Erotic sexual denial implies keeping a person in a certain phase of sexual arousal for quite a long time without letting him or her achieve orgasm. Being a part of BDSM erotic sexual denial is a more dominant version of orgasm control. The dominant might allow the bottom to achieve orgasm at the end (in this case the orgasm is likely to be much stronger than normal, or the bottom might be prohibited from achieving an orgasm thus making him suffer from sexual frustration.

Such practices allow dominants to get control over extremely intimate and important part of their submissive's lives. Through orgasm denial the dominant can even teach the bottom to hold back orgasm or to achieve it on command. This technique gives the dominant so necessary feeling of power.

Denial of genital stimulation is an alternative form of erotic sexual denial. Lack of genital stimulation can be provided through using a male or a female chastity device that prevents touch or erection (for men).