Why is Foreplay Important and How Can It Increase Pleasure?

It's all about the sexual response cycle—a series of physiological changes that occur during sexual arousal. The cycle consists of four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Each stage follows the other, and the next one cannot begin until the previous one has finished. Foreplay makes subsequent sexual practices more enjoyable. Some types of stimulation will be painful if the person is not aroused. These include, for example, touching the nipples or the clitoral glans. Preliminary caresses also affect emotions. For instance, kissing triggers the release of oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. They reduce the level of cortisol—the stress hormone—and enhance feelings of attachment and euphoria.