From helping you sleep better to increasing intimacy with your partner to simply making you feel incredible, having an orgasm is rarely a bad idea. And while all orgasms are good orgasms, there are a wide variety of different kinds out there (and different ways to have ’em). There are vaginal orgasms, accidental orgasms, forced orgasms (kinky), and, of course, hands-free orgasms—which, friends, is what brings us here today.
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Yep, you read that right. While we all know you don’t need a partner to have an orgasm, it turns out you may not even need your own hands to get off. Yep, we’re talking full-blown orgasms without any manual stimulation. And while, yes, there are plenty of other ways to cum that don’t require any hand stuff (oral sex, hands-free sex toys, etc.), there’s also such a thing as a touch-free orgasm. As in, like, climaxing without any physical touch whatsoever.
Confused? Intrigued? Don’t worry—we’ll explain (with the help of some of our favorite sex experts, of course). Read on for everything you could possibly want to know about hands-free orgasms and touch-free orgasms, from what they are to how they happen to how you (yes, you) can have one for yourself.
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What Is a Hands-Free Orgasm?
A hands-free orgasm is exactly what it sounds like: getting off using stimulation other than your hands.
"Masturbating by hand isn't necessary when there are wearable vibrators for both clitorises and penises, decent water pressure stimulation from tub faucets, and the tried-and-true method of dry humping your favorite throw pillow from Pottery Barn," says Dr. Eric Sprankle, a clinical psychology professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato and author of DIY: The Wonderfully Weird History and Science of Masturbation.
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So, basically, if you've ever gotten off without the use of hands, whether that's been with oral sex, sex toys, or other creative methods, you've enjoyed a hands-free orgasm. But, if when you first read “hands-free orgasm,” you thought we meant having an orgasm without any kind of touch, you're spot-on.
Touch-free orgasms, while less accessible, do exist. And yes, we’re obviously gonna tell you all about them.
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What Is a Touch-Free Orgasm?
Touch-free orgasms happen when you come without any kind of touch. And yes, we know what you’re thinking: Wait, is this a real thing?
Short answer? “Absolutely!” says Dr. Rachel Needle, a licensed psychologist in West Palm Beach, Florida, and the co-director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. “The brain is the most powerful sex organ. You can think and feel yourself to orgasm without any touch.” According to Needle, “intense focus, vivid fantasies, or engaging in erotic mental imagery” are all things that can lead to a hands-free, touch-free orgasm. Other techniques to induce a no-touch orgasm include breath work, Tantra, kink, and the novelty of new experiences.
However, while touch-free orgasms are possible, they require a deep understanding of your body, and even with that, some people are just more prone to them than others. So please don't worry if they're not accessible to you. "It is important to mention that most people do not have orgasms without stimulation," Needle says. Remember: all orgasms are good orgasms!
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How Can I Have a Hands-Free Orgasm?
While hands-free orgasms can happen through any form of touching that’s not manual stimulation, touch-free orgasms require a bit more time, patience, and planning. They can occur with a partner or on your own, which may be an easier and more relaxing way to start.
“Touch-free orgasms are more possible when you’re spending time building up that desire before going to town,” says sex and relationship coach Catherine Drysdale, a board-certified practitioner in Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping). “The key here is really practicing mindfulness and having an open mind. Do what you can to create that space and environment that makes you feel sexy and can amplify your ability to orgasm." Drysdale also recommends checking out the erotic blueprint quiz, which can show you if you’re more likely to experience energetic sexuality, making hands-free orgasms easier to experience.”
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25 Tips and Techniques for Having a Hands-Free Orgasm
1. Sex toys
Sex toys are probably the easiest and more sure-fire way to have an orgasm without using your hands. “Sex toys can definitely give you a hands-free orgasm by using remote controls or being wearable,” says clinical psychologist and certified sexologist Denise Renye.
“Because they stimulate your erogenous zones with vibrations, pulsations, or suction, they can help you reach orgasm without manual effort. It’s a fun and easy way to enjoy solo play or partner play!”
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2. Oral sex and other stimulation that doesn’t involve the hands
Honestly, who needs hands when you have someone’s tongue? While it’s not a touch-free orgasm, oral sex can definitely get you off without involving any hands.
“Oral sex and other non-manual touching techniques can absolutely lead to hands-free orgasms,” Renye says. “For instance, skilled oral stimulation can provide intense pleasure and arousal, potentially leading to orgasm without the need for additional manual stimulation. Similarly, using other body parts such as lips, tongue, or even certain toys in creative ways can offer unique sensations that may result in hands-free orgasms.”
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3. Get creative
While oral sex and sex toys are beloved routes to the hand-free orgasm, pretty much anything can give you pleasure if it turns you on. “Explore the power of sensory play during partnered activities,” says Mariah Freya, sex education expert and founder of Beducated.
“This can involve using feathers, ice cubes, silk, or other sensory objects to arouse and stimulate your body, allowing you to reach orgasm without direct hands-on contact.”
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4. Novelty
Have you ever been so turned on that you feel like you’re just going to come before your clothes even come off? Maybe you’re at your first sex party or have a new partner who makes you feel things that you didn’t think possible. Not only can novelty and new experiences make hands-free orgasms easier, but they can also help you have an orgasm without touch.
“Exploring new experiences, such as hooking up with a different gender or engaging in sexual activities in a new setting like a sex party, can indeed lead to unexpected and intense arousal, sometimes resulting in spontaneous orgasms,” Renye says. “The novelty of the situation, combined with the excitement and anticipation, can heighten sensitivity and arousal levels, making it easier to reach orgasm without deliberate effort.” Of course, always continue to prioritize consent and communication anytime you’re trying something new.
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5. Erotic hypnosis
Erotic hypnosis is an excellent way to experience touch-free orgasms because it helps you settle into a deeply relaxed state, which can prime your mind to be more open to experiencing pleasure. Hypnosis can help quiet your busy mind by using guided suggestions that not only relax you but help you zero in on your arousal and sexual energy while also soothing any vibe-killing inhibitions that may be getting in your way.
“Hypnosis allows you to go into a theta state, like how you feel right before you drift off to sleep,” says Drysdale. “You’re not asleep, but you feel completely relaxed. In this state, you may be guided on a hypnotic meditation-like journey using either metaphors or more specific suggestions to get into your desired state and desired belief systems.”
Drysdale explains that when working with a hypnotherapist, your practitioner should have an introduction period asking you pointed questions on what you want to experience and how you want to feel while using your own language so that your subconscious is more likely to integrate the suggestions. “It’s important to know that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, so if you don’t agree with the suggestions and/or aren’t vibing with the session, you are able to drop out and come back into your body and awareness at any time,” she says.
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6. Kink and BDSM
Kink and BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism, and masochism) lead to heightened sensation, arousal, and increased novelty, which can help you have a touch-free orgasm. Additionally, because the erotic practices often utilize sex toys and various forms of sensation play, even if touch-free orgasms don’t occur, hands-free orgasms totally can.
“Techniques such as orgasm control, edging, and orgasm denial are common in BDSM, where partners may manipulate sensations and emotions to delay or intensify orgasmic experiences,” Renye says. “Additionally, certain kinks and fetishes, such as erotic humiliation or exhibitionism, can elicit strong arousal responses that may lead to hands-free orgasms.” And don’t forget to always prioritize consent, communication, and aftercare.
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7. Erotic breathing
Orgasmic breathing involves using mindful breathing techniques to enhance sexual pleasure. By concentrating on your breath, you can direct your energy throughout your body.
“Breathing techniques can play a big role in achieving a hands-free orgasm. Deep, rhythmic breathing can help relax the body, increase blood flow, and enhance sensitivity to sexual arousal,” Renye says. “By focusing on slow, controlled breaths, individuals may heighten their awareness of pleasure and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with sexual response. This method can be particularly effective when combined with other sensory or mental stimulation techniques, such as erotic visualization or mindfulness practices.”
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Want to get started exploring erotic breathwork on your own? Drysdale, while noting the importance of working with a breathwork facilitator and running any concerns through your doctor, suggests laying down flat on your back sans pillow, closing your mouth, and inhaling by expanding your belly, then your chest, holding, and then releasing.
“It helps to breathe to the beat of music, starting slowly at first and building up to a more rapid pace,” says Drysdale. “With every breath, visualize the energy moving through your body and through your chakras. It can also be helpful to visualize the energy moving in a circle up through your genital space/belly, chest, and out above you, reintegrating back into your genital region (or sacral chakra).”
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8. Get wet
Shout out to everyone who’s gotten off using a shower head or faucet. “This can be pleasurable for people with vulvas. If you have a shower head that detaches, you can use that and direct it to your clitoris,” Freya says. Yes, that counts as a hands-free orgasm, and you don’t have to stop enjoying them just because you now have a sex toy collection.
9. Eye contact
People often joke that just looking at someone sometimes feels like it’s so intense that it’s going to get them pregnant. And while, thankfully, this can’t happen, it turns out you can cum from intense eye contact. “For some people, the intense emotional and psychological intimacy shared during prolonged eye contact can trigger an orgasmic response,” Needle says.
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10. Dry-humping
Yes, you can have an orgasm just from dry humping. (So high school!) And not just from gyrating against your partner, although that can happen, too.
“People with a vulva or a penis can grind or hump to pleasure themselves. You can use blankets, pillows, or couch cushions to rub against. Use the friction to reach orgasm,” Freya says.
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11. Tantra
Tantra is a practice originating from ancient Eastern traditions, emphasizing the connection between mind, body, and spirit...including sexuality. “In the context of achieving hands-free orgasms, Tantra often involves techniques such as controlled breathing, meditation, and mindful awareness of bodily sensations,” explains Renye. “By cultivating a deeper understanding of sexual energy and exploring prolonged states of arousal without necessarily focusing on genital stimulation, individuals may experience heightened pleasure and even achieve orgasm without direct touch.” Tantra emphasizes relaxation, mindfulness, and energetic connection between partners, which can all contribute to the potential for hands-free orgasms through a holistic (defined by the idea that the components of something are interrelated) approach to sexual pleasure.
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12. Meditation
If you’re curious about Tantra or erotic breathing and hypnosis and want to start exploring such sacred and often spiritual practices, you can begin by cultivating your own meditation practice.
“Some individuals can achieve [hands-free orgasms] through meditation or mindfulness practices that heighten their sexual awareness,” Needle says.
Remember that starting a meditation practice is more accessible when you set realistic goals, such as meditating for just a few minutes each day. It’s helpful to choose a consistent time and place to meditate, which helps establish a routine. And remember to make sure that you’re comfy. Focus on your breath, which can help anchor you in the present moment. Remember that the goal isn’t to clear your mind completely but to recognize when your thoughts start to wander and then gently return your focus back to your breath.
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13. Energy orgasm
An energy orgasm is a touch-free orgasmic experience that is achieved through focused mental and energetic practices. “While I wouldn’t say it’s easy, I’d say it’s completely possible,” says sex educator Carly S.
Want to explore energy orgasms within your relationship? Here are some tips: “Explore deep breathing exercises and energy-focused techniques with your partner. By syncing your breath and visualizing energy flowing through your body, you can build arousal and experience pleasure solely through the power of breath and energy,” Freya says.
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14. Visualize it
To aid you on your spontaneous orgasm journey, try to visualize the orgasm creeping its way through your body. “You should sit in a comfortable position with a straight spine. Close your eyes and try to calm your mind with a meditation technique (e.g., focusing on your breath). Then bring all your mental focus to your vagina or penis; it will help with the blood flow,” Freya says. Then, she advises to begin taking deep abdominal breaths that expand your belly and open your pelvis up. “Inhale and focus your mind on your clit, vaginal canal, cervix, and perineum. You can use moaning and soft hip movements to boost the effect. Visualize, visualize, visualize orgasm. And remember, for a mind orgasm, you can fake it till you make it!”
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15. Dirty talk
If you’re someone able to enjoy touch-free orgasms or looking for a way to simply make any type of orgasm become more accessible, consider upping your dirty talk game.
“With the right mental and emotional connection, play such as erotic talk, shared fantasies, and even watching each other can lead to a touch-free orgasm,” Renye says.
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16. Workouts
Now, here’s some real motivation to go to the gym. “Accidental orgasms, also known as exercise-induced orgasms or “coregasms,” can happen during intense workouts or physical activities,” Freya says. “The exact cause of exercise-induced orgasms is not fully understood, but they are believed to be a result of the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of pelvic floor muscles during intense exercise, which can stimulate nerve pathways connected to sexual pleasure,” she adds.
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Coregasms, or gymgasms, are most likely to occur from exercises that engage the core and lower body muscles, such as abdominal exercises, squats, or leg lifts. The first authoritative study of exercise-induced orgasms was published in 2012 in the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy. According to Hebernick, who in 2015 published The Coregasm Workout: The Revolutionary Method for Better Sex Through Exercise as a follow-up to her research, 1 in 10 women and 1 in 12 men have experienced an exercise-induced orgasm sometime in their life. “A small percentage of those people have them regularly, and there are a number of people who can induce them almost on demand,” Freya says.
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17. Kegel exercises
You can start working on your “coregasm” right where you are through Kegel exercises, aka pelvic floor muscle training (which you might already be doing). “This technique works for people with vulvas and penises. Using your pelvic floor, you can do kegel exercises to increase arousal and stimulate your genitals,” Freya says. “Try clenching and unclenching repeatedly to stimulate your prostate or clitoris.”
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18. Try edging
Edging is the kinky act of being led right up to an orgasm, only to have to wait. “Practice edging, which involves getting close to orgasm and then easing back before repeating the process,” Freya advises. It can be exquisite, delightful (consensual) torture. And, almost ironically, by delaying orgasms, you can actually often manifest spontaneous ones.
“This buildup of sexual energy can intensify the eventual release and potentially lead to a hands-free orgasm,” Freya says.
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19. Nipple play
Nipples are high-octane erogenous zones, and yes, some people can orgasm from nipple play alone. When nipples are stimulated, they send signals to the genital sensory cortex, the same part of the brain that’s activated by clitoral or vaginal stimulation. Additionally, nipples contain hundreds of nerve endings. “Being touched sensually and erotically in nongenital areas can also heighten arousal and lead to orgasm for some,” Needle says.
20. Wet dreams
FYI: Wet dreams aren’t just for teenage boys. People of all genders, genitals, and ages can experience them. Sometimes, spontaneous orgasms can happen while you snooze, so you might not even have to try erotic breathing or Tantra to experience one.
“Orgasms that occur during sleep, often referred to as “sleep orgasms” or “nocturnal orgasms,” are a common and natural phenomenon,” Renye says. “These orgasms can happen spontaneously without any conscious sexual activity or stimulation. They typically occur during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which is when dreaming is most intense.”
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While the exact cause of sleep orgasms isn’t fully understood, they are believed to result from the brain’s activation of the body’s sexual response system during dreaming. Note that sleep orgasms vary greatly from person to person. Some people don’t ever experience them, and others have them quite often.
“For people who specifically want to have orgasms during their sleep, my advice is to sleep on your stomach, as your genitals are more likely to be activated in that position,” advises Tatyannah King, MSW, ME.d, a clinical sexologist.
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21. Fantasizing
Whether you’re looking to have a hands-free orgasm or make one enjoyed through any form of touch more intense, lean into your sexual fantasies. After all, the most important sexual organ is actually the brain.
“Yes, it’s entirely possible to reach orgasm solely through mental arousal and fantasizing about something erotic or stimulating. This phenomenon, known as ‘thinking off’ or ‘fantasy-induced orgasm,’ relies on the power of the mind to generate arousal and trigger physiological responses associated with orgasm,” Renye says. “Through vivid imagination, intense focus, and a strong emotional connection to the fantasy, individuals can experience heightened sexual arousal that culminates in orgasm without any physical stimulation.”
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22. Travel
Airplane turbulence or bumpy car rides are not usually considered sexy, but for some lucky people (the experts caution that these aren’t common), they can actually get you off.
“Experiencing arousal or even orgasms from bumps, vibrations, or movements such as those encountered while riding in a car, plane, or other modes of transportation is known as ‘vehicular orgasm’ or ‘roadgasm,’” Renye says. “These sensations can stimulate erogenous zones and pelvic muscles, leading to increased blood flow and potentially orgasmic release in some individuals." Apparently, if you're super stoked about a vacation, the anticipation and excitement can make these orgasms more likely as well.
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23. Watching porn
As King discovered when stopping her birth control, which made her libido skyrocket, the erotic intensity of watching porn can also lead to spontaneous orgasms. “I remember watching porn because I intended on masturbating, but I didn’t even get to the actual masturbation part,” she shares. “I remember seeing one video in particular that caught my interest, and while watching it, I gradually became so turned on that I orgasmed without even touching myself.”
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Other experts confirm. “By engaging in erotic visual content, you can heighten arousal levels and potentially reach orgasm without manual stimulation. It’s important, though, to find ethical and consensual porn that aligns with your values and boundaries,” Freya says. (BTW, here are 21 safe porn sites. YW!)
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24. Go to a sex party
While sex parties aren’t for everyone, the novelty and the irl sexual imagery is, for many, a super fun experience that could lead to a hands- or even touch-free orgasm.
Picture this: “The room is filled with people engaged in intimate play, heightening your arousal,” Freya says. “As the collective energy builds, you feel intense waves of pleasure radiating through your body. Suddenly, you experience a spontaneous, hands-free orgasm triggered by the heightened atmosphere and your deep focus, showcasing the power of the mind and body to achieve pleasure without direct physical stimulation. This is something that can happen, and it’s a wonderful experience.”
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25. Intense emotional connection
As we mentioned earlier re: eye contact, it’s possible for an emotional connection to be so strong that it makes you cum, no hands required. “A deep emotional bond with your partner can heighten your arousal levels, making you more responsive to non-physical stimuli,” Needle says. “Simply looking into your partner’s eyes, or feeling their touch, smelling them or hearing their breath can be such an intense turn-on that it leads to orgasm.”
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In conclusion…
Not everyone will find touch-free orgasms easily accessible, and that’s totally okay. “But with practice and exploration, many people can enhance their ability to achieve this type of orgasm,” Renye says. And even you don’t get there, we can almost guarantee you’ll have fun trying.
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