There are some details about your sex life that you are happy to share with friends. But when it comes to solo sex, many women keep their techniques private. While fingers or vibrators are common, a new survey reveals that many women are casting a wider net.
What Is Broadening?
A survey found that 87% of women use 'broadening' to achieve orgasm, yet 80% prefer not to share this method due to fear of judgment. 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: 'It can be just as – if not more – pleasurable than other types of masturbation because it stimulates a larger surface area of the vulva. Instead of just targeting the external clitoris, it engages the deeper clitoral structures.'
The study, conducted by sex research organization OMGYES in partnership with the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, surveyed approximately 20,000 women to determine which sex acts bring ultimate pleasure.
Is Broadening Normal?
Many women enjoy broadening, but Natasha says her therapy clients often ask if it is 'normal' – and it absolutely is. She adds: 'Broadening can create a more diffuse, full-body pleasure sensation, leading to orgasms that feel deeper, more widespread, and even more wave-like compared to the sharper, more concentrated climax that direct stimulation can create.'
These climaxes tend to feel fuller and slower building, making it easier to have multiple orgasms in a row. While direct stimulation can be intense, it may leave you feeling overly sensitive or desensitized afterward. Broadening offers a softer approach.
Many Women Discover Broadening Before Sex
Broadening appears to be instinctive for many women during sexual exploration. The survey showed that 75% of women discover it before ever engaging in sex with a partner. Natasha notes: 'Many of my clients bring up broadening in therapy, but few realize there is a name for it or that this is what they have been doing all along.'
She adds: 'It is incredibly common, particularly among women who discover self-pleasure in childhood or adolescence.' Women and girls may start broadening through rocking against a pillow, squeezing their legs together, or pressing against a seat while moving – often before they even understand sexual pleasure.
How to Try Broadening
There are various ways women practice broadening. According to the survey:
- 13% grind face down on flat surfaces like mattresses or floors.
- 18% grind on soft surfaces with a firmer center, such as sofa arms, pillows, or rolled blankets.
- 16% prefer harder objects like table edges or bed posts.
Natasha shares that some clients enjoy pressing against the floor of a bathtub while water flows over them. She offers tips to enhance the experience:
- Explore different movements like rocking, circling, or gentle pulsing pressure instead of only back-and-forth motion.
- Vary positions: lying on your stomach, sitting upright, or standing while leaning against something.
- Experiment with fabric and friction, such as using a silk pillowcase versus a firmer surface like a bed or your hand.
Because broadening does not require hands, Natasha suggests using them to stimulate other erogenous zones, like breasts or buttocks.
Is Broadening for Everyone?
If you engage in any of these activities, you are in the majority. However, popularity does not guarantee it will work for you, and that is perfectly fine. Natasha explains: 'Like any type of sexual touch, broadening is deeply personal. Some people find it is their go-to for pleasure, while others may not enjoy the sensation or prefer penetration or direct stimulation of the external glans.'
She adds: 'A person's sexual blueprint and first experiences of pleasure often shape whether this feels good. The key with any form of self-pleasure is tuning into your body and exploring what feels right for you. If it is broadening – embrace it!'
A version of this article was originally published in February 2025 and has since been updated.
