Some things in life are better on repeat: Friends, perfectly sunny beach days, your trusty manicure. Your sexcapades, though? Definitely not one of them. Even the hottest spark in the bedroom needs new sex positions to stoke the flames from time to time—otherwise things get boring, fast.
“Anytime you introduce something fresh and novel into the bedroom, you set yourself up for a more stimulating experience and bigger finish,” says Vanessa Marin, a licensed sex therapist in L.A. In short, your brain craves newness, and especially for women, your brain is very involved in your excitement and satisfaction.
It can also work wonders for your relationship. “One significant challenge to intimacy is the loss of novelty in the bedroom,” says Shawntres Parks, licensed marriage and family therapist in San Diego. Exploration between the sheets amps up emotional intimacy and encourages risk-taking and growth. New sex positions will encourage you and your partner to be more vulnerable with one another in the bedroom and otherwise. And in the end, you’ll find your relationship injected with an extra dose of trust.
In some cases, switching up positions might even be a must. “If you’re thinking ‘ouch’ when the offer of sex is put on the table, you could definitely benefit from exploring diverse positions that are more comfortable for folks with diverse abilities, as well as those with chronic pain, or pain from penetration,” Parks adds. But even once you’ve found that pain-free position, that doesn’t mean it’s your only option. While it’s easy to become a creature of habit as soon as you’ve nailed that go-to, comfortable, climax-every-time position, Parks urges you to keep mixing it up. There are SO many possibilities out there that your imagination might not have even thought up yet.
1. Corkscrew
Do It: Near the edge of a bed or bench, rest on your hip and forearm and press your thighs together. Your partner stands and straddles you, entering or grinding from behind.
Why: Keeping your legs pressed together during this sex position allows for a tighter hold on your partner as they thrust.
Make It Hotter: Instead of letting your partner do all the work, try thrusting your hips slightly to match the tempo.
2. Face-Off
Do It: Your partner sits on a chair or the edge of the bed; you face them, seated on their lap.
Why: During this sex position, you’re in control of the angle and depth of the entry and thrust. Being seated adds support, so it’s great for marathon sex sessions.
Make It Hotter: Let your fingers (and hands) do the talking. Once seated, you can put your hands anywhere on your body or your partner’s to make things more interesting.
3. Doggy Style
Do It: Get on all fours, then have your partner kneel behind you, with their upper body straight up or slightly draped over you (ya know, like a humping dog).
Why: This sex position allows for deep penetration and easier G-spot stimulation.
Make It Hotter: Stimulate your clitoris with one hand, or ask your partner to do the finger work for you.
4. Flatiron
Do It: Lie facedown on the bed, legs straight, hips slightly raised.
Why: This sex position creates a snug fit, so your partner’s penis or strap-on will seem even larger.
Make It Hotter: Some shallow thrusts and deep breathing will help the romp last longer.
5. Cowgirl’s Helper
Do It: Similar to the popular Cowgirl sex position, you kneel on top, pushing off your partner’s chest and sliding up and down the thighs. But your partner helps by supporting some of your weight and grabbing your hips or thighs while they rise to meet each thrust.
Why: This sex position puts less stress on your legs, making climaxing easier. Plus, if you’re with a guy, female-dominant sex positions delay his climax—so everyone wins.
Make It Hotter: Alternate between shallow and deep thrusting to stimulate different parts of the vagina.
6. Cowgirl
Do It: You kneel on top, pushing off your partner’s chest and sliding up and down their thighs. You can relieve some of your weight from their pelvis by leaning back and supporting yourself on their thighs.
Why: By being the dominant in this sex position, you’ll delay their climax and intensify yours.
Make It Hotter: Discover new sensations for both of you by widening your knees or bringing them closer to their body.
7. Reverse Cowgirl
Do It: Your partner lies on their back; you straddle them, facing their feet.
Why: This position lets you take control and show your partner the pace and rhythm you like.
Make It Hotter: To get more leverage, put your knees and shins inside their legs and under their thighs.
8. Scoop Me Up
Do It: Both of you lie on your sides, facing the same direction. You bring your knees up slightly while your partner slides up behind your pelvis and enters you from behind. (You may also know this as spooning.)
Why: This sex position allows for more skin-to-skin contact, increasing your stimulation.
Make It Hotter: Have your partner place their hands on your shoulders to increase the intensity and deepness of the thrust.
9. The Good Ex
Do It: Sit on the bed facing each other with legs forward. Lift your partner’s right leg over your left and lift your right leg over their left. Come together so they can enter you. Now both of you lie back, your legs forming an X. Slow, leisurely gyrations replace thrusting.
Why: Prolonged slow sex that will build your arousal. Shallow thrusts stimulate the nerve endings in the head of their penis, if they have one.
Make It Hotter: Reach out and hold hands to pull together for pelvic thrusting. Also, take turns alternatively sitting up and lying back without changing the rhythm.
9. The Snake
Do It: Lie down on your stomach, and have your partner lie down on top of you and slide in from behind.
Why: This position allows for super-deep penetration, and a snug fit which can feel great for you and your partner.
