Sex Tips
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Aug
Most of us pick a sex position the same way we select a theatre snacks, opting for our tasty, tried-and-true faves time and time again. (Hello, Missionary and M&Ms.) But just as we can switch to Red Hots when we’re craving a spicy snack, we can get down in a different popular sex position when our sexual taste buds start salivating for something more satisfying.
Fortunately, finding your new favorite position doesn’t require a haul to the cinemas or movie candy prices—all you have to do is keep reading. Ahead: 11 sex positions to try, whether the vibe of the night is romance or straight-up action.
11 popular sex positions and how to make them better
Whether you want your G-spot hit, clitoris stroked, or butt worshipped, there’s a popular sex position that will satiate your craving. The picks below will have you coming back for seconds again and again.
1. Missionary
Missionary position is as classic a choice as buttered popcorn. This face-to-face position involves the receiving partner lying flat on their back, while the penetrating partner nestles between their open legs.
If you’re the partner on top, plant your hands by the bottom partner’s shoulders to hold up your body weight, or drop to one or both elbows for increased skin-to-skin contact.
The potential for eye-gazing and full-body connection can increase intimacy and feelings of closeness. The proximity between your mouth and your partner’s ears makes this classic position excellent for dirty talk (e.g., “you feel so good”) or whispering sweet somethings (e.g. “I love being this close to you”).
Play with body position to change the specific hot spots getting stroked. If you’re the bottom partner, keep your legs flat and pelvis towards the mattress so each stroke slides along your nerve-dense entrance. If you’re the top partner, experiment with moving your hips up two inches to help your penis or dildo find your boo’s G-zone or prostate.
Hot tip
Slipping a sex wedge under the receiving partner’s hips can facilitate depth during vaginal intercourse, increasing the likelihood of achieving A-spot and C-spot (cervical) stimulation, as well supporting ease of entry during anal. Meanwhile, a vibrating cock ring can provide hands-free clitoral stimulation to the receiver while stimulating the giver’s penis (if they have one).
Expert advice: If you’re playing with a strap-on, try a vibrating dildo for hands-free buzz. The vibration will satisfy the receiver while also traveling down the toy’s shaft to the wearer’s pubic area for a little tease.
2. The Pretzel
The Pretzel is the lovechild of Missionary and Scissoring. One partner lies on their side and lifts their top leg if strength and mobility allow. Next, the other partner straddles their bottom leg from their knees.
Dr. Carolina Pataky, a clinical sexologist, recommends that the top partner elevate or hold the bottom partner’s floating leg as needed.
“It can enhance intimacy, allow for more controlled, rhythmic movements, and facilitate deep penetration,” she says.
If penetration or genital-to-genital contact is on the menu, the top partner should scoot all the way up until their bits are touching their partner’s. Alternatively, the top partner can grind against the bottom partner’s thigh, knee, or calf as either of you uses your hand or bullet vibe to stimulate the bottom’s genitals externally.
Hot tip
If you’re the top and find kneeling uncomfortable, Carolina suggests a standing alternative. Here, your partner will lie with their legs over the side of the bed, while you stand and use the leverage of the floor to hump, bump, or thrust.
Like any good sex position, the Pretzel is best enjoyed with a squirt (or six) of good-quality lubricant. It’s normal for your natural vaginal wetness to dry up after a while, so penetrative sex can become more friction than fun without lube.
Expert advice: Silicone-based lubricant is long-lasting and super silky, but water-based lube is compatible with condoms and silicone sex toys. For a good all-rounder, go for a water-based lube and reapply as often as you need.
3. Edge of Glory
In this half-lying, half-standing sex position, the receiving partner lies at the edge of the bed. The giving partner stands, assuming an hip-width stance, and angles their penis or dildo at their partner’s vagina or anus.
This great position has perks for all involved. If you’re the receiving partner, you get to lie back and relax (literally), making it perfect for when you’re feeling lazy or have spent all day on your feet.
And, if you’re the giving partner, you can use the floor and your partner’s hips as leverage, which can make finding a pleasurable rhythm easier.
Hot tip
Exploring the Edge of Glory as prescribed requires a Goldilocks mattress that is not too high or too low—too low can force the standing partner to assume a position that’s uncomfortable on their lower back long term, and too high and penetration may not be possible at all, or more shallow than preferred. Thankfully, there are workarounds.
If the mattress is lower than the standing partner’s member, a sex wedge can lift their bits and bum two to three inches higher. If the mattress is too high, an over-the-door sex swing or sling is a good workaround. This customizable sex aid can suspend the receiving partner in mid-air at whatever height makes sense for you.
4. The Lotus
If closeness is your focus, this tantric position is for you. Known as the Yab Yum in the Kama Sutra, “you both sit cross-legged, with you on your partner’s lap, your legs wrapped around them.
You put your arms around your partner’s neck and their arms go around your waist,” says Suzannah Weiss, a sex educator and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.
If you’re on top, you can grind down against your partner, which will help stimulate your G-spot, she says. Alternatively, you can experiment with activating your pelvic floor muscles while your partner is inside you, which can increase blood flow and intensity arousal for you both.“
This position is excellent for slow, intimate lovemaking,” says Dr. Carolina Pataky. You are face-to-face, which allows you to look into one another’s eyes, synchronize your breathing, or add in loving face cupping, all of which can deepen the connection, she says.
Hot tip
Thrusting just isn’t the name of the game with the Lotus sex position, which can make the position feel a little lackluster for those who love friction. If that’s you, adding in a wearable vibrator can make this position a hell of a lot more, well, orgasmic.
You could also pop in a vibrating butt plug, which will intensify the moment by stimulating an often-overlooked erogenous zone. If a person with a vagina wears a vibrating plug during intercourse, their partner may be able to feel the vibrating along their penis through the thin wall that separates the vagina and anus.
5. The Starfish
This popular sex position, The Starfish, is perfect for when you want to lie back and enjoy the show.
To try it, you lie on your back with your legs spread (like a starfish) while your partner gets on top with one leg under and one leg over your body, explains sex educator Anna Richards, the founder of the erotic ethical porn site FrolicMe.com.
From here, the top partner can stay seated, experimenting with where they put their hands for comfort and leverage. “Sometimes, the top partner will find that holding your ankles or chest provides an extra sense of stability,” she says. Or, they can recline so your genitals meet in the middle. (This variation is known as Scissoring).
Any gender and genital combo can enjoy The Starfish. Two vulva-owners or penis-owners might enjoy the slide-and-glide of genitals that this position encourages. (Especially when you use lube!).
But if a penis or strap-on is vaginally penetrating the bottom partner, “this position can provide an angle that targets the G-spot and can lead to squirting,” says Anna.
Hot tip
Level up the Starfish sex position with a massage wand vibrator. These external vibes usually have a long handle, so you’ll be able to reach your genitals even if you’re lying back. The bulbous head of the toy also gives you plenty of surface area to rub against.
Expert advice: Go for a cordless wand, like the We-Vibe Wand 2, to avoid catching the power cable with a limb and yanking it out of the wall!
6. The Cowgirl
The Cowgirl is a classic woman on top sex position that offers lots of control for the receiving partner, as well as G-spot stimulation.
The penetrating partner takes a seat (or lies on their back) and the other partner straddles their hips, placing their hands on their partner’s shoulders for leverage. This popular sex position offers plenty of eye contact, kissing, ear licking, and hickey giving.
Unlike other classic positions, like Missionary or Doggy Style, The Cowgirl leaves the rhythm, depth, and speed up to the person being penetrated.
Hot tip
Use a sex position enhancer chair for extra support. This aid can also alleviate pressure on the rider’s knees, allowing you to ride for longer, comfortably.
If the bottom partner has a smaller penis or strap and the receiver enjoys feeling full, the rider should experiment with spreading their knees. The wider your knees, the further your partner can sink inside. Placing a sex wedge under the bottom partner’s bum can also support deeper penetration.
7. Reverse Cowgirl
Reverse Cowgirl is a rider on top position with a twist. The penetrating partner takes the lazy lover role, lying back with their legs closed. The receiving partner then saddles up, facing away from their partner. As you get going, play around with the position of your torso to find what works best for you.
The unique angle and curve of your partner’s penis or strap influence how different variations feel.
If you’re the partner on top, keep your chest upright for deep penetration. You can tilt forward towards your partner’s toes to increase the pleasurable pressure against your G-spot or prostate. (It also brings you closer to their piggies, a plus for anyone who likes feet.)
Hot tip
There are many ways for the rider to add stimulation in additional erogenous zones to make this sexual position even more pleasurable. A finger vibrator will add a little something extra if you reach between your legs for penis or clitoral stimulation.
Meanwhile, if you’re giddying up for vaginal intercourse, you might invite the giving partner to tease your anal opening with a finger or insert a string of anal beads. You could also wear a butt plug with a jewel base, which will provide you a feeling of fullness (while looking super cute).
8. Doggy Style
This rear-entry position is perfect for those who want to get a little wild (even, animalistic) while getting down. Suitable for anal or vaginal penetration, Doggy Style encourages the rear partner to grab their lover’s hips and pick the pace of penetration.
From all fours, the receiving partner can press their hips back to revel in the pleasures of being stroked deeply.
For vulva-owners, this means A-spot and even cervical bliss, while for those with prostates, it means lots of direct contact with that nerve-dense gland.
Hot tip
By design, this is one of the best positions for going long, deep, and fast—even if the partner in back has a smaller-than-average appendage. But using a penis sleeve or extender can lend some extra length or girth if desired.
There’s no face-to-face contact during Doggy Style, so if you want to see your partner as they snarl and growl with orgasmic bliss, try doing it in front of a mirror.
9. Hard Press
Lovers of shallow stimulation come (heh) forth. Hard Press is a Doggy Style variation that transforms the beloved classic into a G-spot sex position. The receiving partner lies on their belly with their legs pressed together.
The giving partner places a knee by each hip and slides in. They can plant their hands by their shoulders in a press-up position for extra leverage, or experiment with lying on top of them like a weighted, banging blanket.
As the bottom partner, keeping your legs tight together will limit how deep inside your partner can go, which facilitates G-spot or P-spot targeting. This set-up also makes it easy for you to squeeze your thighs while your partner is inside, which provides extra tightness along their shaft that some penis-owners will enjoy.
Hot tip
Leveling up Hard Press is easy. Either partner can bop in a butt plug for anal stimulation (if the bottom partner wears a butt plug, opt for one with a slim base to keep the toy from interfering with the top’s movements or skin-to-skin. The receiving partner can also enhance sensation with a wearable vibrator.
10. Spooning
When you’re on the hunt for a sex position that’s more rest than gymnastics, sign up for spooning. “Your partner enters you from behind while you lie on your side,” explains Anna Richards.
This low-effort position gets gold for lazy lovemaking but also comes out on top for cultivating lovey-dovey vibes. “Your partner can wrap their arms around your waist for increased intimacy, or play with your hair and kiss your neck to make it extra romantic,” she says.
It’s also a grade-A choice for those wanting morning sex, without the turn-off of morning breath.
Hot tip
As sweet as this intimate position is, it can also be enjoyed by those with a kinky side. A blindfold, a handful of hair, nipple clamps, or wrist restraints can all spice up this snuggly option. In fact, if you’re looking for a sex position with handcuffs, this is one of the best, as the front partner can have their hands cuffed in front, behind, or above their body.
11. Lazy Sixty-Nine
Mouth watering? Take a bite out of this mutually-satisfying oral sex position for cunnilingus, fellatio, analingus, or any combo therein. Rather than lying on top of one another, both lovers lie on their sides.
Because there isn’t really a top, this position works well for duos with a weight differential. Plus, because you can curve your body into a C-shape, this variation works well for couples who struggle to reach one another’s genitals.
This is often due to a height difference during other mutual oral sex positions.
Hot tip
If you struggle with dry mouth, add a dab of flavored lubricant to stimulate your taste buds and increase saliva production. This position is also ideal for sex toys that simulate oral, which can lend a hand (er, mouth) and provide the feel-good pleasures of oral if your jaw or tongue gets tired.
