Intentionally stopping and restarting stimulation—the same principle that underlies edging—works because of a specific physiological mechanism.
The effect of blood pooling During each pause, the blood entering the genital area does not completely leave the tissue — the next cycle of stimulation adds to this “baseline” level, increasing overall swelling and sensitivity.
Psychological component — anticipation During the pause, the brain's reward system continues to produce dopamine due to anticipation — this is the same mechanism that works in anticipation of other pleasurable experiences.
Optimal pause duration A pause that is too short (less than 5 seconds) has no effect, while a pause that is too long (more than a few minutes) significantly reduces arousal levels — 15-45 seconds is usually optimal.
The overall effect after several cycles: After three or four pauses, the final orgasm often becomes longer and more varied — in the form of several waves, instead of one sharp peak.