Sexual positions refer to the different ways in which couples position themselves physically during sexual intercourse. Popular myth suggests that the man on top style of sex was the only normal and acceptable position, but there are so many other positions that you may well enjoy even more. Furthermore, people seem to think that the more physically challenging, the better the sexual satisfaction. However, one’s competence during sex is measured by their fulfilment and not necessarily the acrobatics they go through to create a diverse sexual repertoire. The most common positions are man-on-top, woman-on-top, side-by-side and rear entry. Anal intercourse has also become more popular among both heterosexual and gay couples. All of these positions can be modified to be performed lying down, sitting, kneeling or standing, to make them more comfortable for either the man or the woman, or to make them more inventive – whichever you’re looking for.
Missionary position
The man-on-top position is one of the most common of all intercourse positions in Western cultures, and is named after the 19th century Christian missionaries who believed that the man on top was the only natural way for people to have sex. In this position, the woman lies on her back with her legs spread, and the man or woman guides the penis into the vagina. The man either lies fully on the woman or supports himself on his elbows, knees or hands. The woman can either wrap her legs around the man’s hips or back, put them up over his shoulders or leave them extended by his sides. The further up the legs are, the more intense and deep the penetration can be as the man thrusts. It’s a personal choice depending on how deep the woman likes penetration to be. This is a great position for kissing and looking at your partner, as well as leaving the woman’s hands free to touch her partner or stimulate the clitoris.
Woman on top
For this position, the man lies on his back and the woman lowers herself onto his penis. The woman can remain squatting on her knees facing the man, or she can turn around and face his feet. This is a great position for the woman as it gives her control in terms of penetration, speed and the indirect stimulation of the clitoris. Couples can both move their hands freely and it’s also ideal for pregnant women as it means both people can enjoy sex without the woman’s belly getting in the way. However, it’s not the most ideal position if you’re planning on getting pregnant as the semen tends to naturally run back out of the vagina.
Rear entry
Rear entry intercourse occurs when the penis enters the woman’s vagina while she has her back to the man – it isn’t the same as anal intercourse, where the penis is inserted into the rectum. This can be done with the woman standing but bending over and supporting herself, or with the woman on her hands and knees which is commonly referred to as doggy style. This position allows for deep penetration and vigorous thrusting if the couple wants that. It can be a natural advancement from sex standing up or from side-to-side sex, and can be an exciting addition to your sexual repertoire. However, there is a lack of intimacy with this position and there is no clitoral stimulation, so the man or woman needs to manually stimulate this area.