Which Sexual Positions Are You Missing Out On?

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.

Categories: anal intercourse, intercourse, position, positions, rear entry, Sex, sexual, sexual positions, sexual repertoire, Sexual Wellness, woman

How Can You Have Anal Sex Safely?

Once a taboo subject and still relatively controversial, anal sex has gained a reputation due to the evidence surrounding it that the sexual practice leads to anal cancer. This practice involves receiving someone in the bottom, specifically the penis – sometimes it is referred to as rectal sex. There are considerable health risks attributed to this type of sex, so it’s important that those engaging in it are safe and take the appropriate precautions. Anal sex is commonly associated with gay couples, but it has become more common for heterosexual couples to enjoy anal sex – it’s thought that our increasing access to pornography has something to do with this, as this is a common feature of ‘blue movies’. There are various ways in which couples can enjoy anal sex, such as postillionage, which involves putting a finger into your partner’s bottom, butt plugs which are sex toys designed for the anus, and rimming which involves oral sex on the bottom. Lastly, ‘fisting’ involves putting the hand into the rectum, though this activity is rare amongst heterosexual couples. There is a significant risk of infection with anal sex activities, so good hygiene and safe sex precautions are strongly advised to avoid this. Some people still view anal sex as a taboo and carry strong feelings or guilt or anxiety about it – however, many people enjoy these activities and find them exciting and stimulating. There are many erotic nerve endings in this area, which explains why both men and women enjoy them so much.

 

If practiced with care, anal sex can be extremely enjoyable – there is a risk of infection though. The main risks are the HPV virus – there is no doubt by medical experts that anal intercourse can carry a greater risk of the transmission of HIV, particularly for the receptive partner. There are certain risks of the spread of anal warts, as well as certain strains of the HPV virus having cancer-provoking potential. Hepatitis A is a viral infection which can cause abdominal pain, and though it isn’t a life threatening illness, it can make people feel quite ill. This is generally transmitted by oral-anal contact. Hepatitis C is also transmitted by anal intercourse, though this is rare. Naturally, avoiding anal sex is the best way to avoid these health concerns, but if you do want to engage in this form of sex there are ways to make it safer. Condoms and water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly, will offer some protection against sexually transmitted diseases – other lubricants can cause the condom to split which can lead to the spread of infection. You may wish to use specially designed condoms for this activity, as these are tougher and offer more protection.

 

You should ensure that the anal area is thoroughly clean and that the bowel is empty – this is for both aesthetic, practical and hygiene reasons. You can ease into anal sex by using a well-lubricated finger (maybe covered in a condom) to give the receptive partner a chance to see whether they enjoy anal sex and find it comfortable. You should approach anal sex carefully and gently – pushing too hard and forcefully will lead to discomfort and injury – plenty of lubricant in this area will help with penetration. Fisting involves placing the whole hand in the rectum, and this is physically possible providing that the receptive partner is fully relaxed. There is a significant risk of injury with this activity though, as the diameter of the hand is far greater than the rectum – for this reason, medical professionals don’t advise this practice. The same can be said of rimming – there is an increased risk of infection from this form of sexual activity. If you do take part in rimming with your partner, you can use specially designed latex shields which offer some protection against infection.

Categories: anal intercourse, anal sex, fisting involves, heterosexual couples, hpv virus, involves putting, receptive partner, Risks, sexual health, significant risk, specially designed