Comfortable Sex Positions: 5 Ways to Have Comfortable Sex

Sex is easier to enjoy if you are comfortable—especially if it is your first time, you're pregnant, you’re dealing with an injury, or you have a disability. If you feel like your sexual experience could be more comfortable, consider some of these tips.

1. 1. Add lubrication. Adding lube can make any sex position more comfortable.
2. 2. Explore props. Pillows, bolsters, and wedges can all support your joints during sex and allow your body to relax. Taking time at the beginning of a session to get comfortable can allow you and your partner to last longer in that position. If you or your partner are experiencing discomfort with deep penetration, try a wearable buffer that goes around the shaft of a penis. You can also place a buffer around the base of a penetrative sex toy, such as a strap-on dildo or vibrator, to prevent it from going too deep.
3. 3. Work on communication. Communication is always important during sex. If you are feeling pain, or your partner doesn’t know your body’s range of motion, talk to them. Clear communication will lead to feeling more physically comfortable.
4. 4. Talk to a professional. If you are experiencing persistent pain during sex, talk to a trusted sexual health provider such as your doctor or a sex therapist.

Experiment with different positions or modify your favorites to find the most comfortable positions for you and your partner.

1. 1. Missionary: Missionary position is a classic position where one partner lies on their back and the other partner lies on top of them, face-to-face, allowing for eye contact. To make missionary more comfortable, try placing a pillow or two under the bottom partner's lower back and/or knees, especially if they have back or hip pain. Not only will this be more comfortable, but for a person with a vulva, lifting the pelvis can provide a better angle for stimulation.
2. 2. Doggy-style: For doggy-style sex, one partner gets on all fours and the other partner stimulates them from behind with penetration and/or oral sex. The partner lying down can use a pillow or wedge for pelvis support, and the partner on top can use pillows and blankets beneath their knees for added comfort. Another way to do doggy-style is for one partner to be on all fours at the edge of the bed while the other partner stands, using the bed for support. Doggy-style can be a good position for people who are in the first and early-second trimester of pregnancy.
3. 3. Spooning: A rear-entry alternative to doggy style is spooning, where both partners lie on their sides with knees bent. In this position, partners can rub each others’ genitals together, touch with fingers, or penetrate from behind with a toy or penis. If you want to add penetration, explore different angles, from lying parallel with your partner to lying perpendicular at a 90-degree angle. This is a great position to try throughout pregnancy, since it places minimal pressure on your belly.
4. 4. Sixty-nine: Sixty-nine is an oral sex position that involves both partners stimulating each others’ genitals at the same time. There are many ways to set up for this position, but one of the most comfortable is with both partners on their sides. If your mouth needs a rest, switch to stimulating your partner with your hand or a toy.
5. 5. Cowgirl and reverse cowgirl: For the cowgirl position, the person on top sits upright and straddles the person who is lying down. The partner on top can grind or rub their genitals on their partner, or control the depth of penetration of a penis or toy. To make cowgirl more comfortable, the person on top can rest their hands on their partner's shoulders for support. You can also prop the lying-down partner up on pillows to find the most comfortable angle. The partner on top can also turn around to face away from their partner for reverse cowgirl.

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