erogenous zones over clothing, also known colloquially as groping or "heavy petting";
  • Rubbing together erogenous zones over clothing, also known as dry humping or grinding;
  • Undressing oneself or partner, also known as stripping.
Direct manipulation of naked erogenous zones is almost always considered foreplay (except, of course, in a medical context). In women, this includes stimulation of the clitoris and vulva. In men, it includes stimulation of the penis and scrotum. For both sexes, it could include stimulation of nipples and anus. Stimulation can be achieved by mouth, hands, sex toys like dildos or vibrators, or common household objects like feathers or ice cubes.

Safe sex practices can be incorporated as part of foreplay. A condom or dental dam can be applied in an erotic or playful way as part of the final stages of foreplay.

Foreplay tends to become purely physical and intense. It reaches its peak in the moments just before intercourse, when it induces a strong mutual desire for penetration. Some genital teasing may take place for a brief time.

Technically, foreplay ends with intromission, or the beginning of intercourse. In practical terms, however, the continuity between foreplay and intercourse may be very great, since the couple may engage in foreplay-like behavior during intercourse.

Direct manipulation of naked erogenous zones is not considered foreplay when it is not preparatory for further sexual acts. For example, mutual masturbation and oral sex are often considered final sexual acts; as final acts with no expectation of further sexual congress, these are not considered foreplay.

Sexual role playing, fetish activities, and BDSM can also be considered foreplay, though they more commonly accompany sex rather than precede it.

Research

Foreplay can vary dramatically based on age, religion, and cultural norms.

Surveys carried out by MORI and shown on 8 Out of 10 Cats, conclude that the British spend the most time of any nation on foreplay, spending 20 minutes on average. The same survey showed that the French spend the least amount of time, spending just four minutes on average on foreplay.

In spite of the common belief that foreplay is more demanding for women and they need more time to get aroused, recent scientific research showed that there is no considerable difference for time men and women require to get fully aroused. Scientists from McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada used the method of thermal imaging to record baseline temperature change in genital area to define the time necessary for sexual arousal. Researchers studied the time required for an individual to reach the peak of sexual arousal and came to conclusion that on average women and men spend almost the same time for sexual arousal - around 10 minutes. [1]

See also

References

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Sex
ActsSexual intercourse (foreplay, positions) · Oral sex (cunnilingus, fellatio, 69, anilingus) · Anal sex · Group sex
Dirty talk · Facial · Fingering · Fisting · Love bite · Masturbation · Non-penetrative sex · Sumata
Sex toys and toolsCondom · Dildo · Gel · Paddle · Vibrator · Artificial vagina · Sex doll
Anatomy and fluidsAnus · Breasts · Clitoris · Nipples · Penis · Rectum · Throat · Vagina
Pre-ejaculate · Semen · Vaginal fluids
See alsoSexual attraction · Romance · Affair · Marriage · Sexual arousal · Orgasm · Fetish (BDSM, terms)
Gynecology · Paid sex · Pornography · Sex shop · Sex surrogate
Boston is an American rock band that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists.
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Released 1976
Recorded 1975
Genre Rock
Length 2:25/7:47 (with Long Time)
Label Epic Records
Writer(s) Tom Scholz
Producer(s) John Boylan & Tom Scholz

Boston track listing
Peace of Mind
(2) "
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This article is about sexual practices (i.e., physical sex). Broader aspects of sexual behaviour such as social and psychological sexual issues are covered in related articles such as human sexuality, heterosexuality, and homosexuality.

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Sexual arousal is the process and state of an animal being ready for sexual activity and feeling an urge for sexual contact.

Human sexual arousal

Unlike most animals, human beings of both sexes are potentially capable of sexual arousal throughout the year, therefore, there
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Sexual intercourse or copulation is the union of the sex organs of two sexually reproducing animals.[1] The two entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails.
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emotion is a "complex reaction pattern, involving experiential, behavioral, and physiological elements, by which the individual attempts to deal with a personally significant matter of event.
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erection of the penis, clitoris or a nipple is its enlarged and firm state. It depends on a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors. The term is also applied to the process that leads to this state.
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The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present in biologically female mammals. In humans, the visible knob-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina.
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The vagina, (from Latin, literally "sheath" or "scabbard" ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles.
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Flirting is a form of human interaction, usually expressing a sexual or romantic interest in the other person. It can consist of conversation, body language, or brief physical contact. It may be one-sided or reciprocated.
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Physical intimacy is informal proximity and/or touching. It can be enjoyed by itself and/or be an expression of feelings (such as close friendship, love, and/or sexual attraction) which people have for one another.
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A double entendre is a figure of speech similar to the pun, in which a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. This can be as simple as a phrase which has two mutually exclusive meanings, and is thus a clever play on words.
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Personal grooming, or simply grooming, is the art of cleaning, grooming, and maintaining parts of the body.

In humans

Main article: Hygiene

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Personal space, an updated form of Edward T. Hall's 1966 proxemics, is the region surrounding each person, or that area which a person considers his domain or territory.[1] Often if entered by another being without this being desired, it makes them feel uncomfortable.
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kiss (from Old English cyssan "to kiss," in turn from coss "a kiss.") is the touching with the lips. The scientific name for kissing is .

Origins

Anthropologists have not reached a consensus as to whether kissing is a learned or an instinctive behavior.
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Massage (derived from the French massage "friction of kneading," possibly from Arabic massa "to touch, feel, handle" or from Latin massa "mass, dough" [1][2][3]
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A French kiss, tongue kiss, pash, snog or deep kiss is a romantic or sexual kiss in which one participant's tongue touches the other's tongue (or lips) and usually enters his/her mouth.
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An erogenous zone is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. Depending on the individual, this could include any and all areas of the body, but the majority of men and women have common erogenous zones.
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An erogenous zone is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in sexual response. Depending on the individual, this could include any and all areas of the body, but the majority of men and women have common erogenous zones.
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Private dancer redirects here; for the Tina Turner album and song, see Private Dancer and Private Dancer (song)


A striptease
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The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present in biologically female mammals. In humans, the visible knob-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina.
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The external genital organs of the female are collectively known as the vulva (plural vulvae or vulvas)[1]. In common speech, the term vagina
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For the symbol of the erect penis, see phallus.
The penis (plural penises, penes) is an external sexual organ of certain biologically male organisms.
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In some male mammals, the scrotum is a protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles. It is an extension of the abdomen, and is located between the penis and anus.
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nipple is an appurtenance from which a fluid emanates, in this instance breast milk, to nurture a mother's young.

Anatomy

In the anatomy of mammals, a nipple or mammary papilla
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anus (from Latin ānus "ring, anus") is the external opening of the rectum. Closure is controlled by sphincter muscles. Feces are expelled from the body through the anus during the act of defecation, which is the primary function of the anus.
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Marital aid redirects here. For the Yes, Dear episode, see Marital Aid.


A sex toy is any object or device that is primarily used in facilitating human sexual pleasure.
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dildo (or dildoe, a rare alternate spelling) is a sex toy, often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for bodily interaction during masturbation or sexual intercourse.
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Dual Area Vibrators these vibrators are designed to stimulate two erogenous zones simultaneously or independently. Usually found in the form of a clitoral stimulator and vaginal stimulator
  • Triple Area Vibrators
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    • Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. They are the outstanding characteristic that distinguishes the Class Aves from all other living groups. Other Theropoda also had feathers (see Feathered dinosaurs).
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