The A-spot is an erogenous area that sits at the top of the vagina, between the cervix and the bladder.
Some people may refer to the A-spot as the anterior fornix erogenous zone (AFE). Some sex research suggests that stimulating this spot can promote more lubrication, make foreplay more pleasurable, and increase a woman’s chance of reaching orgasm.
This article will define the A-spot, discuss how to locate it, and provide some tips on positions and techniques for stimulating it.
The A-spot is an area deep within the vagina, located on the inner wall. It is one of the five deep vaginal erogenous zones (DVZs) that research associates with the female orgasm.
The five DVZs are:
- the A-spot
- the G-spot
- the O-spot
- the cervix
- the pelvic floor muscles
With stimulation, the A-spot may provide pleasure and increase vaginal lubrication. In a 1997 study, most women reported more arousal and lubrication following 10–15 minutes of stimulation of this spot.
The doctor who first wrote about the A-spot argues that stimulating this area may help with some forms of sexual dysfunction, especially vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.
In theory, anyone born with a vagina may have an AFE zone. However, researchers have not extensively studied this zone in large samples of women.
Some studies suggest that most women have erogenous zones near the purported location of the A-spot.
For example, one 1985 study found that the upper front wall and bottom back wall of the vagina were the most common vaginal erogenous zones. In the study, 89% of 27 participants reached orgasm due to the stimulation of these areas. However, the study did not find evidence for specific erogenous spots.
A 1984 study sought to investigate erogenous zones on the front wall of the vagina. Although 66.7% of 45 women either reached orgasm or requested to stop before reaching orgasm during the stimulation of the front wall of the vagina, the researchers did not identify specific spots that offered greater benefits.
This suggests that the stimulation of the front wall of the vagina may be pleasurable. However, it does not necessarily mean that the A-spot exists in all or most women. This may support the concept of DVZs and the notion that these sensitive areas may contribute to orgasm in some women.
The A-spot is deep in the vagina, located next to or just underneath the cervix.
To stimulate it, apply pressure to the top wall of the vagina. This is the wall closest to the stomach. It can be helpful to start in the middle of this wall and steadily move up to find the spot.
A person can attempt to use their fingers, a penis, or a sex toy to reach and stimulate this area. They may wish to experiment with different intensities and types of stimulation to get the most pleasure.
It is also possible that a person is stimulating the A-spot area but not feeling a noticeable amount of pleasure, as sensitivity and pleasure levels in this area can vary from person to person.
A 1997 study in women with orgasmic problems and difficulties getting lubricated for sex first identified the A-spot. That study found that stimulating this area quickly produced more vaginal lubrication. It also increased arousal, making it easier for the women to reach orgasm.
Unlike other erogenous zones, such as the G-spot or clitoris, A-spot stimulation does not usually cause a direct orgasm. Instead, it produces pleasurable sensations that make it easier for a person to reach orgasm through other types of stimulation.
In the study, two-thirds of women who experienced vaginal dryness or pain during intercourse found that stimulating the A-spot improved their experience.
The A-spot and G-spot are both located on the front wall of the vagina. However, the A-spot is much deeper than the G-spot, and the stimulation of this area usually causes different sensations.
G-spot stimulation may cause a woman to ejaculate. Some also report a sensation that they need to urinate during G-spot stimulation. Women may also reach orgasm due to G-spot stimulation.
The A-spot may also help a woman reach orgasm, but its primary use seems to be as a tool for foreplay. It can quickly produce significant lubrication, making other forms of penetration more pleasurable.
Dr. Chua Chee Ann, who first studied the A-spot, reported that 10–15 minutes of stimulation could help with vaginal dryness.
For some women, stimulating this spot may produce more rapid results. In the 1997 study that first popularized the spot, for example, 15% of women reached orgasm almost immediately following A-spot stimulation.
The A-spot is located deep inside the vagina. For most women, it is several inches deep. Therefore, this area can be difficult to reach with a finger, and reaching it through intercourse requires a woman to be able to shift positions to find the right spot.
These tips may help people find the A-spot:
- Use a well-lubricated sex toy, such as a dildo, to apply pressure to the spot. Focus on stimulating the area deep at the top of the vagina, on the front wall, just under or next to the cervix.
- Try stimulating the spot anally. People who enjoy anal penetration or who want to try it may find that putting pressure on the front wall of the rectum, several inches in, also stimulates the A-spot.
- Focus on applying pressure, not vibrations, to the spot. Pushing on the spot while offering other stimulation, such as clitoral stimulation during oral sex, may prove highly pleasurable. Some people find that rubbing the spot in small, pressured circles helps.
Sex positions that stimulate the areas deep in the vagina, on the front wall, offer the best chance of stimulating the A-spot.
People may wish to try the following:
- Have sex from behind, with the woman lying down or bent over an item of furniture. The penetrative partner should be higher than the woman to increase stimulation of the front wall of the vagina.
- Have anal sex to stimulate the spot. Positions that allow the penetrated partner to control sensations can reduce pain and make it easier to access the A-spot. Engaging in anal sex with the woman on top, either facing toward or away from their partner, may offer good access.
- Have sex with the woman lying on top of the penetrative partner, facing away, such that the former’s head faces the latter’s feet. Adjust the angle and position to maximize the stimulation of the A-spot.
No sex position or technique works for everyone. Women who do not experience pleasure from the G-spot or other popular forms of stimulation may enjoy the stimulation of the A-spot, especially if they experience vaginal dryness.
To get the most pleasure from sex, communicate openly with a partner who is compassionate and invested in mutual pleasure. If stimulating the A-spot does not work, partners may wish to continue experimenting with other options.