Axilism: Here is everything you should know about this 'armpit fetich' sex practice

Are you a fan of axilism? If you don't know what's behind this rather barbaric term, we'll explain in a few words: it's quite simply a sexual practice consisting of masturbating your penis... using your partner's armpits, with a rubbing motion.

While this may seem a little strange at first, it's important to remember that some people's armpit skin can be very sensitive to stimulation, and 'armpit sex', a sort of substitute for traditional penetration, can be a source of shared pleasure that can lead to orgasm for both participants.

Armpit sex is not just for heterosexual couples

And if you think that axilism is the kind of practice reserved for heterosexual couples with the sole aim of offering the man a new source of pleasure, think again! Of course, a man can rub his penis against his partner's armpit, but axilism can just as easily be performed by a lesbian couple, with one of the partners rubbing her vulva against her partner's armpit.

And if this practice is popular with some people, it's because the armpit is one of the many erogenous zones in the human body. For some people, it can even be extremely sensitive. What's more, this area is one of our body's main emitters of pheromones, through perspiration.

Italian sexologist Rosamaria Spina, quoted by the Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, explains:

This kind of 'penetration' brings great pleasure to those with this type of paraphilia, greater pleasure than vaginal intercourse.

The armpits are rich in pheromones that secrete a rich quantity of odours and this sets up the excitement. It's also a fundamentally moist environment, similar to the vagina, but it doesn't have all those implications that the vagina has, it's seen in a 'less threatening' way but just as exciting and pleasurable.

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Reduced risk of transmission

And it's not just the armpits that are fun to rub, if fans of the practice are to be believed. In 2012, actress Kristen Stewart, then in a relationship with Robert Pattinson, confessed her taste for axilism in an interview with Vogue:

Oh my god, I'm so in love with my boyfriend. I wish he was here right now so much. I love the way he smells. And he loves the way I smell. He loves licking my armpits. I don't understand this idea of getting rid of smells. The smell of someone you love.

So, as you can see, axilism can also involve tickling, kissing, caressing or even licking your partner's armpits. And here's the icing on the cake: this practice is also considered 'safe', in other words less risky given the low risk of transmitting infections. However, especially if you shave your armpits, you need to make sure there are no small open cuts that could open the door to HIV infection.

Read more:This is the best sex position to help those with vaginas orgasm

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

Il Fatto Quotidiano: “L’ascella è la nuova vagina”: il sesso ascellare è la nuova tendenza tra i giovani. Ecco di cosa si tratta