Outercourse - Definition and Overview

Outercourse is sexual activity that does not involve penetration. No bodily fluids are intended to be exchanged, and outercourse is therefore often considered a practice of safer sex as well as of birth control (but see below for exceptions).

Some practices of outercourse include sexual roleplaying, heavy petting, clothed frotteurism, and mutual masturbation.

Other specific forms of outercourse include:

• axillary intercourse: putting the penis in the other person's armpit, also known as bagpiping.
• interfemoral intercourse: putting the penis between the other person's thighs
• Mammary intercourse : putting the penis between the other person's breasts
• frot and tribadism: same sex genital-to-genital friction

Note that interfemoral intercourse and genital rubbing, although notionally forms of outercourse, can carry a risk of pregnancy for heterosexuals through transfer of sperm-bearing fluids such as semen or Cowper's fluid to the sex organs, and that any of the activities above can pose a risk of sexually transmitted diseases if any body fluids are deposited on wounds or mucous membranes such as those of the sex organs or anal membranes.

Outercourse in preparation of intercourse is also called foreplay.

External link

• "Great sex without intercourse", NVSH (http://www.nvsh.nl/Website_Engels/Texts/Sexual_Information/Basics/Skills_1.htm#greatsex) (contains graphic depictions)