There are some intimate details about your sex life that you might happily share with friends. However, when it comes to solo sex sessions, many women keep their techniques private. While some use fingers or vibrators, a significant number employ a method called 'broadening.' A recent survey found that 87% of women use broadening to achieve orgasm, yet 80% prefer not to discuss it due to fear of judgment.
What Is Broadening?
Broadening involves pressing, moving, or rubbing the entire vulva against an external surface, similar to dry humping on a larger area. Psychosexual therapist Natasha Silverman explains that this technique can be as pleasurable, if not more so, than other forms of masturbation because it stimulates a larger surface area of the vulva, engaging deeper clitoral structures rather than just the external clitoris.
Survey Insights
The study, conducted by OMGYES in partnership with the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, surveyed approximately 20,000 women to identify which sexual acts bring ultimate pleasure. Natasha notes that many of her therapy clients ask if broadening is 'normal,' and she confirms that it absolutely is. Broadening can create a diffuse, full-body pleasure sensation, leading to orgasms that feel deeper, more widespread, and wave-like, compared to the sharper climax from direct stimulation. These orgasms are often fuller and slower-building, making it easier to experience multiple orgasms in succession.
Early Discovery
Many women discover broadening before ever having sex with a partner. The survey showed that 75% of women find this technique during their early sexual exploration. Natasha adds that clients often bring up broadening in therapy without realizing it has a name. It is common among women who discovered self-pleasure in childhood or adolescence, often through rocking against a pillow, squeezing legs together, or pressing against a seat while moving.
How to Practice Broadening
There are various ways women practice broadening. Thirteen percent grind face down on flat surfaces like mattresses or floors, while 18% prefer soft surfaces with a firmer center, such as sofa arms, pillows, or rolled blankets. Sixteen percent enjoy harder objects like table edges or bed posts. Some clients even press against a bathtub floor with water flowing over them. Natasha recommends exploring different movements like rocking, circling, or gentle pulsing pressure, and varying positions such as lying on the stomach, sitting upright, or standing while leaning. Experimenting with fabrics, like silk pillowcases versus firmer surfaces, can also enhance sensations. Since broadening doesn't require hands, they can be used to stimulate other erogenous zones like breasts or buttocks.
Is Broadening for Everyone?
While most women use broadening, it may not work for everyone, and that's perfectly fine. Natasha emphasizes that sexual touch is deeply personal. Some may find it their go-to, while others prefer penetration or direct clitoral stimulation. A person's sexual blueprint and early experiences shape their preferences. The key is to tune into your body and explore what feels right. If broadening works for you, embrace it.
