Arya’s Ultimate Sex Positions Guide: 38 Positions Illustrated for Every Couple
Most of us learned about sex positions the wrong way.
Either from a rushed conversation that didn't cover much, a magazine list that was more like a gymnastics manual than actual advice, or from porn, which is about as accurate to real sex as action movies are to real life.
This sex position guide is a no-pressure, no-judgment, fully illustrated walkthrough of 40 sex positions for real couples, real bodies, and real life.
Whether you've been with your partner for ten years and want to mix things up, or you're just curious about what's out there beyond your current rotation, you're in the right place.
What you’ll find here is variety. Everything from the classics (yes, missionary still deserves a shoutout) to more adventurous options for when you're feeling experimental.
There are positions for connection or deep penetration. For lazy Sunday mornings or when you want to feel like an entirely different version of yourself.
This guide is written for all couples, regardless of gender or orientation. We've included positions and adaptations for everyone, and we've made sure the language reflects that.
One more thing before we dive in: communication is the most underrated sex act of all.
Trying something new is so much better when you've talked about it first.
Even just a quick "hey, want to try this?" makes a difference.
Keep that energy throughout, and honestly? You can't go wrong.
Face-to-Face Sex Positions
Missionary gets a bad reputation it doesn't deserve.
Yes, it's the most well-known position in the book.
Yes, it's probably the first one most of us ever tried. But "familiar" doesn't have to mean boring!
And if you've written missionary off as the vanilla option, you might be doing it wrong.
Face-to-face positions are where intimacy lives.
Eye contact, kissing, and the ability to read your partner's reactions in real time.
That's not nothing. It's actually everything.
And within this category, there's a lot more variety than most people realize.
Here are six face-to-face positions worth knowing.
1. Classic Missionary
Difficulty: Beginner
Difficulty: Beginner
The original for a reason.
One partner lies on their back with knees bent, the other on top, facing them. Simple, intimate, endlessly adaptable.
What makes a missionary genuinely great (beyond comfort and familiarity) is the full-body contact.
You're chest to chest, face to face, and that closeness creates a kind of connection that's hard to achieve in more acrobatic positions.
Make it better: The receiving partner can tilt their hips upward slightly (a pillow under the lower back works great here) to change the angle of penetration and increase clitoral stimulation.
Small adjustment, big difference.
2. The Dancer
Difficulty: Beginner
As close as it gets, literally.
Two partners lying down, bodies fully intertwined, hands held between them, kissing.
Legs weaving together for friction and stability.
It's less about mechanics and more about closeness. This is one of those positions that blurs the line between sex and intimacy in the best possible way.
The lying-down position lets you move freely. Adjust the angle by shifting your weight, or slide a thigh between your partner's legs for added stimulation.
It's also incredibly versatile. It works with a strap-on, grinding, or simply as a position for a deeply connected make-out that leads anywhere you want.
Make it better: Slide a thigh between your partner's legs and encourage them to grind against it.
This adds consistent clitoral stimulation without either of you having to change position or break the moment.
3. The Lotus
Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate
Slow down and stay a while.
Both partners are seated on the floor or bed, legs loosely intertwined, bodies close, faces even closer.
One partner sits in the other's lap, wrapped around them.
In this illustration, she's pulling him in for a kiss, one hand behind his head. That detail tells you everything about the energy of this position.
It's unhurried. Deeply connected.
The kind of position that makes you forget about technique entirely because you're fully present with each other.
Movement here is more of a slow grind than a thrust, which means sustained, consistent stimulation for both partners.
It's also one of the few positions where kissing throughout is genuinely easy, which is underrated as a pleasure enhancer.
Make it better: Rock rather than bounce. Small, rhythmic movements work better here than trying to generate big motion, and it feels significantly better for both partners.
4. The Wrap
Difficulty: Intermediate
Missionary's tangled up, passionate cousin.
Both partners are lying down, fully intertwined. The receiving partner's leg is hooked high over the other's hip, bodies pressed close, faces close enough for kissing.
This position rewards a little preparation.
An elevated angle created by a pillow changes the geometry significantly.
Deeper penetration, better access, and a natural tilt makes clitoral stimulation during penetration much more likely.
It's one of those positions that looks effortlessly intimate but is quietly doing a lot of work.
The leg hooked overhead also creates a feeling of being completely wrapped up in each other, physically and emotionally. That's hard to replicate in more structured positions.
Make it better: The wedge pillow isn't optional; it's the secret weapon here.
No wedge?
Stack two regular pillows under the receiving partner's hips. The angle makes a genuine difference.
5. Cowgirl with Knee Tuck
Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate
Cowgirl with a twist that changes everything.
The setup looks familiar: receiving partner on top, facing their partner. But the person underneath has their knees pulled up to their chest rather than lying flat.
That small difference does a lot.
It tilts the pelvis upward significantly, creating a steeper angle of penetration that hits differently than standard cowgirl.
Deeper, more targeted, more intense.
The person on top still has full control over pace and movement, but the angle means there's less room to move freely, so the motion here tends to be more of a focused grind than a full ride.
Which, for a lot of people, is exactly the point.
Make it better: The higher the bottom partner pulls their knees, the steeper the angle.
Start low and gradually increase the angle with your knees to find the sweet spot. It's different for everyone and very much worth taking the time to explore.
6. The Pretzel
Difficulty: Intermediate
This one looks complicated. It kind of is, but it's worth it.
The receiving partner lies on their back, one leg flat, one leg raised high and held by their partner.
The penetrating partner kneels alongside them at an angle, holding the raised leg against their chest or shoulder.
The bodies form an asymmetric, interlocking shape that’s unlike anything else in this guide.
The angle of entry is completely unique: it’s neither fully frontal nor fully rear, but somewhere in between. This means it stimulates spots that most other positions can't reach.
The receiving partner also has one arm free to touch themselves or their partner, which is a genuine bonus.
Make it better: The raised leg controls everything here. The higher it goes, the deeper and more intense the angle.
Start lower than you think you need to and work up slowly. Communication is everything in this one.
Rider On-Top Sex Positions
If you've ever wanted to feel completely in control as a receiver, this is your section.
Rider-on-top positions put the receiving partner in the driver's seat, literally.
You control the depth, pace, angle, and rhythm.
That's a big deal, not just for pleasure (hello, clitoral stimulation!) but for confidence too.
There's something genuinely empowering about taking over and setting the pace.
These positions are also fantastic for partners who need direct clitoral contact to orgasm, which, for the record, is most people with vulvas!
So if that's you, bookmark this entire section.
7. The Cradle
Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate
Intimate doesn't even begin to cover it.
Both partners are seated on the floor or bed, legs intertwined, bodies close.
One partner leans back slightly, head tilted up, the other leans in, one hand on their partner's waist, faces almost touching.
It feels less like a sex position and more like a moment.
Movement here is slow and deliberate. A deep, rocking grind rather than anything fast or forceful.
And honestly, that's the whole appeal.
This is a position for when you want to feel completely connected to each other, physically and emotionally.
The leaning-back partner surrenders control a little here, which for a lot of people is its own pleasure.
The leaning-in partner sets the pace, holds their partner close, and takes their time.
Make it better: Try syncing your breath in this one. The impact on intimacy and the overall experience can be genuinely surprising.
8. The Cat's Tail
Difficulty: Intermediate
Low to the ground, surprisingly intimate.
Both partners are seated low, almost floor-level, with the receiving partner's legs extended forward, body arched back beautifully, head tilted up.
The penetrating partner sits behind, one hand on their partner’s hip, both of their weight supported by their own arms.
It's rear entry, but the receiving partner's open, arched posture gives it an unexpectedly vulnerable and sensual quality.
That arched back isn't just aesthetic either!
It naturally adjusts the angle of entry in a way that feels quite different from standard rear-entry positions. Less deep, more targeted.
And with both partners low and grounded, there's a slowness to this position that's genuinely pleasurable.
The receiving partner's hands are free, which is always worth noting.
Make it better: The receiving partner can control a lot through their arch; leaning back further toward their partner increases closeness and changes the angle.
Try moving slowly toward each other rather than one partner doing all the work.
9. The Leg Raise
Difficulty: Intermediate
Missionary's more intense, targeted sibling.
The receiving partner lies flat on their back, one leg extended, one leg raised and resting on their partner's shoulder.
The penetrating partner sits upright, alongside them. One hand on the raised leg, the other on the floor for support.
The bodies form an asymmetric L-shape that creates a penetration angle you simply can't get from straight-on missionary.
That raised leg does a lot of work.
It opens the hips, deepens the angle, and creates a tightness that both partners tend to find significantly more intense than the standard flat position.
The penetrating partner also has a great view and full control over pace and depth which, combined with the visual of their partner lying open beneath them, tends to be quite the experience.
It's intimate enough to feel connected, intense enough to feel exciting. A genuinely great middle-ground position.
Make it better: Swap which leg is raised partway through. The angle shifts completely, and it essentially gives you two positions in one without having to stop and reposition.
10. Cowgirl
Difficulty: Beginner
Classic for a reason.
The receiving partner straddles on top, facing their partner, fully upright.
The partner underneath is relaxed, lying completely flat.
This is the position that puts everything in your hands, literally.
Depth, pace, angle, rhythm.
You decide all of it.
That control isn't just physically satisfying, it's genuinely empowering.
And for anyone who needs clitoral stimulation to orgasm (which is most people with vulvas), the ability to grind, rock, and adjust on the fly makes cowgirl one of the most reliably pleasurable positions in this entire guide.
It's also a great position for connection.
Eye contact is easy, expressions are readable, and there's something about being fully seen in this position that a lot of people find unexpectedly intimate.
Make it better: Don't just bounce! Experiment with a forward grinding motion instead.
Rocking your hips toward your partner rather than straight up and down keeps consistent pressure on the clitoris and tends to feel significantly better for the person on top.
11. Reclined Cowgirl
Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate
Cowgirl with a lean-back that changes it up.
The receiving partner is on top. Instead of sitting upright, they're leaning back, spine arched, head tilted up, one hand braced on their partner's thigh behind them.
The partner underneath is flat on their back, hands on their partner's hips.
That lean-back shifts the angle of penetration significantly compared to the upright cowgirl; it creates more direct pressure toward the front wall, which, for a lot of people, means more intense G-spot stimulation.
It also opens up the chest and throat in a way that feels both physically freeing and surprisingly sensual.
The person on top is still fully in control, but the leaned-back position makes the movement more of a slow, rolling grind than an up-and-down motion.
Once you find your rhythm, this feels absolutely incredible.
Make it better: The further back you lean, the more the angle shifts, but it also requires more core strength to sustain.
Find a lean that feels good and that you can actually hold. Bracing a hand on your partner's chest, as shown here, helps a lot.
12. The Seat
Difficulty: Intermediate
Comfort and great views.
The receiving partner lies flat on their back, one leg extended, one leg bent, foot resting against their partner's body.
The penetrating partner sits upright between their partner's legs, one hand on their hip, fully seated with a leg hanging over the edge of the bed, not hovering or kneeling.
It's a position that looks calm, and feels that way too.
The sitting-upright position means less frantic energy and more deliberate, controlled movement.
The penetrating partner has both hands free and complete control over depth and pace.
The receiving partner can use their bent leg to adjust the angle or push back, making this more of a two-way conversation.
Eye contact is natural, expressions are fully visible, and that hand on the hip is doing a lot of quiet communicating.
Make it better: The receiving partner grips their partner's ankle or calf with their hand for an added sense of connection to help guide the rhythm without having to say a word.
13. The Spider
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cowgirl, with another twist.
The receiving partner straddles on top, facing their partner. The partner underneath has both knees bent and feet planted on the bed.
That's not just for comfort.
It gives the bottom partner full leverage to thrust upward.
The result is a position where both partners actively contribute to the rhythm, the person on top controlling depth and pace, the person underneath driving the thrust.
When you get that sync right, it's a completely different experience from standard cowgirl.
The person on top can brace their hands on their partner's thighs or chest for stability, which also makes it easier to find and hold the angle that feels best.
Make it better: Start with the person on top setting the pace, then the bottom partner gradually takes over the thrust.
Trading control back and forth rather than both doing it simultaneously tends to feel more intentional and intense.
Rear-Entry Sex Positions
Rear-entry positions have a reputation for being pure physical.
Deep, intense, a little primal.
And honestly? That’s true.
But there's more to it.
Rear entry covers everything from the deeply intimate (spooning-adjacent positions where you're chest-to-back, wrapped around each other) to the more adventurous (standing variations, kneeling arches, positions that hit angles nothing else can reach).
What unites them all is depth, intensity, and a different kind of closeness that a lot of couples find they love once they explore it properly.
14. Speed Bump
Difficulty: Beginner
Simple. Effective. Wildly underrated.
The receiving partner lies completely flat on their stomach, legs together, arms folded under their head.
The penetrating partner lies on top, also fully extended, arms braced on either side in a low push-up position.
Everything is horizontal, unhurried, grounded.
The magic here is in the details.
With the receiving partner's legs together and flat, the fit is naturally tighter than most other positions, which creates more friction and more intense sensation for both partners.
The penetrating partner's full body weight (or as much of it as is comfortable) adds pressure that a lot of people find deeply satisfying in a way that's hard to replicate elsewhere.
It's also one of the most low-effort positions in the guide, no balancing acts, no bent knees, no holding anything up.
Just two people, completely horizontal, completely present.
Make it better: The receiving partner can slide a pillow or folded blanket under their hips to slightly elevate them, which changes the angle just enough to make a noticeable difference without either partner having to move significantly.
15. The Launch
Difficulty: Intermediate
Floor-level rear entry with an unexpectedly sensual quality.
The receiving partner is low to the ground, chest down, one arm extended, legs out behind them.
The penetrating partner kneels upright behind them, one hand on their lower back, sitting back on their heels for stability.
It's grounded, controlled, and a little bit commanding.
The low, flat angle of the receiving partner, combined with the kneeling upright position of the penetrating partner, creates a downward angle of entry that's distinct from standard doggy style. It’s less steep, more sustained pressure.
This is the kind of position that rewards slow, deliberate movement over speed.
The hand on the lower back is doing more than stabilizing, too.
That light pressure is its own kind of communication.
Guiding, grounding, present.
Make it better: The penetrating partner can shift their weight slightly forward or back to change the angle without either partner having to move much.
A small adjustment makes a big difference!
16. Lap Bunny
Difficulty: Beginner
Intimate and unhurried.
Both partners are seated on the edge of a bed or surface, the receiving partner sitting sideways across their partner's lap, legs draped over theirs, bodies turned in toward each other.
Faces close. His lips are at her ear, her head tilted toward him.
It's tender in a way that rear-entry positions don't usually get credit for.
The entry here is from behind, but the closeness is very much face-to-face in spirit. You can whisper, kiss their neck, or hold them against you.
Movement is naturally limited here, which actually works in your favor.
This isn't a position for intensity. It's for slow, deep connection.
The kind that reminds you why you want to be close to this person in the first place.
Make it better: The penetrating partner's hands are completely free here! They can run their hands along their partner's body, hold them close, or reach around for additional stimulation.
16. The Arc
Difficulty: Intermediate
Doggy style, dialed up a notch.
The receiving partner is face down, knees pulled up and tucked under them, hips raised.
The penetrating partner arches over them in a high position, arms straight, body elevated.
The result is a steep, downward angle of entry that's more intense than standard doggy style and hits completely differently.
The elevated arch of the penetrating partner means they're essentially looking down at their partner the whole time, which creates a dynamic that a lot of couples find unexpectedly charged.
There's a sense of being completely covered and held, without the bodies being fully pressed together.
The receiving partner's tucked knees also tighten the fit naturally, adding intensity.
Make it better: The receiving partner can adjust the height of their hips by changing how far their knees are tucked.
Higher hips mean a steeper angle.
Start moderate and adjust from there based on what feels best.
17. The Fold
Difficulty: Intermediate
Standing rear entry with a dramatic lean that changes everything.
Both partners start standing.
The receiving partner bends forward completely, folding almost in half, hands reaching toward the floor, head down.
The penetrating partner stands behind them, both hands on their hips, fully upright.
The extreme forward fold of the receiving partner creates a uniquely steep angle that you simply cannot replicate lying down.
It's deep, direct, and intense in a way that tends to catch people off guard the first time.
The penetrating partner also has full control over pace and depth from this position, with both hands free to hold, guide, or explore.
It's also one of those positions that feels genuinely spontaneous.
No bed required. No setup.
Just two people and a wall nearby for the receiving partner to grab onto if needed.
Make it better: The receiving partner doesn't have to fold all the way down.
Bending to about 90 degrees with hands braced against a wall or piece of furniture gives more stability and actually opens up the angle even further.
18. Elevated Doggy
Difficulty: Intermediate
The receiving partner is on all fours, but one leg is raised and extended back, foot in the air.
The penetrating partner kneels behind them, supporting the raised leg.
That single leg lift shifts the angle of the hips just enough to create a noticeably different sensation from standard doggy style. Tighter, more angled and targeted.
It also requires a little more coordination and trust between partners, which tends to make the whole experience feel more intentional.
You're paying attention to each other in a new way.
The raised leg can be held by the penetrating partner or rested against their body, which adds a nice element of physical connection on top of everything else.
Make it better: Experiment with the height of the raised leg. Lower means subtler change, higher means more dramatic shift in angle. Find your sweet spot and stay there.
19. The Edge
Difficulty: Beginner
Another (easier) variation on the Doggy.
This is what bedroom furniture was made for.
The receiving partner kneels on the edge of a bed or surface, leaning forward on all fours. The penetrating partner stands behind them.
The height of the surface does a lot of the work here.
It naturally aligns both partners without anyone having to bend, crouch, or compensate.
The standing partner gets a full range of motion and some serious depth!
Make it better: The receiving partner leans forward, raises their hips, which sharpens the angle significantly for even deeper penetration angle.
20. The Chair
Difficulty: Beginner
Proof that you don't need a bed for great sex.
The penetrating partner sits upright on a chair or stool, feet flat on the floor.
The receiving partner sits in their lap facing away, knees together, leaning back into their partner's chest with their head tilted all the way back.
Bodies stacked, fully connected from hips to shoulders.
That lean-back is doing a lot.
It brings the receiving partner's full weight into their partner, creates a deeply close full-body contact, and opens the throat and chest in a way that feels both physically freeing and intensely sensual.
The receiving partner's head resting near their partner's shoulder makes whispering or kissing the neck completely natural.
Movement here is slow. It’s an upward grind rather than anything fast or dramatic, which suits the mood of this position perfectly.
This is not about intensity. It’s for deep, unhurried pleasure.
Make it better: The penetrating partner's hands are free to roam the entire front of their partner's body. Use that access generously.
21. The Kneel
Difficulty: Beginner
As tender as rear entry gets.
Both partners are kneeling upright on the bed, the receiving partner in front, the penetrating partner behind, arms wrapped around them.
Bodies are fully pressed together from shoulders to hips. It looks less like a sex position and more like an intimate embrace.
The penetrating partner's arms wrapped around the front of their partner means hands naturally fall in all the right places: stomach, chest, hips.
That full-body encircling creates a sense of being completely held. This somatic safety is its own kind of pleasure.
Movement here is slow and rocking rather than thrusting. Which is exactly the point.
This is a position for couples who want to feel deeply connected, and it delivers every single time.
It’s also one of the best positions for pregnancy, anyone recovering from injury, or just any time you want closeness without acrobatics.
Make it better: The penetrating partner whispering dirty talk or praise into their partner's ear throughout adds another dimension of intensity.
Side-Lying Sex Positions
Side-lying positions are the most underrated category in this entire guide.
We'll die on that hill!
They're intimate without being intense.
Low-effort without being lazy.
They work great for relaxed mornings, if you’re pregnant, or just whenever you want to slow things down in a longer session, or feel closeness without acrobatics.
There's something uniquely unhurried about side-lying sex that brings couples back to basics in the best possible way: faces close, bodies intertwined, nowhere to be.
22. The Lift
Difficulty: Intermediate
Missionary with serious momentum.
The receiving partner lies on their back, one leg flat, one leg raised high and held by their partner.
The penetrating partner is close in, almost chest to chest, one hand on the raised leg, the other on their partner's stomach.
Faces close enough to kiss.
That raised leg is doing the heavy lifting here, literally.
It opens the hips, deepens the penetration, and creates an angle that puts direct pressure exactly where it tends to matter most.
The hand around your partner adds a grounding, connected quality that makes the whole experience feel more intentional.
Make it better: The higher the leg goes, the deeper and more intense the angle. But the real trick is the penetrating partner staying close rather than pulling back. Keeping bodies near each other while the raised leg creates a compression that amplifies everything.
23. The Lock
Difficulty: Advanced
The receiving partner lies flat on their back, relaxed.
The penetrating partner lies perpendicular to them, entering from a sideways angle with the receiving partner's legs draped over their body.
It is an unusual geometry that creates a genuinely unique sensation.
The lateral angle of entry is something you simply cannot replicate in any standard position.
It creates a sideways pressure that hits the walls of the vagina differently from any front-on or rear-entry position, which for a lot of people means stimulation in places that rarely get attention.
It also happens to be a wonderfully low-effort position for both partners.
Nobody is straining or balancing.
Both partners are largely supported by the bed, which means you can stay here for a while without arms giving out.
Make it better: The receiving partner adjusting the height and angle of their legs changes the sensation significantly. Try legs lower, then higher, then crossed at the ankle to find what feels best.
24. Sideways 69
Difficulty: Beginner
The most generous position in the guide.
Both partners lie on their sides facing each other, but in opposite directions, heads at each other's hips, giving and receiving simultaneously.
It is mutual oral sex in its most relaxed, sustainable form.
The side-lying position is the key difference from the classic 69.
Nobody is on top, nobody is underneath, nobody has to hold themselves up or worry about their weight.
Both partners are fully supported by the bed, which means you can actually focus on what you are doing rather than on not collapsing.
It’s also more equal than it looks.
Both partners have the same access, the same comfort level, and the same ability to set their own pace.
Which makes the whole experience feel genuinely reciprocal in a way that other configurations of 69 do not always manage.
Make it better: Use your hands. A mouth alone is doing half the work it could be. Adding fingers or a hand into the mix while your mouth focuses on one area takes the whole experience to another level for your partner.
25. The Pretzel Dip
Difficulty: Advanced
This one requires a little coordination to get into. But once you’re there, it makes complete sense.
The receiving partner lies on their side, leaning back, one leg hooked over the penetrating partner's shoulder.
The penetrating partner lies on their side, one leg extended behind them for balance, facing their partner at an angle.
The bodies interlock in a way that is side-lying, face-to-face, and rear entry, all at once.
That combination is exactly why this position has such devoted fans.
The angle of penetration is genuinely unlike anything else in this guide.
The receiving partner is open and reclined, the penetrating partner has full control and a clear view. Plus, the leg over the shoulder deepens everything significantly.
Make it better: The receiving partner's free leg can push gently against their partner's body to adjust the angle and depth in real time. Small nudges communicate a lot without having to say a word.
26. The Cross
Difficulty: Intermediate
Unhurried, horizontal, and unique.
Both partners lie flat on the bed, perpendicular to each other, forming a T shape.
The receiving partner is on their back, legs draped over the penetrating partner, who lies on their side.
The entry angle is lateral and unlike anything you get from face-to-face or rear-entry positions.
Nobody has to hold themselves up or balance.
Both partners are fully supported, which makes it a relaxing penetrative position.
It’s ideal for long, slow sessions where comfort matters as much as sensation.
The sideways angle also means the penetrating partner is completely hands-free, which is a significant bonus.
Make it better: The receiving partner can adjust the angle of their hips by rotating slightly toward or away from their partner.
Small shifts create noticeably different sensations in this position.
Best Oral Sex Positions
Oral sex deserves its own section!
When we surveyed our members for the 2026 State of Intimacy report, oral sex came in as the number one skill people want to explore.
And yet, most position guides skip it entirely, as if it's just a warm-up act rather than a main event.
Oral sex can be the whole show.
And the position you're in while giving or receiving matters more than you may realize.
Comfort, angle, and access all affect the experience significantly.
Here's what to know.
27. Classic 69
Difficulty: Beginner
Everyone knows it, not everyone’s tried it properly.
One partner lies flat on their back, the other lies on top of them, facing the opposite direction.
Each partner's face lands at the other's hips.
Giving and receiving happens simultaneously, bodies fully pressed together.
There is a warmth and closeness to having your partner's entire body weight on you, or being the one lying on top, that adds a physical dimension beyond just what your mouths are doing.
The person on top has a little more freedom of movement and control.
The person on the bottom is delightfully pinned, which for a lot of people is its own pleasure.
Simultaneity is the whole point. Giving and receiving at the same time creates a feedback loop that is genuinely unique.
The more into it you are, the more your partner feels it, and vice versa.
Make it better: Do not try to perfectly mirror each other's rhythm. Syncing up can be distracting. Find your own pace and focus on your partner’s responses. Presence and responsiveness are what actually make this work.
28. The Wedge
Difficulty: Beginner
This is why the sex wedge was invented.
The receiving partner lies back on a wedge pillow, hips elevated, completely relaxed.
The penetrating partner kneels at the edge of the wedge, curled forward, bodies meeting at the perfect angle.
No awkward adjustments, no pillows slipping out from underneath.
Just an angle that works, held in place.
The receiving partner is free to relax, arms by their sides, head on a pillow, totally surrendered to the experience.
Make it better: No wedge pillow? A firm stack of regular pillows works, too. If you find yourself using this position regularly, a dedicated sex wedge is a worthwhile investment. Your body will thank you.
29. Queening
Difficulty: Intermediate
One of the oldest positions in the book, and honestly one of the best.
The receiving partner stands or squats over their partner's face while they lie flat on their back.
Full control, full access. It allows the experience of oral sex from above, and the dynamic it creates is unique to anything else in this guide.
The person on top controls everything here. The angle, pressure, pace.
They can rise slightly out of reach to edge their partner for a moment, shift their hips to direct attention exactly where they want it, or hold completely still and let their partner do the work.
That level of control tends to be deeply pleasurable in itself.
For the person giving, the view and access are exceptional.
The wrist restraints visible in this illustration add a power layer that takes the dynamic even further. Worth exploring if that kind of thing appeals to both of you.
Make it better: A pillow under the giving partner's head makes it significantly more comfortable to sustain this position.
30. The Recline
Difficulty: Beginner
Oral sex at its most relaxed and intimate.
The giving partner lies back, knees bent. The receiving partner lies on top, back against the giving partner’s chest.
Both partners are horizontal, unhurried, and comfortable.
What sets this apart from other oral positions is how natural the eye contact feels.
The giving partner can easily gaze at their partner. An upward glance, mid-session, communicates quiet confidence and presence.
This position also offers plenty of skin-on-skin contact that greatly enhances intimacy.
Make it better: Hands make everything better here. The giving partner works their mouth and fingers together, one focused externally while the other explores internally, creating an intense layered sensation.
31. The Offering
Difficulty: Beginner
Sometimes the best bedroom prop is not in the bedroom at all.
The receiving partner bends over a table or chair, chest resting on the surface, hips at the edge.
The giving partner kneels behind, hands on their partner’s hips, giving oral from behind.
The furniture does the work of holding the receiving partner in place.
The height of the surface is the secret weapon here.
It naturally positions the receiving partner's hips at the right level for the giving partner to be comfortable kneeling. It’s one of the more ergonomically-sound oral positions in this guide.
No craning, no awkward angles, no neck strain.
For the receiving partner, being bent over a surface with no ability to see what’s coming next adds delicious anticipation.
Every touch is a surprise.
Make it better: The giving partner's hands are free to roam the receiving partner's lower back, hips, and thighs. That skin contact along with sensation from the mouth elevates the whole experience.
32. The Bridge
Difficulty: Intermediate
Oral sex from an angle most couples haven’t tried.
The receiving partner is on all fours, knees planted, hips relaxed.
The giving partner lies flat on their stomach beneath them, face positioned at their partner's hips, giving oral from behind.
It’s an unusual configuration that creates access and angles that standard oral positions can’t reach.
For the receiving partner, being on all fours while receiving oral brings a particular kind of charged quality to it. A vulnerability and openness that’s intensely pleasurable.
The giving partner is fully supported by the bed, making it genuinely comfortable. Plus their hands can reach the receiving partner's hips, lower back, or thighs.
Make it better: The receiving partner can lower their chest toward the bed while keeping their hips raised, which opens up even more access and sensation.
Advanced Sex Positions (For the Bold & Curious)
Consider this your stretch goal section.
And we mean that literally, in some cases.
These positions require a little more flexibility, coordination, or trust than the rest of the guide.
None are impossible, but they all reward couples who give themselves time, communicate well, and don't take themselves too seriously if something doesn't quite work on the first try.
A few ground rules before you dive in: warm up first (foreplay isn't just good for arousal, it genuinely helps with flexibility), go slow, and check in with your partner throughout.
The goal is pleasure, not performance.
33. The Kneeling Arch
Difficulty: Advanced
This one takes strength, trust, and a little bit of courage.
The penetrating partner kneels upright, one leg up for stability.
The receiving partner faces them, legs hooked over their shoulders, body suspended, supported entirely by their partner. It’s face-to-face, deeply intimate, and intensely physical all at once.
The angle of entry from this position is almost straight down, which creates a depth and directness that very few other positions match.
The receiving partner is completely surrendered and supported, with nothing to do except feel everything.
Eye contact in this position is unavoidable. Given the intensity of everything else happening at the same time, this makes it one of the most charged positions in the entire guide.
Make it better: The penetrating partner can use their hands to support the receiving partner's lower back, which takes pressure off both partners and allows for more controlled, sustained movement rather than short bursts.
34. The Pull
Difficulty: Intermediate
Almost Missionary… but better.
The receiving partner lies flat on their back, completely relaxed, legs extended and held up by their partner. A low, raised surface of some kind is helpful here.
The penetrating partner kneels tall between their legs, fully upright, head back, holding their partner under the hips.
Calm, controlled, unhurried.
The penetrating partner has total control over depth and pace, and holding their partner's legs gives them something to work with while keeping the receiving partner completely open.
The receiving partner has nothing to do but feel everything, which is very much the point.
Make it better: The higher the legs are held, the deeper and more direct the angle. Start lower and raise gradually to find what works best for both partners.
35. The Alt Cowgirl
Difficulty: Advanced
The receiving partner straddles on top, facing away from their partner, who lies on their back with knees bent.
That simple reversal of direction changes absolutely everything about the experience.
The angle of penetration shifts forward, creating more direct stimulation of the front wall of the vagina.
The penetrating partner gets a new view to appreciate.
And the person on top feels powerful, setting the pace.
The bent knees of the bottom partner give the person on top something to brace against, which makes finding and sustaining that rhythm significantly easier.
Make it better: Rather than bouncing, try a rocking forward and back motion. It keeps more consistent contact and tends to feel better for both partners than a straight up and down movement.
36. The Butter Churner
Difficulty: Advanced
This one’s not for the faint of heart…
The receiving partner lies on their back with their hips raised and legs extended upward and forward, body weight on their upper back and shoulders.
The penetrating partner stands or squats over them, fully upright, hands gripping their partner's hips, looking down.
That near-vertical angle creates a depth and directness. The penetrating partner has complete control and unobstructed view.
The receiving partner is fully inverted, open, and completely at their partner's mercy.
It’s a demanding position for the receiving partner, so communication is crucial.
Check in, go slowly, and do not push past what feels comfortable. Protect your neck here.
Make it better: The receiving partner braces their hands against their partner's thighs or calves for stability, which takes some of the strain off their upper back and makes the position significantly more sustainable.
37. Wild Ride
Difficulty: Intermediate
The bottom partner is on all fours, head down, fully supporting their partner's weight.
The giving partner sits astride them facing forward, upright and in control, using a strap-on.
It’s rider-on-top energy with a completely different set of possibilities.
Strap-on play opens up penetrative sex to any couple regardless of anatomy. It also means new possibilities for the person usually doing the penetrating.
That role reversal alone is worth exploring.
The person on all fours does real work here, supporting their partner's weight while receiving.
That combination of physical effort and submission has its own particular charge that a lot of people find unexpectedly powerful.
Make it better: Fit and harness adjustment matter enormously with strap-on play. Make sure everything is secure and comfortable before you start, and use plenty of lube. The experience is significantly better for both partners when the setup is right.
38. The Surrender
Difficulty: Intermediate
Two elements that work exceptionally well together: restraint and a very good vibrator.
One partner sits cross-legged, wrists and ankles bound, completely unable to move.
Their partner sits closely behind them, holding a vibrator exactly where it needs to be.
The bound partner receives everything without being able to control any of it. That helplessness is entirely the point.
Taking away someone's ability to move or direct what happens to them creates a psychological intensity that amplifies physical sensation.
The giving partner is entirely in charge of pace, pressure, and timing, including whether to edge their partner or let them finish.
As always with any kind of restraint play, this requires a clear conversation beforehand and a safe word.
When those foundations are in place, this kind of play can be genuinely transformative.
Make it better: The giving partner should vary the pressure and position of the vibrator rather than holding it in one place. That unpredictability keeps sensation fresh and builds intensity in a way that steady, consistent contact does not.
And we’ve got even more…
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