Kivin Method Overview: How to Perform the Kivin Method

The Kivin method is a type of cunnilingus (oral sex performed on a vulva) in which the giver lies perpendicular to the receiver, stimulating the clitoris, vulva, and perineum from the side. For some vulva owners, receiving cunnilingus from the side (as opposed to head-on) can lead to deeper pleasure and more intense orgasms.

The Kivin method will feel different for every person with a vulva. Still, it provides a novel sensation to the classic cunnilingus method, where the giver places their head directly between the receiver’s legs. In addition to giving the receiver a new angle of clitoral stimulation (which may feel more pleasurable), the Kivin method allows them to access more of the vulva, labia, and perineum (the sensitive area between the genitals and the anus) than other methods.

Due to the concentration of nerve endings in the clitoris, the straight-on oral sex method can be overwhelming for some vulva owners. By allowing the giver to divide their activity amongst multiple parts of the genitals, the Kivin method can lessen the intense clitoral stimulation that comes from straight-on oral sex.

Follow these instructions to perform the Kivin method on a sexual partner.

1. 1. Wash your hands. Before performing any sexual activity, thoroughly wash your hands to prevent transferring everyday bacteria to your partner’s sensitive areas.
2. 2. Get in the position. The receiver should lay on their back, optionally with one leg in the air to give the receiver fuller access to the vagina. The giver lays perpendicular to the receiver on the side of their raised leg, positioned to face the vulva from the side.
3. 3. Try out different techniques. Use your tongue to stimulate various parts of the vagina—including the clitoris, vulva, and labia—in different ways. Sweep your tongue sideways or back and forth across the clitoral hood, or suck on it to mix things up. Try this in either direction to determine what feels best for the receiver.
4. 4. Add pressure and stimulation. Change your hand position or incorporate sex toys (like a bullet vibrator) for additional stimulation to the receiver’s clitoris. (Learn about different types of sex toys.) Ask to insert your index or middle finger into their vaginal canal. Try massaging their perineum (the erogenous zone between the vagina and anus), which has many pleasure receptors and is easy to access from this angle.
5. 5. Talk about it. Like any new sex position, it’s great to debrief the experience with your partner afterward. Discuss what felt pleasurable, what didn’t, and what you’d both like to try next time.

Here are a few tips for trying the Kivin method with your sex partner:

1. 1. Find a comfortable position. Perform the Kivin method in a position that is comfortable for both you and your partner, with the giver’s mouth positioned perpendicular to the receiver’s clitoris and vulva. The giver can achieve this by laying on their stomach at a ninety-degree angle to the receiver, making an “L” shape with their bodies. Then, the giver can turn their head sideways toward the receiver’s vagina as their leg rests on the giver’s back.
2. 2. Determine which side feels best. Each side of the clitoris has different sensitivity levels, so the giver should try out either direction to see which feels best. An aroused clitoris often swells to reveal two small bumps on either side, called “k points.” It will be easier to access the clitoris once it’s aroused and the k points are visible.
3. 3. Experiment with different sensations. Incorporate a sex toy or finger to add sensation to the experience. Oral sex is not one-size-fits-all, so it’s important to try things and see how they feel.

Craving a little more intimacy? Grab a MasterClass Annual Membership and learn more about open communication with your partners, experimenting in the bedroom, and being your own best sexual advocate with a little help from Emily Morse (host of the wildly popular podcast Sex With Emily).