Fingering (sexual act)
use of fingers to sexually stimulate
Fingering is sexual stimulation of the vulva (including the clitoris) or vagina by using the fingers. Vaginal fingering is medically called digital (vaginal) penetration. The term "digital" takes its significance from the English word 'digit', which refers to a finger, thumb, or toe. Fingering may also include the use of fingers to stimulate the anus.
When someone performs fingering on another person's vulva or vagina, it is a form of manual sex, and is analogous to a handjob (manual stimulation of the penis). It may be used for sexual arousal or foreplay, constitute an entire sexual encounter, or be used as non-penetrative sexual activity. Fingering performed on one's own vulva or vagina is a form of masturbation.
Practice
The main aspect of fingering, whether performed on oneself or performed on someone else, is manual stimulation of the vulva by rubbing with the fingers, insertion of the fingers into the vagina through its opening, or some combination.
Vulva
Parts of the vulva, especially the clitoris, are erogenous zones. Massage of the vulva, and in particular the clitoris, is the most common way for a woman to achieve an orgasm.
The public source identifies “Fingering (sexual act)” as use of fingers to sexually stimulate. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Fingering, sexual and fingers.
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This entry incorporates text from “Fingering (sexual act)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.