and their knees near their head.
The
List of sex positions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list of sex positions includes
descriptions of various forms of sexual
intercourse and other sexual acts between
people. Sexual acts are generally described by
the positions the participants take in order to
perform those acts. Since the number of
positions that can be used for sex is
essentially limitless,[1] this list is not
exhaustive.
Lovers in the missionary position, Gustav
Klimt, 1914.
Penetrative positions
These positions involve the insertion of a
penis or other phallus (such as a strap-on
dildo) into a vagina or anus.
The missionary position
Penetrating partner on top with front
entry
These positions are primarily used vaginally,
although some can also be used for anal sex.
The basic position is called the missionary
position. In it, the receiving partner lies on
their back with their legs apart. The
penetrating partner lies on top of the
receiving partner, facing them. The following
variations are possible:
 The penetrating partner stands in front
of the receiving partner, whose legs
dangle over the edge of a bed or some
other platform.[2]
 The receiving partner lies on their
back. The penetrating partner stands
and lifts the receiving partner's pelvis
for penetration. A variant is for the
receiving partner to rest their legs on
the penetrating partner's shoulders.
 The receiving partner lies on their
back, with their legs pulled up straight
penetrating partner holds the receiving
partner's legs and penetrates from
above.
 Similarly to the previous position, but
the receiving partner's legs need not
be straight and the penetrating partner
wraps their arms around the receiving
partner to push their legs as close as
possible to their chest. Called the
stopperage in Burton's translation of
The Perfumed Garden.[3]
 Like the missionary position, but with
the receiving partner's legs tightly
closed and the penetrating partner's
legs spread. In this position, the
couple resembles a peace sign (minus
the circle) and so this position is
sometimes called by that name.
 The coital alignment technique, a
position where a woman is penetrated
vaginally: the penetrating partner
enters vaginally in the missionary
position and moves slightly forward
so that the base of the phallus rubs the
clitoris.
 The receiving partner crosses their
feet behind their head (or at least puts
their feet next to their ears), while
lying on their back. The penetrating
partner then holds the receiving
partner tightly around each instep or
ankle and lies on the receiving partner
full-length. A variation is to have the
receiving partner cross their ankles on
their stomach, knees to shoulders, and
then have the penetrating partner lie
on the receiving partner's crossed
ankles with their full weight. Called
 the Viennese oyster by The Joy of
Sex.[4]
Penetrating from behind
A variant of the "doggy style" position
Most of these positions can be used for either
vaginal or anal penetration.
 The receiving partner is on all fours
with their torso horizontal. The
penetrating partner inserts from
behind. This is called the doggy
position.
 In a variant on the doggy position, the
receiving partner's torso is angled
downwards. The penetrating partner
can raise their own hips above those
of the receiving partner for maximum
penetration.
 In another variant of the doggy
position, the penetrating partner
places their feet on each side of the
receiving partner while keeping their
knees bent and effectively raising up
as high as possible while maintaining
penetration. The penetrating partner's
hands usually have to be placed on the
receiving partner's back to keep from
falling forward.
 In a variant on the doggy position, the
receiving partner kneels upright. The
penetrating partner may gently pull
the receiving partner's arms
backwards at the wrists towards them.
 In the spoons position both partners
lie on their same side facing in the
The cowgirl position
same direction.[5]
 The receiving partner lies on their
side. The penetrating partner kneels
and penetrates from behind.
Alternatively, the penetrating partner
Variant of partner on top position
can stand if the receiving partner is on
a raised surface.
Most of these positions can be used for either
 The receiving partner lies facing
vaginal or anal penetration.
down, possibly with their legs spread.
The penetrating partner lies on top of
 The penetrating partner lies on their
them.[1] The placement of a pillow
back. The receiving partner kneels on
beneath the receiving partner's hips
top of the penetrator facing them.
can help increase stimulation in this
Sometimes called the cowboy or
position.
cowgirl position. See woman on top
 The receiving partner lies face down,
sex position.
knees together. The penetrating
 As above, but the receiving partner
partner lies on top with spread legs.
sits on top of the penetrator facing
 The receiving partner lies on their side
away from them. See reverse
with their uppermost leg forward. The
cowboy/girl position.
penetrating partner kneels astride the
 As above, but the receiving partner
receiver's lowermost leg.
arches their back with their hands on
the ground.
 As above, but the receiving partner
squats (instead of kneeling) on top of
Receiving partner on top the penetrator facing toward them.
 The penetrating partner is on their
back with the receiving partner lying
 down on top with their knees brought Other receiver-on-top variants can be
forward against the ground. adapted in this way as well.
 The penetrating partner lies with their  The penetrating partner sits on a
upper back on a low table, couch, couch or in a chair that has armrests.
chair or edge of bed, keeping their feet The receiving partner sits in the
flat on the floor and back parallel to penetrating partner's lap,
floor. The receiving partner straddles perpendicular to penetrating partner,
them, also keeping their feet on the with their back against the armrest.
floor. Receiving partner can assume  The penetrating partner kneels while
any of various positions. the receiving partner lies on their
 The lateral coital position was back, ankles on each side of
recommended by Masters and penetrating partner's shoulders.[3]
Johnson, and was preferred by three
quarters of their heterosexual study
participants after having tried it. The
position involves the man on his back, A standing position
with the woman rolled slightly to the
side so that her pelvis is atop his, but Most of these positions can be used for either
her weight is beside his. vaginal or anal penetration. In the basic
standing position, both partners stand facing
Sitting and kneeling A sitting each other. The following variations are
Kneeling Another A third position. possible:
variant kneeling kneeling
Most of these positions can be used for either position.
of the position.  The penetrating partner stands,
vaginal or anal penetration.
lotus holding the receiving partner off the
position. ground. The receiving partner wraps
 The penetrating partner sits on a flat
their legs around the penetrator's waist
surface, legs outstretched. The
and their arms around their shoulders.
receiving partner sits on top and wraps
 As above, but the receiving partner's
their legs around the penetrating
back is pressed against a wall as a
partner. Called pounding on the spot
Standing frictional support. This is called the
in the Burton translation of The
supported congress in the Kama
Perfumed Garden.[3] If the penetrator
Sutra.[7]
crosses their legs instead, it is called
 As above, but the penetrating partner's
the lotus position.[6]
back is pressed against a wall for
 The penetrating partner sits in a chair.
stability. This is called the suspended
The receiving partner straddles
congress in the Kama Sutra.[7]
penetrating partner and sits, facing the
 Both stand, the receiving partner
penetrating partner, feet on floor. This
facing away from the penetrating
is sometimes known as the lap dance.
 partner. This position is varied by
having the receiving partner assume
different semi-standing positions. For
instance, they may bend at the waist,
resting their hands or elbows on a
table.
Anal-specific positions
Most penetrative sex positions (see above)
can be adapted anally, especially those that
involve entry from behind. Other sexual
practices involving the vagina, such as
fingering, can also be adapted anally.
However, some positions are not directly
adaptable because of the different angles
required for anal and vaginal entry. Here are
listed positions that work well for anal sex.
The penetrator can either be a man or a
woman with a strap-on dildo (or similar).
 Doggy style – see above. This
position maximizes the depth of
penetration, which may be desirable
by either or both partners, but can
pose the risk of pushing against the
Less common positions
sigmoid colon. If the receiving partner
is male, this increases the chances of
stimulating the prostate. This position
allows for vigorous thrusting. A
variation is the leapfrog position, in
which the receiving partner angles
their torso downward. The receiving
partner may also lie flat and face
down, with the penetrating partner
straddling their thighs.
The T-square position
 Missionary – see above. In order to
achieve optimal alignment, the
receiving partner's legs should be in
the air with the knees drawn towards
their chest. Some sort of support (such
as a pillow) under the receiving
partner's hips can also be useful. The
penetrating partner positions
themselves between the receiving
partner's legs. This position is often
cited as good for beginners, because it
allows them to relax more fully than is
usual in the "doggy" position.
 Spoons – see above. This allows the
receiving partner to greatly control
initial entry and the depth, speed and
force of subsequent thrusting.
 Receiving partner on top – see
above section. These are sometimes
cited as a good beginning positions, as
they allow the receptive partner more
control over the depth, rhythm and
speed of penetration. More
specifically, the receptive partner can
slowly push their anus down on the
penetrator, allowing time for their
muscles to relax.
These positions are more innovative, and
perhaps not as widely known or practiced as
the ones listed above.
 The receiving partner is on bottom.
The penetrating partner lies on top
perpendicularly to them.
 The penetrating partner lies on their
back, legs spread. The receiving
partner is on their back on top of the
penetrator, legs spread, facing the
opposite direction.
 The penetrator and the receiver lie on
their backs, heads pointed away from
one another. Each places one leg on
the other's shoulder (as a brace) and
the other leg out somewhat to the side.
 The receiving partner lies on their
back with knees up and legs apart.
The penetrating partner lies on their
side perpendicular to the receiver,
with the penetrating partner's hips
under the arch formed by receiver's
legs. Sometimes called the T-square.
 The receiving partner lies on their
back with the penetrating partner
lying perpendicular. The receiving
partner bends the knee closest to the
penetrating partner's head enough so
that there is room for the penetrating
partner's waist to fit beneath it, while
the penetrating partner's legs straddle
the receiving partner's other leg. The
in-and-out thrusting action will move
more along a side-to-side rather than
top-to-bottom axis. This position
allows for breast stimulation during
sex, for partners to maintain eye
contact if they wish, and for a good
 view of both partners as they reach
orgasm.
 The penetrating partner sits on edge of
a bed or chair with feet spread wide
on floor. The receiving partner lays on
their back on the floor and drapes
their legs and thighs over the legs of
the penetrating partner. The
penetrating partner holds the knees of
the receiving partner and controls
thrusts.
 The Seventh Posture of Burton's
translation of The Perfumed Garden is
an unusual position not described in
other classical sex manuals.[3] The
receiving partner lies on their side.
The penetrating partner faces the
receiver, straddling the receiver's
lower leg, and lifts the receiver's
upper leg on either side of the body
onto the crook of penetrating partner's
elbow or onto the shoulder. While
some references describe this position
as being "for acrobats and not to be
taken seriously,"[8] others have found
it very comfortable, especially during
pregnancy.
 The penetrator straddles one of the
legs of the receiver, who is lying on
their side. Sometimes known as the
Gupta Straddle.
 the piledriver is a difficult position
sometimes seen in porn videos. It is
described in many ways by different
sources. In a heterosexual context, the
woman lies on her back, then raises
her hips as high as possible, so that
her partner, standing, can enter her
vaginally or anally. The position
places considerable strain on the supports available increases, so does the
woman's neck, so firm cushions range of positions that are possible. Ordinary
should be used to support her. A furniture can be used for this purpose. Also,
similar position can be used by two various forms of erotic furniture and other
lesbians for cunnilingus, and it could apparatus such as fisting slings and trapezes
presumably be used by two men for have been used to facilitate even more exotic
anal sex, but it is difficult to find a sexual positions.
coherent explanation of the geometry
of this position or its variants. A porn
actor/actress who has mastered this
position is considered an expert. (The
piledriver position resembles a
wrestling move in which one wrestler
picks up his opponent and rams him
head-first into the mat. In this case, Using furniture as a
one might assume an intent to do
support to allow a novel Using a table to
harm. People trying the sexual
position allow a variant of
position may be assumed to have a
different intention, but they must be the missionary
careful, as injury is possible. Some position
experts would advise "Don't try this at
home.")
Positions involving other body parts
Positions to promote or prevent
 Intercrural intercourse or conception
interfemoral sex – with the penis
between the partner's thighs, perhaps Pregnancy is a potential result of unprotected
rubbing the vulva, scrotum or sex in any position between sexually mature
perineum. fertile females and sexually mature fertile
 Mammary intercourse – with the males. Those who follow the advice of old
penis between the breasts. wives' tales believe certain sexual positions
 Axillary intercourse – with the penis produce more favorable results than others.
in the armpit. See Old wives' tale: Having sex standing up
is a contraceptive.
Using furniture or special apparatus
Positions during pregnancy
Most sex acts are typically performed on a
bed or other simple platform. As the range of
The goal is to prevent excessive pressure on
the belly and to restrict penetration as
required by the particular partners. Some of
the positions below are popular positions for
sex during pregnancy.
 Missionary with caution
 Spoons
 Leapfrog
 Woman on top
Non-penetrative genital-
genital positions
Male-male
Frot
Frot is rubbing erect penis against erect
penis, especially the mutual rubbing of the
frenula. A variety of sexual positions are
possible. For instance, the partners may both
be reclining, sitting, kneeling, or standing. In
one more complicated position similar to the
"double Y" with women, both partners recline
on their backs, one partner's legs over the
other. During frot, a man can masturbate his
and his partner's penises simultaneously with
one hand. He can also masturbate their
penises with the foreskin of one penis over
the glans of the other in a position called
docking.[9] Circumcised men can also use a
sex toy called a "docking sleeve," a tube-
shaped device made of silicone, rubber or
Cyberskin which takes the place of the
foreskin.
Male-female
As part of foreplay or to avoid penetrative
sex, a couple can engage in a variety of
genital-genital positions. For instance, the
man can rub his penis against his partner's
clitoris, or he can slide his penis along the
length of her vulva. Since this method of sex
can stimulate the clitoris directly, it can, for
some women, be more effective at provoking
orgasm than penetrative sex. This can also be
done clothed:In this case, it is often called
dry-humping, or dry-fucking. This practice is
sometimes seen in teenagers who are not
really sure that they are ready to have sex.
Oral sex positions
Oral sex involves contact between the
genitals and/or anus of one person (the
passive partner) and the mouth of another
(the active partner).
Fellatio
Fellatio is oral sex involving a man's genitals.
Possible positions include:
 The man lies on his back while his
partner kneels between his legs.
 The man lies on his back while his
partner lies off to the side of his legs.
 The man sits in a chair and partner
kneels in front of him between his
legs.
 The man stands while his partner
either kneels in front of him or sits (in
a chair or on the edge of a bed, etc.)
and bends forward.
 While the active partner lies on their
back, the man assumes the missionary
position but adjusted forward so as to
insert his penis in his partner's mouth.
 The man stands or crouches at the
edge of the bed, facing the bed. The
active partner lies on the bed with
their head hanging over the edge of
the bed backward. The man inserts his
penis into his partner's mouth, usually
to achieve deep throat penetration.
 The glory hole – the man inserts his
penis into a hole in the wall or fence
while someone (usually a complete
stranger unseen by him) gives him
fellatio from the other side of the wall.
This act is vaguely reminiscent of the
tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, but these
two mythical lovers merely passed
notes through a hole in the wall, rather
than inserting body parts.
Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is oral sex involving a woman's
genitals. Possible positions include:
 The woman lies on her back as in the
missionary position. The active
partner lies on their front between her
legs.
 The active partner sits. The woman
stands facing away and bends at the
hips.
 The active partner lies on their back
while the woman kneels with her legs
at their sides and her genitals on their
mouth. Humorously popularised in the
Monty Python song "Sit On My Face"
(1980).
 The woman stands, possibly bracing
herself against a wall. The active
partner kneels in front of her.
 The woman sits on the bed with her
legs open, the active partner kneels in
front of her.
Anilingus
Positions for anilingus, also known as
"rimming" or "anal-oral sex", are often
variants on those for genital-oral sex.
Rimming-specific positions include:
 The passive partner is on all fours as
in the "doggy style" position. The
active partner is behind them.
 The passive partner is in the
missionary position with their legs up.
Simultaneous oral sex
Women in the 69 position
Penetrative
Simultaneous oral sex between two people is
called 69. It is called the congress of the
crow in the Kama Sutra.[7] Each partner may
be male or female. They can be lying side-by-
side, lying one on top of the other, or standing
with one partner holding the other upside
down.
Other positions
Non-penetrative
 Fingering of the clitoris.
 Frottage – rubbing one's genitals on
one's partner. This is commonly done
against the buttocks or their genitals.
 Dry humping – frottage while
clothed. This act is common, although
not essential, in the dance style known
as "grinding".
 Humping – thrusting one's genitals
against the surface of non-sexual
objects, clothed or unclothed. This
word is also used in the UK as slang
for penetrative sex.
 Handjob – grasping the penis and
moving the hands up and down along
its length.
 Footjob – using the feet to stimulate
the penis.
 Boobjob - (or titty fuck) using the
breasts together to stimulate the penis
through the cleavage. (Should not be
confused with a "boob job" meaning
to have augmentive surgery done on
the breasts.)
 Fingering of the vagina or anus.
 Shocker – simultaneous fingering of
the vagina and anus using one hand.
The index and middle finger are
inserted in the vagina, and the pinky
in the anus. A number of variations are
possible by using different
combinations of fingers in each
orifice. This act figures prominently in
the Story of O: shortly after O's arrival
at the Chateau, a man grabs her in this
way. O is shocked, but she learns to
accept this and ruder intrusions.
 Female shocker – simultaneously
fingering a man's anus with one's
thumb while stimulating his scrotum
with the other fingers. This is done by
making a shape with the hands as
though one were holding the bowl of a
wine glass.
 Fisting – inserting the entire hand into
the vagina or anus. This usually
requires large amounts of lubricant
and relaxation. The hand is usually
not actually made into a fist, but
instead the thumb is placed between
the middle and ring fingers, hence the
alternate name "duck-billing".
 Using vibrators/dildos – using
inanimate objects to penetrate the
vagina or anus.
Group sex
Oral threesome with one male and two
females
Various assemblages of people may
participate in group sex. While group sex
does not imply that all participants must be in
sexual contact with all others simultaneously,
some positions are only possible with three or
more people.
As with the positions listed above, more
group sex positions become practical if erotic
furniture is used.
With three participants
Threesome with three females
When three people have sex with each other,
it is called a threesome. Possible ways of
having all partners in sexual contact with
each other include:
 One person performs oral sex on
either of the other two partners, one
male and one female, while they
engage in vaginal intercourse.
 A man has vaginal sex with a woman,
while himself being anally penetrated
by another man or another woman
wearing a strap-on dildo.
 Three partners lie or stand in parallel,
with one between the other two.
Sometimes called a sandwich. This
term may specifically refer to the
double penetration of a woman, with
one penis in her anus, and the other in
her vagina.
 A man vaginally penetrates one
woman while orally performing upon
a second woman. The two women can
engage in sexplay from the waist up.
 A man has vaginal sex with a woman
and both give oral sex to a third
person who is either male or female.
 Three people perform oral sex in a
triangular configuration.
Multiple penetrations
"Multiple penetration" refers to one person
(usually a woman) being sexually penetrated
by several objects simultaneously. It generally
involves between three and five participants.
Penetration may be accomplished by fingers,
toes, sex toys (especially women wearing
strap-on dildos), or penises. Attempting to
accommodate multiple penis-sized objects in
either the vagina or the anus can easily be
painful, so it is not something that is likely to
be done casually. These positions are popular
in pornography, but it is difficult to say
whether they enjoy any significant popularity
outside of it. Positions that are limited to one
penetrator per orifice are less challenging.
Woman being doubly penetrated by two men
– one in her vagina and the other in her anus
 If one person is penetrated by two
objects, it is generically called double
penetration. Given the vagina, anus
and mouth, there are six ways in
which this can be done. These include
 Simultaneous penetration of
the anus by two penises or
other objects. This is
commonly called double anal.
 Simultaneous penetration of
the vagina by two penises or
other objects. This is
commonly called double
vaginal.
 Simultaneous penetration of
the vagina and anus. If this is
done using penises and/or
strap-on dildos, this is
sometimes called the
 sandwich. The shocker (see
above) accomplishes this using
several fingers of one hand.
 Simultaneous penetration of
the mouth and either the
vagina or anus. If the
penetrating objects are penises,
this is sometimes called the
spit roast. The character
Alyssa Jones in Chasing Amy
acquired the nickname "finger
cuffs" after participating in this
act.
 If one person is penetrated by three
objects, it is generically called triple
penetration. Possibilities include
 Two penises penetrating the
vagina and one in the anus or
vice versa. While possible, this
position is very difficult.[10]
 Three penises penetrating
either the vagina or the anus
simultaneously.[11]
 Simultaneous penetration of a
woman's vagina, anus, and
mouth.
 Penetration by larger numbers of
objects is rarer and generally not
named, although it is clear how to
extend the nomenclature given above.
There is one well known exception:
 Double vaginal double anal
penetration (DVDA) –
simultaneous penetration of
the vagina and anus of a single
woman by two penises each.
The term gained popularity
after its inclusion in the movie
Orgazmo by South Park co-
creator Trey Parker, and is also
the name of Parker's and Matt
Stone's band. There is no
evidence that DVDA has ever
occurred.
These variations of multiple penetration are
commonly seen in pornography aimed at
straight men. Some of these positions put two
men in intimate contact with each other,
either directly or indirectly.. Many
heterosexual men are reluctant to try such
acts for this reason.
With many participants
These positions can be expanded to
accommodate any number of participants.
 A group of males masturbating one
another in turn is called a circle jerk.
 A group of males masturbating and
ejaculating on a woman's face, known
as bukkake in Japanese pornography,
depiction of which may be partially
illegal in the US.
 A group of men, women, or both, each
performing oral sex on the next, is
called a daisy chain. This term is also
sometimes means a group of men
simultaneously penetrating and being
penetrated by each other anally in a
chain formation.
 A group of men in a line, coupled to
each other through anal or oral sex.
This can form a full circle, and there
can be a woman either at the front of
the chain or in the middle being
doubly penetrated.
Further reading
Historical
In the Indian Kama Sutra, the act and manner
of sex was an art-form. In the Khajuraho
statues, it has religious meaning. In the Kama
Sutra, sixty-four sex positions are explained
as arts. These may be considered yoga
positions for a couple. Tantric yoga, as
applied to couples, is sometimes called the
yoga of union and is the supposed spiritual
context for these positions.
The Arabic Perfumed Garden is another
ancient text which describes sex positions.
However, the most commonly known English
version, translated from French by Sir
Richard Francis Burton,[3] has mangled the
original almost beyond recognition. A modern
translation by Jim Coville claiming to be
faithful to the original describes only 11
unnamed sex positions,[2] whereas Burton's
translation lists some 39, each either with a
name or number.
Modern
Alex Comfort's The Joy of Sex was one of the
first widely accepted modern sex manuals to
describe sexual positions. See also:
 Bodansky, Steve and Vera, "The
Illustrated Guide to Extended Massive
 Orgasm". Hunter House. 1st ed., 2002.
ISBN 0-89793-362-1, 235 pages.
 Hooper, Anne J., "Sexopedia". DK
Publishing. 1st American ed., 2002.
ISBN 0-7894-8958-9, 272 pages.
 Kemper, Alfred M., "Love Couches
Design Criteria". Los Angeles 1972.
Library of Congress #75-36170, 101
pages — design criteria for assistive
furniture, with sections on
accommodation of disabled persons.
 McMeel, Andrews and Lisa Sussman,
"Sex Positions". Carlton Publishing
Group. 2002. ISBN 1-84222-266-X,
96 pages.
 Nerve.com, "Position of the Day
Playbook, Sex Every Day in Every
Way". Chronicle Books. 2005. ISBN
0-8118-4701-2, 376 pages.
References
1. ^ a b Rogiere, Jean, "The Little Book
of Sex". Ulysses Press. 2001. ISBN 1-
56975-305-9, 96 pages.
2. ^ a b The Perfumed Garden of Sensual
Delight, Muhammad ibn Muhammad
al-Nafzawi, translated by Jim Coville,
1999, Kegan Paul International, ISBN
0-7103-0644-X, 82 pages.
3. ^ a b c d e The Perfumed Garden,
Shaykh Nefwazi [sic], translated by
Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1886. full
text available at Internet Sacred Text
Archive
4. ^ Comfort, Alex, "The Joy of Sex:
Fully Revised & Completely Updated
for the 21st Century". Crown. Fully
rev. ed., 2002. ISBN 1-4000-4614-9,
256 pages.
5. ^ Westheimer, Ruth K., "Sex for
Dummies". For Dummies. 2nd ed.,
2000. ISBN 0-7645-5302-X, 432
pages.
6. ^ So Feminine, Love Machine,
accessed 24 Sept 2006
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