What Is Cunnilingus?
The term cunnilingus comes from two Latin words – cunnus, which means “vulva” and lingere, which means “to lick.”
The term “vulva licking” might sound simple or boring on the surface, but trust me, oral sex can give you the toe-curling, grabbing-the-sheets orgasms of your dreams.
And who wants to miss out on that?
Although the majority of heterosexual men will perform oral sex at some point in their lifetimes, there’s a likely reason why 52% did so during their last sexual encounter.
According to a study published in 2017, only 18.4% of women are able to orgasm with penetration alone!
That same 2017 study found that 36% of women said they needed clitoral stimulation to orgasm, with another 36% saying it enhanced their orgasms during intercourse.
Basically, the clit is the key to the universe when it comes to orgasms, and oral sex offers the perfect opportunity for repeated stimulation of that lovely little nub.
Slang Terms For Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is more commonly referred to as going down on someone, oral sex, a cooch smooch, licking or eating someone out, and eating pussy.
As amazing as eating pussy is, a lot of people have questions about cunnilingus in general, and if you do, too, you’ve cum to the right place!
In this article, we’ll talk about:
How Do You Eat Pussy?
There are many people who, understandably, worry about eating pussy “the right way.”
Though there’s not one singular way to do this, there are a handful of tips that can make peach gobbling easier — especially if you’ve never done it before.
- Take Your Sweet Time
To start, don’t blindly jump into things and lick frantically like a dog with no direction.
Take things slowly!
You don’t have to rush into eating pussy immediately — make seductive exploration a part of foreplay and spend time learning about the glorious landscape of your partner’s body.
Don’t know where exactly you’re supposed to put your tongue?
Giving your partner’s clitoris a swirl (or suck, or lick) is a good place to start, especially since the clit is super sensitive.
If your partner can’t handle direct clitoral stimulation, focus your attention on other areas of her vulva instead.
Putting your lips on the vaginal lips, also known as the labia minora, is a good move, too.
Use different tongue movements and strokes to give your partner new sensations. Some people swear by “licking the alphabet” — drawing capital letters one at a time until that pussy C-U-M-S.
- Be Open To Suggestions
As you go down, don’t be afraid to ask what your partner does or doesn’t like — that’s the easiest way to know how to please anyone orally.
Does your partner like penetration? If you don’t know — ask!
For some folks, any sort of penetration may cause pain and kill the mood instantly — and you might even get kicked in the face if you try it without warning.
This is why cum-munication is so important.
A lot of people enjoy penetration — especially during oral — because they find it to be sexy and a huge turn-on, but you can’t assume that everyone does.
If you’re going down on someone new, there are no stupid questions where their pleasure is concerned.
If you’re too shy to ask, pay attention to non-verbal cues, like your partner tugging your hair or tightening their legs around your head, to see if they’re loving what your mouth is doing to them.
As always, listen to what your partner is (or isn’t) saying — but don’t expect a detailed explanation of what they’re enjoying when they’re about to cum!
When you’re hitting the right spot, they might be at a loss for words entirely.
- Get Comfortable And Keep Things Wet
Although your partner’s enjoyment is a priority, make sure you’re in a comfortable position, too.
It can be really easy to forget about it in the moment, but trust me, you’ll be thankful when you’re not sore and nursing a stiff neck the next day.
Lube can be a great tool to keep things hot and slick and when made from safe ingredients, lube is safe to swallow in nominal amounts. You might not think you’ll need it while eating pussy, but the combination of your partner’s own lubrication and your spit isn’t always enough.
An edible lube can help your partner feel more comfortable, and the slippery texture can make it easier to experiment and try different strokes.
Not only that, but with a ton of flavors to choose from, you can feast on a new carnal dessert every single night of the week.
How Do You Receive Cunnilingus?
It seems like most people are just as nervous about receiving cunnilingus as others are giving it — and that’s okay!
- Don’t Fret Over The Way Your Pussy Smells
Most people’s primary concern is the scent of their vulva and overall vaginal area. Some folks use highly-fragranced soaps or body washes in hopes of “improving” the scent or taste of their vulva.
Here’s the thing, though — you don’t want your vulva to smell like a department store perfume aisle.
After all, most of us try to spend as little time as possible in those places. In fact, I purposely walk faster than normal just to escape that section of the store!
Should you worry about how you smell during cunnilingus?
Assuming you don’t have an infection, you shouldn’t be concerned about how your vulva will taste or smell. Everyone’s garden of delight has a scent that’s unique to them, and that’s not a bad thing!
Your partner wants you, although I totally understand being nervous about receiving cunnilingus – trust me, I’ve been there!
I’ve learned that being confident in your body — exactly as it is — can make you feel hotter than anything else.
So instead of using perfumed products that can lead to infections, just use plain soap and water on and around your vulva.
Don’t worry about trying to clean the inside of your vagina, either — it does that all by itself and adding soap can throw off your normal vaginal pH.
If you happen to develop a yeast infection that causes discomfort, thick discharge, or an odor, you should probably wait to receive oral sex until it’s cleared up.
You’re probably going to know if you have a yeast infection based on the symptoms, but you cannot wash that away. Get treatment, be patient, and wait until it’s resolved.
- Be Confident About The Way Your Vulva Looks
Ultimately, there’s really no such thing as an “ugly” vulva; it is unique and that’s part of what makes it wonderful!
Look, your partner is just happy to see you naked, and the last thing you should worry about is the way your vulva looks.
They may come in all shapes, sizes, and color variations but they are each beautiful works of functional art.
And so is yours.
- Don’t Focus On Your Orgasm
When you’re receiving cunnilingus, especially if the sensations are still new to you, don’t feel like the ultimate goal is to climax.
Orgasms aren’t easy to achieve for everyone, particularly for many women and people with vulvas. But if you can’t cum, it doesn’t mean that the sex wasn’t good or enjoyable.
Otherwise, make sure you talk with your partner about what you do and don’t like, before they go down on you and during.
For many people, there’s nothing sexier than knowing how to get their partner off.
What Are The Risks Of Cunnilingus?
It’s a common myth that eating pussy comes with no real health risks, and although cunnilingus is safer than analingus and vaginal sex, there are still some risks you should be aware of.
Generally, you’re going to want to use a barrier of some sort, such as a dental dam or a cut-open condom, to protect yourself and your partner when you’re smooching that cooch.
Why?
Because there is a risk of getting various STDs, including HPV, from unprotected oral sex.
Unless you’re certain you and your partner both have a clean bill of health, it’s best to use a barrier with a water-based lubricant to prevent the condom or dental dam from breaking down.
Specifically, use a product that is edible — some lubes have nasty ingredients that you don’t want to ingest or have anywhere near your pussy, so make sure to take a look at the label first!
Bottom Line:
Thankfully, oral sex and pleasure for women and people with vulvas are becoming a normal topic of conversation and more of a priority — as it well should be.
If you and your partner have been curious about what it’d feel like to eat each other out or to be eaten out, cunnilingus is just a lick away and you might be surprised at how amazing it feels to give — and receive.
I have a pretty good feeling it’ll keep you cumming back for more.
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