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List of Common Non-penetrative Sex Acts
Partnered Acts

Exclusively Non-penetrative
 * Axillary intercourse
 * Erotic massage
 * Footjob
 * Frottage
 * Handjob
 * Intercrural sex
 * Intergluteal sex
 * Kissing
 * Mammary intercourse
 * Mutual masturbation
 * Stimulation of nipples
 * Stimulation using a vibrator
 * Tribadism

Non-exclusively Non-penetrative
 * Fingering
 * Oral Sex

Solo Acts
 * Masturbation

There is the risk of contracting STD's with non-penetrative sex acts as well as the slight risk of pregnancy. Barrier methods (condoms and dental dams) can be used to reduce the risk of both STD's and pregnancy and hormonal contraceptives can prevent pregnancy.

Extremely frequent masturbation is a symptom of hypersexual disorder



Non-penetrative sex
Non-penetrative sex or outercourse is a sexual activity, which does not include sexual penetration; the penetration of vaginal, anal, or oral orifices, or sexual intercourse (coitus). The physical intimacy includes activities such as kissing, cuddling, foreplay, masturbation, mutual masturbation, dry humping, heavy petting and frottage. Acts of non-penetrative sex can be considered exclusively non-penetrative or non-exclusively non-penetrative.

Non-penetrative sex may include genital-to-genital contact, or contact with various other parts of the body. Non-penetrative sex can be achieved with individuals keeping clothing on, or taking it off, as long as there is no form of penetration. It can be used as an option to preserve virginity or prevent pregnancy, and is often considered a form of safer sex as there is less of a likelihood of bodily fluids being exchanged among partners. Gender differences and sexual variations may be seen in acts of non-penetrative sex.

Categories
There are many different non-penetrative sex acts, however only the most common ones are listed here. In terms of an evolutionary viewpoint, these sex acts may not make sense, since most will not result in pregnancy and passing on of genes. However many of these acts can be apart of foreplay and may lead to intercourse. Even if these acts do not lead to intercourse, they are less risky than intercourse in terms of sexually transmitted disease (STD), which is evolutionarily advantageous. Gender differences will also be discussed, although these acts can be modified to be done by any individuals. The acts can be done between two people or within a group of people. In acts where a penis is required (such as in mammary intercourse), a strap-on dildo can be utilized if none of the individuals present has a penis.

Partner Non-penetrating Sex Acts

Exclusively Non-penetrative


 * Axillary intercourse occurs when the penis of one individual is placed in another individual's armpit. The friction created by the rubbing of the penis can be pleasurable and may lead to orgasm. This is an act practiced most often by two biological males.


 * Erotic massage is defined as rubbing of the body to create pleasure and relaxation. This can be done between two or more people of any gender and sexual orientation. It can involve the use of oils (heated or otherwise) or just the individual's hands. It is also known as sensual massage.


 * Footjob is sexually stimulating one individual's penis with another individual's feet. In some cases it can be part of a foot fetish. One indvidual places their feet around the penis and caresses it until orgasm is achieved. Variations where the clitoris is stimulated by feet also occur.


 * Frottage is most commonly known as the act of rubbing male genitalia against another person’s breasts, buttocks, abdomen, genitalia etc. Although often described as a homosexual act between two males, it is not limited to this group. It also describes the separate paraphilia of rubbing or pressing one’s genitalia against an unsuspecting, unconsenting stranger.


 * Hand job is the stimulation of a penis using another individual's hand. Orgasm is generally the goal of this act.


 * Intercrural sex is when the penis is stimulated by placing it between another individual's thighs. Lubrication maybe be used to allow the penis to move more freely between the thighs.


 * Intergluteal sex is the stimulation of the penis using the buttocks. It differes from anal sex because no penetration of the anus occurs. The penis is stimulated by moving between the buttocks.


 * Kissing involves the touching of one person’s lips against another person’s. It can include kissing on the cheek, light kissing (closed mouth kissing) or deep kissing (french kissing) where the mouth is opened. Kissing may also be done on other parts of the body and is considered to be part of foreplay. All individuals (regardless of sexual orientation or gender) can enjoy kissing.


 * Mammary intercourse is the stimulation of the penis by placing the penis between the breasts and moving the penis up and down to create pleasure. The goal is often orgasm.


 * Mutual masturbation occurs when at least two individuals touch (caress, stroke) the genitals of one another in an attempt to achieve pleasure or orgasm. Also known as heavy petting. This act can be practiced by any two (or more) individuals and when it is performed by one individual it is known simply as masturbation.


 * Stimulation of nipples is when one partner caresses (either manually or orally) the nipples of their partner. Any individual can participate in this act and it can be done in pairs or groups.


 * Stimulation using a vibrator: A partner or group of individuals may stimulate each other’s genitals using a vibrator.


 * Tribadism is the act of rubbing female genitalia against one another (either rubbing genitalia together or rubbing one individuals genitalia against other parts of another individuals body). It is done in a lesbian context.

Non-exclusively Non-penetrative

The following is a list of partner non-exclusive non-penetrative sex acts. This means that although these activities are often thought of as having a penetrative component, parts of them are non-penetrative and thus are included in this list.


 * Fingering is the stimulating of the vulva, clitoris and other associated genitalia with the fingers. Can also be stimulating the anus.


 * Oral Sex is the stimulation of the genitalis using the mouth (lips, tongue and throat). It is also known as fellatio when the act is performed on a penis and cunnilingus when performed on female genitalia. A specific type of oral sex, anilingus is the stimulation of the anus using the mouth (lips and tongue).

A History of Masturbation
Main article: History of masturbation

Masturbation is stimulating your genitals with your hand and/or stimulating the genitals of someone else (with an object), for sexual pleasure (see also Mutual Masturbation). It is a subject that many people feel uncomfortable discussing, and can cause feelings of guilt.

Historically, masturbation has been frowned upon by society beginning in the mid to late 1700s and was thought to cause many mental health and physical issues, such as epilepsy. Early in the 18th Century, mutual masturbation, kissing, and fondling were much more prevalent than penile-vaginal penetration. However, with the publication of Onania, or the Heinous Sin of self-Pollution, And All Its Frightful Consequences, In Both Sexes, Considered: With Spiritual and Physical Advice To Those Who Have Already Injured Themselves By This Abominable Practice, around 1708, a seed was planted and a negative attitude towards masturbation became prevalent by the end of the century. Onan was originally defined as coitus interruptus, however, it came to be known as ejaculating with no intent to reproduce. The act was considered a serious medical and social concern and one doctor even attributed the symptoms of a 23-year-old man who was likely suffering from epilepsy to his masturbatory habits.

One of the main staples of antimasturbation literature was a book called L’Onanisme, Dissertation sur les Maladies Produites par la Masturbation [Onanism,; or, a Treatise upon the Disorders Produced by Masturbation] written in 1758 by a Swiss physician and professor of medicine, Simon Auguste David Tissot. He strongly believed that masturbation was wrong and could lead to insanity. He believed that keeping semen inside the body was healthy, and that the loss of one ounce of semen was equivalent to the loss of 40 ounces of blood. Tissot’s book became very popular and even influenced the medical profession in that neurosis was attributed to masturbation.

L'Onanisme... focused mainly on male masturbation with only a brief mention of the consequences of masturbation in women. The focus of society was also primarily on male masturbation, however, due to the possible loss of vaginal fluid, masturbation was also unacceptable in females. Masturbation by women was thought to cause hysteria, epileptic fits, and menstrual derangements.

In the 19th century, Benjamin Rush, a famous Philadelphian professor wrote in the first psychiatric text published in the USA, that masturbation caused afflictions such as epilepsy, loss of memory, and even death. Some people even attempted to or committed suicide over anticipated consequences of masturbation.

In addition to the focus on the consequences of masturbation, by the end of the 18th century, sexual behaviour was beginning to be defined mainly by heterosexual penetrative sexual contact. This encouraged a phallocentric (i.e., male genital focused) conceptualization of sex, which discouraged the practice of non-penetrative sex; essentially all other forms of sex were considered foreplay. This conceptualization has likely influenced the current views on sex as exclusively penetrative, and in turn can discourage those who cannot engage in penetrative sex or do not wish to engage in it (e.g., lesbian couples).

Current views on Masturbation
Sigmund Freud’s psychosexual development phases were important in reducing the idea of masturbation as pathological. In more current times, there has been work done by researchers such as Alfred Kinsey that has shown the true prevalence of masturbation. Kinsey’s comprehensive research in the 1950s provided undeniable evidence that masturbation was more prevalent than society would like to think. Havelock Ellis also began to reduce the myths surrounding masturbation in the early 1900s suggesting that only prolonged masturbation could be harmful, however, his beliefs were not shared by the majority of the population. More recently, a study of American university students found that two-thirds of the women and almost all of the men in the study reported masturbating at least once in their lives. There is still stigma surrounding the act of masturbation, however, it is not associated with the detrimental effects that it was previously.

Currently, masturbation is used in therapy for issues such as Female Orgasmic Disorder (or anorgasmia) and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. From a sociological perspective, masturbation has progressed from being seen as a cause of mental and physical illness to being used as a form of therapeutic treatment.

Masturbation in Therapy
Directed masturbation can be used to treat:
 * Female Orgasmic Disorder (or anorgasmia)
 * Has been used in the case of a child molester to redirect masturbatory fantasies from female children to female adults
 * Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in couples – Masturbating alone can influence sexual desire, which in turn makes couples more likely to engage in coupled sexual activity.
 * Masturbation-like techniques used for treating premature ejaculation have high success rates
 * Primary anorgasmia – self-administered masturbation training can help women who have trouble orgasming to become orgasmic.

For more information on sexual dysfunctions see: Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder (SIAD)

Cultural Perspectives on Masturbation

 * Reported to a lesser degree in cultures such as Islam that is less accepting of premarital sexual activity, especially in women.
 * Certain groups such as Aka and Ngandu people in central Africa do not report masturbating
 * Large focus on European and Western views towards masturbation
 * The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia in the 1990s believed that masturbation caused many physical and mental issues such as damage to the spine and mental illnesses

More About Masturbation

 * Both Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Graham Crackers were created in the hope that their plain taste would reduce sexual impulses. Their creators held very strong antimasturbation views
 * Men are much more likely to masturbate than women
 * Masturbation can relieve stress and help induce sleep

Sociocultural Factors
Sociosexuality is measured by the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI). Low scores indicate individuals to be sociosexually restricted, whereas high scores indicate an individual to be unrestricted and demonstrate a more promiscuous mating strategy. Across Cultures, men tend to show higher levels of sociosexuality than women. Sociosexual sex differences can be tested from different theoretical evolutionary perspectives such as sex ration theory, social structural theory and strategic pluralism theory, though currently multiple perspectives are needed to explain the variance. Sociocultural differences may effect the likelihood of an individual to engage in acts of non-penetrative sex. Acts of non-penetrative sex may be more accepted, depending on different cultural norms, as culture holds a great impact on peoples’ sexual attitudes, feelings, and behaviours; for example, in some cultures marriage is the only justification for sex. In respect to certain religious views such as Christianity, in which premarital sex is not accepted, there is apprehension on advocating for safe sex, which includes acts of non-penetrative sex, as this may appear to condone sex taking place outside of marriage. Although, premarital sex has become quite a normative behavior in places such as the United States, and non-penetrative sex may even be viewed as preserving virginity. According to Petersen & Hyde (2010) nations exhibiting greater gender equality were seen to have smaller gender differences in the prevalence of various sexual behaviors such as intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, and masturbation.

Recently in places such as Canada and the U.S. such things as grinding, a dance involving the act of rubbing up against another person, and rotating hips in an erotic manner has been seen in places such clubs, high schools, and even middle schools. Some online parent blogs have even referred this this form of dancing as “sex on the dance floor”. Grinding can lead to sexual arousal and may be classified as a form of frottage. Such a sexually evocative dance may not be seen in more conservative countries, with more constricted views on sexuality.

In more developed countries, a shift has been seen towards later marriage, and thus an increase in premarital sex. Also, in developed countries there has been an increase in prevalence of safe-sex, which may also promote more non-penetrative sexual activities. Recent discussion has come up in places such as the U.K. on emphasizing pleasure and sex-positive components of sex and relationships education (SRE). This would acknowledge the wider repertoire of sexual practices of non-penetrative sex, which are safe alternatives to vaginal penetration, such as stroking, solo, and mutual masturbation. By excluding such non-penetrative practices in educating adolescents, it may be implied that these acts are abnormal for those who do not engage in vaginal penetration; for example those who have engaged only in heavy petting and mutual masturbation. Furthermore, as sexual pleasure is not acknowledged in most countries and the reproductive and heterosexual view of sexual activity is mainly emphasized, such education would provide alternatives to solely heteronormative sexual activities. This would also provide recognition for intersex individuals who may not be able to engage in penile-vaginal intercourse. In regards to adolescent sexuality, society tends to put an emphasis on identifying what is “normal” in sexual development and subsequently the subjective sexual feelings and experience, as well as quality of sexual relations is often overlooked.

Gender Differences
Cultural norms have been theorized to affect women’s attitudes and behaviours more so than those of men. The term erotic plasticity is the degree to which one’s sex drive can be changed by cultural, societal, and situational factors. The female erotic plasticity hypothesis predicts women to have a higher erotic plasticity than men, and subsequently their sex drives showing more response to social factors. During the 20th century a change in the expression of sexuality has been seen in women, by a younger age at first sexual experience, an increase in premarital sexual intercourse, and an increase in sex as a source of pleasure. According to Baumeister (2000) there has been a lessening of the socio-cultural suppression of women’s sexuality. Non-penetrative sex may be an outlet for women to increasingly explore their sexuality.

There has been speculation on if there is a difference between vaginal and clitoral orgasms. Clitoral stimulation through methods of non-penetrative sex, such as oral sex (cunnilingus), masturbation (solo or mutual), and frottage or rubbing may provide an effective way to reach orgasm, which some women either prefer to penetrative sex, or cannot achieve through penetrative sex. Some women may be concerned about retaining form penile-vaginal intercourse by forms of non-penetrative sex, often thinking that it not sufficient in pleasing their partners. On the contrary, non-penetrative sex has the potential of being equally arousing and satisfying as penetrative sex. The evolutionary function of the female orgasm has been questioned, given that not all women achieve orgasm during penile-vaginal intercourse and that additional stimulation, generally in the form of clitoral stimulation is usually required. It has been found that in intercourse without assisted stimulation of the clitoris, only approximately a quarter of women orgasm frequently. Comparatively, women can reach orgasm approximately 81% of the time during oral sex. Furthermore, breast stimulation in females has also been found to cause orgasms. Thus, non-penetrative sex can be beneficial for sexual satisfaction in women.

A difference has also been seen in how men and women categorize sex. According to Sanders & Reinisch (1999), men more consistently rated non-penetrative activities such as cunnilingus and manual stimulation of a partner’s genitals as sex than women. The desire to count these activities as having sex could enable men to think that they have a higher number of sex partners, whereas females are more likely to underreport their sexual experiences to conform to the cultural gender norm of a more virtuous female. This may apply to a meta-analysis of gender differences in sexual behavior performed by Oliver and Hyde (1993), which found that masturbation showed the largest difference in all of the examined variables, in that women were not only less likely to masturbate than men, but also did so less frequently.

Same-Sex Sexual Relations
Same-sex sexual activities often involve forms of non-penetrative sex or outercourse. On the contrary to common beliefs, not all same-sex oriented men partake in anal sex. Two common forms of non-penetrative sex for same-sex oriented men are frottage and intercrural sex. For same-sex oriented women, manual clitoral stimulation, oral sex, and frottage are all forms of non-penetrative sex. The acts of fingering or fisting in women are forms of penetrative-sex.

Non-penetrative Sex in Varying Age Groups
Non-penetrative sex may be a good alternative for adolescents in contrast to penetrative sex, as is can be sexually satisfying, it may provide for the ability to learn more about their own as well as their partners bodies, and also alleviate some of the pressures that come from engaging in sexual intercourse such as unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. For older adults non-penetrative sex can be explored as an alternative to sexual intercourse, and they can branch out form their usual sexual routines. Furthermore, as men age they may benefit from non-penetrative sex through direct stimulation, as erections usually take longer to occur. Erections may also not be as firm, may be lost more easily, and after sex it may take longer for men to be able to have sex again, in which case providing non-penetrative stimulation to their partners would be beneficial. Therefore it is important to realize that sex can be more than just intercourse.

Messages in the Media
The media tends to portray messages that women do not have the same type of sexual desire as that of men. Sexual behavior seen in the media may be particularly effective on young people and be associated with their sexuality, as they may use it as an example for such things as relationships and sex. Non-penetrative sex may often be overlooked as a fulfilling sexual activity in the media. The main method for safe sex practice that has been portrayed in the media is condom use, which may imply that penile-vaginal penetration is the only form of real sex, that non-penetrative forms of sex are mainly considered as ‘foreplay’, and that focus is mainly on male pleasure. This relates to current sexual education practices and public health system, which overlook homosexual, bisexual, and transgender youth. According to cognitive social learning theory, the gender differences seen in sexuality will decrease as the sexual expression witnessed in the media becomes more tolerant for both men and women.

Sexual Variations
Non-penetrative sex can be associated with certain sexual variations, also known as paraphilias. These are much more commonly seen in men, and include such forms as fetishism, exhibitionism, voyeurism and frotteurism.

Other Benefits

 * Avoiding pregnancy – no penile-vaginal penetration in heterosexual sexual contact can greatly reduce the chance of pregnancy.


 * Non-penetrative contact carries the lowest risk of sexually transmitted disease (STI) transmission.
 * There is, however, still a risk as evidenced by the occurrence of STI transmission with non-penetrative lesbian contact . If STI transmission is a concern, mutual masturbation can be a safer alternative.


 * Mutual masturbation may alleviate feelings of guilt caused by the act of masturbating because one is not the only person engaging in the activity<ref name="Kay" /.

Hook-up Culture
In many developed nations, there is a trend on the rise that sees young individuals (typically late teens and early twenties) engaging in casual sex (also known as a hook-up). This is a loosely defined term depending on who you ask, but generally means participating in some type of sex act (whether it is non-penetrative or penetrative) with another individual or group of individuals outside of a romantic relationship. Hooking up may be in the form of a one night stand where the sex acts are contained within a single situation or the individuals may "hook-up" on a more consistent basis (sometimes known as being friends with benefits). In addition, hooking up can mean different things to different people. Some individuals believe a hook-up is "anything but intercourse" which would include many of the non-penetrative sex acts. Others believe that these non-penetrative acts may be apart of foreplay, but that hooking up is truly defined by the act of intercourse. These arrangements typically focus on the physical pleasure gained from a sex act instead of an emotional attachment. These situations can be risky, especially if sexual history is not obtained before the acts take place. Contraceptives may not be utilized if the individuals were not planning on engaging in a sex act. Being prepared for a hook-up can help decrease risk. Obtaining consent, using contraceptives and ensuring all individuals present understand this is a "hook-up" with no other expectations can maximize benefits while minimizing risk. For individuals who do not have time for a committed, romantic relationship, a hook-up can be a positive experience, so long as they take precautions to minimize risk. The benefits of sex acts are numerous and if an individual is concerned about sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, non-penetrative sex acts (which carry a much smaller risk than penetrative sex) are an excellent option and offer a wide variety of things to choose from. In addition, it can be a good opportunity for individuals who may be questioning their sexual orientation to try being with another individual in a casual setting, without having to be in a more serious relationship to determine if they enjoy the sexual part of this new orientation. Since women's sexuality tends to be more fluid than men's, this could be a could opportunity for a woman to try on a different sexual orientation if they have been questioning the one they currently identify with. For more information on fluidity of sexual orientation, click here

Health Risks and Safety
There is a sociocultural viewpoint that because non-penetrative sex acts do not involve a direct exchange of semen and vaginal fluids and because at no point (in exclusively non-penetrative sex acts) does anything penetrate the vagina, these acts are risk free. Although the risks associated with non-penetrative sex acts may be less than those associated with sexual intercourse, there are still serious risks that can occur. There is a slight risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STDs) with certain non-penetrative sex acts.

Pregnancy Risk

The pregnancy risk for heterosexual couples without intercourse is rare, however it is possible in certain situations if:
 * sperm is on you or your partners hands and touches the vagina
 * an erect penis touches the area near the vagina
 * ejaculation occurs near the vagina

These situations very rarely lead to pregnancy, however if you are concered about pregnancy risk, see “Reduce Your Risk” to find out how to keep you and your partner safe.

STD Risk

The risk for STD use for any couple practicing non-penetrative sex is much less than with intercourse, however there is risk. In terms of exclusively non-penatrative sex acts, the risks vary depending on the act, however some common STD's and how they are contracted are found below :


 * Herpes can be spread through kissing or anytime an infected mouth or genitals comes into contact with another individual's mouth or genitals (when it occurs on the genitals, it is known as genital herpes)
 * Genital warts is similar to herpes, but caused by a different virus. It is also spread by skin-to-skin contact with the genitals
 * Chancroid is spread through skin-to-skin contact when an infected individual has sores present and these sores come into contact with another individual (generally in the genital area)
 * Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is spread through coming into contact with various body secretions (saliva, genital excretions, blood etc.)
 * Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is spread through skin-to-skin contact
 * Molluscum contagiosum is spread through close contact with an infected person (sharing personal items or close skin-to-skin contact)
 * Crab louse (also known as pubic lice or crabs) can be spread through close contact with an infected individual
 * Scabies is spread through close contact with an infected indivudal
 * Syphilis can be spread through kissing, but is much more likely to be spread through oral sex, anal sex or vaginal intercourse
 * Trichomoniasis (Trich) can be spread through sharing sex toys, during mutual masturbation or anytime genital fluid are passed from one person to another

In terms of non-exclusive non-penatrative sex acts, the risks increase a bit, because there is penetration (either into the mouth, vagina or anus) and there is the potential for bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions, saliva) to be exchanged. In addition to the STD's listed above, the following can be transmitted through non-exclusive non-penetrative sex acts.


 * Chlamydia is generally spread through vaginal or anal intercourse, in rare cases it may be spread through oral sex
 * Gonorrhoea is generally spread through anal and vaginal intercourse, although it may be spread through oral sex
 * Hepatitis B can be spread through oral sex

Many individuals are concerned about HIV/AIDs risk. Generally you must either have unprotected intercourse (vaginal or anal), use an infected syringe or have the virus passed from mother to child to be infected. You can NOT be infected from casual contact such as hugging, however there is a very small risk that if HIV infected blood, or genital secretions (semen or vaginal secretions) gets into an open wound you could be at risk.

Reduce Your Risk

The only way to completely protect yourself and your partner from pregnancy and STD risk is to completely abstain from all sexual activities. However, there are several ways to decrease your risk should you decide to participate.

Barrier Methods
 * Dental dams offer STD protection during oral sex. If a dental dam is not available, you can make your own out of a condom with instructions found here
 * Condoms can also provide STD protection during oral sex. This video offers helpful tips on how to use a condom properly and can be viewed by clicking here
 * Latex gloves can be used during mutual masturbation or fingering to prevent the transmission of STD’s

Hormonal Methods If you are concerned about the very small risk you may get pregnant, there are several hormonal contraceptive birth control methods that you can use

Dual protection (using both a barrier device and hormonal method) can be very effective at preventing both pregnancy and STD transmission.