Cunnilingus hindsight, as with blow jobs and pretty much all sex things, is 20/20.

Here, 8 women share the hard-earned wisdom they wish they'd known before going down on a woman for the first time.

1. "One thing for sure that I wish I would've known before going down on a woman for the first time is to ask what she likes. I'm bisexual and before this I had many sexual encounters with men who didn't really know what they were doing. So, when I went down on this woman I wasn't really sure what to do. I had tried to replicate what had been done to me in the past, but she didn't really seem to be enjoying it so I just kind of gave up. Every woman is different. Some women don't like vaginal penetration, some don't like anal penetration, the list could go on and on. What you love most could be something your partner hates most. Mainly though, my advice is always ask, and don't just assume what your partner likes." —Madi, 18

2. "I think it's all about truly focusing on your partner and not yourself. I used to (and sometimes still am) self conscious because I'm worried she won't enjoy it, but it's all about focusing on her. How her body reacts, how her breath shifts to be more intense and faster, how her back arches, and especially how her body twitches in a particular way when you've hit a sensitive spot. I wish I would've known this before I had first gone down on a girl. It's also terrifying not completely visibly seeing where the clitoris is when you're, excuse my bluntness, tongue deep in a woman and literally cannot see anything. You have to just close your eyes and feel. It can get pretty intense, especially when your partner starts getting closer to climaxing. It's not always the easiest, but it's rewarding when you see and feel them finish." —Bekah, 21

Good head is the best gift anyone can give

3. "One thing I wish I'd known the first time I went down on a woman was not to assume that they'd like you to fuck them with your tongue. There's so much more you that you can do to pleasure them than going straight for her vagina. I love teasing and switching things up between biting the inner thighs to flicking her clit and changing the tempo. Good head is the best gift anyone can give. —Ali, 23

4. "One thing I wish I knew is how different the feeling and sensation would be when actually physically making contact with their vagina. And yes, there's a 'taste,' and every woman 'tastes' unique. Every woman likes something different too, and some climax easier than others. Emotions do play a part during sex, too... But consent is key, don't assume your partner wants to be fingered, or wants oral, just ask, 'Hey, can I finger you?' , or "Hey can I use this toy..." Also an important question: 'Have you been tested lately?' Those are my top tips. Be honest with your comfort level with the situation and that person. Go with your gut!" —Maria, 22

Teasing is crucial

5. "Be confident. Even if you're not confident, pretend you are and fake it 'til you make it. It will turn into real confidence. One thing I wish I'd thought more about for my first time going down on a woman is that there is definite technique and it's not all about the tongue. Light tongue and teasing are just as crucial as the intense tongue action. Build up to it. The experience is normally great. There's nothing better than pleasing someone in such an intimate way." —Shira, 18

6. "My best advice would be to find the clit and make circles around it, start very slow and increasingly go faster, can't go wrong with that one! Even though my first experience was probably not fun for either one of us, I learned, and It's fun to have your partner squirm in pleasure. If you're not good at oral, find one thing you're good at and do that consistently." —Dani, 23

7. "One thing I wish I'd known before going down on a woman is that our sensitivities can change based on where we are in our cycle. Because of that the experience needs to be a bit different accordingly. Take your time. Start slow to figure out her sensitivity and work up to the speed and pressure. Trace around it and on it with your fingers and tongue. Teasing goes a long way. Once it's really flowing, don't be afraid to stick that tongue all the way in her. It'll probably surprise her and might also drive her wild. Women are goddesses for real. Love her like you both are one and when you're both done, you'll both remember it." —Jaime, 23

*Name has been changed

These have been edited for length and clarity.

From: Cosmopolitan US