# Ladies: stroke a man's inner thigh and watch this happen **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471 "2008-01-06T04:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/1 "2008-01-06T04:11:14Z")
When you lightly stroke a man’s inner thigh around halfway up from his knee (either side), you’ll hit a nerve close to the surface that causes his testicles to partially retract into his body. It’s a reflex, and he won’t be able to stop it (he’ll feel it, too). **Ms. Malienation** loves doing this to me. The first time I told her about this, she thought I was kidding. She was like a kid with a new toy when she found out I wasn’t. My balls were jumping up and down like yo-yo’s. Your man might not know about this, so try it and report back his reaction. Don’t gimme any crap about how it didn’t work, you might hafta search around a little. Don’t stroke too heavily. Just keep an eye on his balls. You’ll both know when you hit it. Have at it, ladies. Gays, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/2 "2008-01-06T04:47:09Z")
Is this a good, pleasant thing, or just an amusing trick? ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/3 "2008-01-06T04:52:03Z")
[QUOTE=Lynne\_kilii] Is this a good, pleasant thing, or just an amusing trick? [/QUOTE] Little of both. Don’t worry, he won’t burst out crying. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/4 "2008-01-06T04:53:30Z")
Cite please. No, not of you and the Ms. doing it but of the medical evidence that there’s a nerve connection and not just something that happens with you. Or are you taking a poll? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/5 "2008-01-06T05:50:01Z")
Is this supposed to work stroking your own thigh? It doesn’t for me – which makes me doubtful of the whole nerve connection thing. I’m guessing you have an odd form of ticklishness. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/6 "2008-01-06T06:16:35Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Is this supposed to work stroking your own thigh? It doesn’t for me – which makes me doubtful of the whole nerve connection thing. I’m guessing you have an odd form of ticklishness. [/QUOTE] Nope, it should happen to us all (women have it too, but their reaction is a little more restrained, from what I’ve heard). I heard it (secondhand) from a doctor. She’s a dermatologist, but still… Try slightly more in front of the thigh. Trust me, it’ll work… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/7 "2008-01-06T06:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] Nope, it should happen to us all (women have it too, but their reaction is a little more restrained, from what I’ve heard). I heard it (secondhand) from a doctor. She’s a dermatologist, but still… Try slightly more in front of the thigh. Trust me, it’ll work… [/QUOTE] Wow! Women’s balls will retract? They must have all done this as children. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/8 "2008-01-06T06:38:34Z")
It’s called the cremasteric reflex: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_083.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_083.html) > **[Cremasteric reflex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremasteric_reflex)** > > The cremasteric reflex is a superficial (i.e., close to the skin's surface) reflex observed in human males. > This reflex is elicited by lightly stroking or poking the superior and medial (inner) part of the thigh—regardless of the direction of stroke. The normal response is an immediate contraction of the cremaster muscle that pulls up the testis ipsilaterally (on the same side of the body). > The reflex utilizes sensory and motor fibers from two different nerves. When the inner thigh is stroked, s... ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/9 "2008-01-06T06:39:47Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] I heard it (secondhand) from a doctor. She’s a dermatologist, but still… [/quote] I think she was pulling your leg. . . or maybe something else. 😉 > [@Malienation](#): > > Trust me, it’ll work… Yeah, riiiiiight. I seem to have heard that somewhere before. :dubious: OK, I’ll try it on the next guy I see to check for a reaction. OK, maybe not. 😛 ETA: Dang, **Gfactor**. Did you have to sneak that in before my post?! Heck, I’m leaving it though. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/10 "2008-01-06T07:30:34Z")
**Gfactor** , thanks for, uh, coming through! So, naysayers, start stroking! Lemme know who’s got the mojo to make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/11 "2008-01-06T08:38:02Z")
It happens when I do it to hubby. He doesn’t seem all that amused when I’m down there, fascinated by the “dancing balls”. I’m sure he’d much rather I was putting my time down there to better use, but damnit, it’s funny! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/12 "2008-01-06T10:14:58Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] Nope, it should happen to us all (women have it too, but their reaction is a little more restrained, from what I’ve heard). [/QUOTE] Wait, what? What is meant to retract? I like being stroked on my inner though…it is a super sensitive area for me. But no retraction is happening at all for me. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/13 "2008-01-06T13:45:18Z")
It may be something like you can’t tickle yourself, you need someone else for it to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/14 "2008-01-06T14:43:15Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit] Wait, what? What is meant to retract? I like being stroked on my inner though…it is a super sensitive area for me. But no retraction is happening at all for me. [/QUOTE] Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/15 "2008-01-06T14:45:04Z")
[QUOTE=Malienation] **Gfactor** , thanks for, uh, coming through! So, naysayers, start stroking! Lemme know who’s got the mojo to make it happen. [/QUOTE] Best out-of-context signature in history! ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/16 "2008-01-06T15:35:01Z")
Ladies, while you’re in the area, you can also entertain yourself by blowing cold air onto your amour’s scrotum. Watch as that wrinkly skin creeps quickly around trying to maintain an even temperature within - it’s quite startling to see. ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/17 "2008-01-06T15:37:30Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit] Wait, what? What is meant to retract? I like being stroked on my inner though…it is a super sensitive area for me. But no retraction is happening at all for me. [/QUOTE] I was taught by my med-school-going buddies that in order to get a really satisfying reaction, you should try doing it with your fingernail. Something about an instinctive reaction of drawing away from something sharp…🙂 Of course, we were all slightly drunk at the time, but still, I’ve always liked that explanation, and can testify that it has worked on at least four different men. > [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > It happens when I do it to hubby. He doesn’t seem all that amused when I’m down there, fascinated by the “dancing balls”. I’m sure he’d much rather I was putting my time down there to better use, but damnit, it’s funny! Ah, yes. They’re like a poor man’s lava lamp. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/18 "2008-01-06T20:53:01Z")
[QUOTE=auRa] I was taught by my med-school-going buddies that in order to get a really satisfying reaction, you should try doing it with your fingernail. Something about an instinctive reaction of drawing away from something sharp…🙂 Of course, we were all slightly drunk at the time, but still, I’ve always liked that explanation, and can testify that it has worked on at least four different men. [/QUOTE] Oops. No, I meant I’m female…but the OP said that there was a similar effect in women. What in the female is supposed to be retracting? ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/19 "2008-01-06T22:49:49Z")
Yeah, yeah, okay, there’s nothing for the ladies to have retracting, I got it. However, I’ve heard there’s still some sorta reaction. In guys, the reaction is more than just the testicular retraction, you can feel an odd twinge. Supposedly, women can feel this twinge, too, even though there’s no yo-yo effect. Maybe I’m wrong, though. Ladies, have your man give it a go! By the way, I dunno if you can do this to yourself. Someone else hasta do it, AFAICT. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471/20 "2008-01-06T23:12:52Z")
But my husband is working tonight! Where am I supposed to find a man to try this on? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-stroke-a-mans-inner-thigh-and-watch-this-happen/432471.md?page=2)