You lie in bed, your partner touches you gently – and you feel... not much. Or you realize that some things excite you that you never would have expected. Many women know the feeling of not truly understanding their own desire. But there is good news: Your sexual preferences are not a black box, but a compass that you can learn to read.

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What are Pleasure Channels – and Why Are They Important?

Imagine your sexuality has different entrances – like doors to a house. Some doors are wide open for you, others are just ajar, and some you may have never used. Sexology refers to these "doors" as pleasure channels or erotic blueprints.

The sexologist Jaiya has identified five main types based on years of experience that describe how people experience pleasure. The exciting thing is: Most of us don’t only have one type, but a unique combination – like a personal fingerprint of desire.

The Five Erotic Types Overview

  • Energetic: You love tension, anticipation, and the energy between two people – sometimes more than the touch itself.
  • Sensual: All senses are important – scents, textures, tastes, gentle touches, beautiful ambiance.
  • Sexual: You enjoy being direct, genital-focused, and know exactly what brings you to climax.
  • Kinky: Psychological tension, role play, breaking taboos, or power dynamics excite you.
  • Shapeshifter: You like to adapt and enjoy what your partner likes – your own preferences are less clear.

Important to know: Stereotypes about female sexuality – such as that women must always be romantic and gentle – are often wrong. Your pleasure can look very different from what society or media suggest.

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Your Personal Pleasure Compass: The Self-Test

Ready to find out which channels are particularly strong for you? This test is based on multidimensional assessments that consider not only sexual attraction, but also emotional needs and relationship desires.

Answer the following questions spontaneously and honestly – there are no right or wrong answers. No one is watching, you don’t need to justify yourself.

The Questions (choose the statement that fits best)

1. What excites you the most before any physical contact happens?

  • A) The gaze, the tension in the room, the chemistry between us.
  • B) The atmosphere – candlelight, music, beautiful bedding.
  • C) Clear signals that things are about to "heat up."
  • D) An exciting scenario, role play, or a little provocation.
  • E) The fact that my partner is turned on – that automatically turns me on.

2. What type of touch do you prefer the most?

  • A) Almost-touches, caresses just above the skin, goosebumps.
  • B) Slow, extended massages with warm oil.
  • C) Direct, targeted touch in the right places.
  • D) Surprising, unpredictable touches – sometimes soft, sometimes firmer.
  • E) I like different types, depending on what’s happening.

3. What bothers you the most during sex?

  • A) When it gets too physical too quickly, without build-up.
  • B) Haste, bright lights, unpleasant smells or sounds.
  • C) Too much fuss when we haven’t "gotten down to business."
  • D) When it’s too predictable and "vanilla."
  • E) When I feel like I have to perform.

4. What do you fantasize about most often?

  • A) Intense gazes, forbidden encounters, longing.
  • B) A perfect setting – beach, luxury hotel, rose petals.
  • C) Specific sexual acts that satisfy me.
  • D) Scenarios with role reversals, dominance, or taboo-breaking.
  • E) Various things – I’m flexible with that.
Watercolor illustration of a hand-drawn quiz result card in soft pastel watercolors, featuring a simple compass rose design in the center with delicate floral accents in corners, text reading "Your Pleasure Compass Results" at top in elegant script, five colored bars or petals showing different percentages, painted in gentle lavender, mint green, coral, and cream tones with visible paper texture and loose, artistic brushstrokes suggesting a shareable, personal keepsake

Evaluation: Count Your Letters

Which letter appeared most frequently?

  • Mostly A: Your main channel is energetic – anticipation and excitement are your aphrodisiac.
  • Mostly B: You are sensitive – all five senses want to be indulged.
  • Mostly C: Your type is sexual – you know what you want and like to be direct.
  • Mostly D: You are kinky – psychological tension and taboos excite you.
  • Mostly E: You are shapeshifter – your desire often arises in the reflection of your partner.

Do you have a mix? Perfect! Most women have one main channel and 1-2 secondary channels. This makes your sexuality rich and diverse.

When Sensitivity is Lost

Perhaps you noticed during the test: "I would have answered differently in the past." That’s completely normal. Female sexuality is influenced by hormonal fluctuations, stress, relationship dynamics, and health. Sometimes we lose access to our desire – but we can regain it.

Strategies to Restore Your Sensitivity

  • Somatic Body Training: Daily, place your hand on your lower abdomen for 5 minutes, breathe deeply, and consciously feel into your pelvic area.
  • Sensory Dates with Yourself: Take a bath with essential oils, stroke your skin with various textures (silk, feather, warm oil) – without sexual intent, just to feel.
  • Fantasy Journal: Write down what excites you – even if it seems "inappropriate." Your fantasies are a key to your channels.
  • Communication Experiment: Share one thing with your partner that you would like to try – start small.
  • Media Detox: Reduce pornography or erotic content for 2-3 weeks to reactivate your own fantasy.

Important: Changes take time. Give yourself at least 4-6 weeks to establish new patterns.

Watercolor painting of a Black woman in her late 20s lying in a vintage clawfoot bathtub filled with rose petals and soft foam, eyes closed peacefully, bathroom filled with potted ferns and candles on wooden shelves, morning light filtering through frosted glass window, painted in soft sage green, ivory, dusty rose, and warm honey tones with delicate, translucent layers suggesting self-care and sensory awakening

Share Your Result – or Keep It to Yourself

This test is for you. You decide whether and with whom you want to share your insights. Some women find it liberating to talk about it with their partner – in the spirit of: "I found out that I tend to be more energetic. Could we play more with anticipation and excitement?"

Others keep their knowledge as an inner compass to help them better sense what they really want in moments of intimacy.

Both are valid. The test offers a non-binding, anonymous self-assessment without societal pressure – you owe no one an explanation.

The Next Step: Live Your Pleasure

Now that you know your Pleasure Compass, you can begin to navigate more consciously. Perhaps you suddenly realize: "Aha, that’s why this situation turned me on" or "No wonder I felt nothing during XY."

Your sexuality is not static. It can develop, change, and surprise you. The compass only shows you the direction – the path is yours to take, at your own pace and according to your own rules.

Watercolor illustration of an Asian woman in her early 30s standing at a crossroads in a blooming meadow at sunrise, arms stretched wide with joy, wearing a flowing linen dress, multiple paths leading into soft-focus landscapes of different colors and textures, painted in vibrant coral, lavender, golden yellow, and fresh green with expressive, confident brushstrokes suggesting freedom, choice, and self-empowerment

And don’t forget: There is no "wrong" way to feel pleasure. Your compass is unique – and perfectly right just as it is.