It’s not unusual if upon hearing the words “sex from behind” your mind is flooded with images of sweaty partners on all fours—doggy style is a classic rear-entry position for a reason. Yes, it’s great and usually gets the job done. But if your knees just can’t take the pressure, or you need a little more intimacy to really get going, or if you just want to bring more variety to the bedroom, diversifying your sex positions repertoire is a must.
And hey, this is not to say that you have to give up sex from behind altogether. Instead, consider this your personal invitation to get acquainted with a few new forms.
Meet the Experts:
Shawntres Parks, PhD, is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Upland, California.
Megan Stubbs, PhD, is a board certified sexologist and relationship expert based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Shamyra Howard, LCSW, is an AASECT-certified sex therapist and sexologist for Lovehoney based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Shadeen Francis, LMFT, is a board certified sex therapist and co-founding expert of emotional wellness app Mine’d.
1. Flatiron
How to do it: Lie facedown on the bed, legs straight, hips slightly raised while your partner enters you with their penis or strap-on.
Why it’s hot: If you’re on the receiving end of this position, you won’t have to do much, but that can be a good thing, says Shawntres Parks, PhD, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in California. Since your legs will be close together, it’ll make for a tighter entry point for your partner. This will turn up the sensations you get from the penis or strap-on as your partner moves it in and out of this snug fit. “It’s also really comfortable to be lying there flat, not having to worry about controlling your body so you can be more attuned to the experience you’re having,” Parks adds.
2. The Chairman
How to do it: Have your partner sit on the edge of a bed or a chair and lower yourself down, facing away.
Why it’s hot: “This position is great for control,” says board-certified sexologist Megan Stubbs, PhD. You can use your feet as leverage on the floor to move at the angle and speed that you want. Plus, your partner’s hands are free to stimulate your clit, your breasts, or your hair, Parks adds.
And if intimacy’s something you’re after, you might love this position, says Parks. Since your faces are so close, it’s easy to steal a kiss or start whispering to each other. Communicate whether you like what’s going on, whether you want things to go faster, slower, or if you want them to touch you somewhere specific with their free hands.
3. Stand And Deliver
How to do it: Bend at the waist as your partner stands behind you and enters you from the rear.
Why it’s hot: This version screams “gotta have you now,” heat-of-the-moment passion, and the angle offers even deeper penetration, says Stubbs.
Offering another take on the position, Parks points out that the person standing upright doesn’t necessarily have to hold their partner by the wrists. “They can reach around and place hands on [the receiver’s] upper thighs, right where the pelvis is and use [their] legs for leverage.” This quick swap will make things more comfortable and will allow the receiver to stand upright too once the blood starts rushing to their head.
Pro tip: To make things even steamier (literally), take this position to the shower.
4. Seated Wheelbarrow
How to do it: Place your hands on the floor and have your partner pull your waist so your legs are on either side of their hips.
Why it’s hot: Turn things upside down for a new sensation and view for your partner. They’ll be fully supported on the bed (or couch), so it’ll be easy to control the movement and help keep you balanced. But that doesn’t mean the receiver doesn’t have control here, too. Since the receiver’s hands are on the floor, they can lean back and forth and use upper body momentum to take charge of their pleasure, says Parks. And while you’re at it, since your partner is hands-free, they can experiment with a little anal play, if you’re into that.
5. Scoop Me Up
How to do it: Get into the spooning position, with your partner as the big spoon. Bring your knees up slightly and have them enter you from behind.
Why it’s hot: “Because many couples cuddle this way already, there’s a lot of ease in transitioning from cuddling or erotic conversations to this position,” says Parks. And in the case of morning sex, since you’ll likely wake up in this position anyway. It creates an ideal way for you and your partner to start your days off just right.
“[Spooning sex] feels intimate for a lot of couples since they’re already used to sharing physical touch in this way,” Parks adds. To make it hotter, she recommends the person positioned in the back reach around and stimulate their partner’s favorite erogenous zones.
6. The Snake
How to do it: Lie on your belly with your legs straight behind you and your hips raised. Have them penetrate you from behind.
Why it’s hot: Your legs are close together in this position, making your partner feel bigger during penetration. You can also reach under yourself to stimulate your clit with your hands or a sex toy. But rather than the receiver lifting their pelvis up the entire time you’re in this position, Parks suggests wedging a pillow or two underneath their stomach to take the stress off their lower back. “That provides the same angling and depth of penetration and is more comfortable,” she adds.
7. Wheelbarrow
How to do it: Get on all fours on the floor and have your partner pick you up by your hips to enter you. Wrap your legs around them for stability.
Why it’s hot: If you’re looking to add a little adventure in the bedroom, here you go. This one will require some arm strength on your part, as well as balance for your partner, so feel free to consider this move a workout too.
And so that you have enough energy for the other fun stuff you want to get into, Parks recommends trying this position out early on so you can save your strength for the rest of your romp.
8. The Caboose
How to do it: While they sit on the bed or a chair, back yourself into their lap and spoon each other while seated.
Why it’s hot: “I like positions that lend themselves to places beyond the bedroom. Some of these positions you clearly need to be on a bed in order for them to be comfortable, but for this one, you can turn a movie night on the couch into sex and incorporate this position in very easily,” says Parks. You can take a seated position pretty much anywhere in the house, which is a major perk for fans of spontaneity.
9. Reverse Cowgirl
How to do it: Your partner lies on their back; you straddle them, facing their feet.
Why it’s hot: This position gives you—if you’re on top—complete control to manipulate depth of penetration, speed, and stimulation which, Parks says, makes you more likely to orgasm. “While on top, you get to incorporate your own fantasies,” she adds. And it doesn’t hurt that your partner gets a great view of your backside while you do what you please. Have your partner bend one, or both legs, for you to grind your clit against for some added pleasure.
10. Leapfrog
How to do it: Get on your hands and knees, then, keeping hips raised, rest your head and arms on the bed, while your partner penetrates you from behind.
Why it’s hot: This position allows for some super deep penetration—and gives you a chance to rest a bit at the same time, says Parks. Not to mention, your hands are totally free to give your clitoris some love. Win, win, win.
Parks also notes that though you have less control over penetration in this position, it’s a great opportunity for communication. Couples sometimes think talking will kill the mood, but Parks assures that asking for what you want and being fully aware of what’ll get your partner going is always a turn-on.
11. Corkscrew
How to 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 it’s hot: Keeping your thighs pressed together during this sex position allows for a tighter hold as your partner thrusts. Plus, “you’re going to feel more sensation in positions where you can keep your legs close together regardless of your partner’s size or the size of the strap-on” since they’ll have less depth to work with, says Parks. And you can take control from here too: Try thrusting your hips slightly to match or create the tempo that feels hot AF for you.
Why To Try Sex From Behind
“These positions create the opportunity for more novelty and diversity in the bedroom,” Parks says. Whenever she works with partners who are struggling with premature ejaculation or painful sex, more often than not, she recommends they have sex from behind. That’s because rear-entry positions allow for versatility when it comes to penetration and stimulation.
“The reason penetration is more easily controlled is based on female anatomy,” says Parks. From the back, the person doing the penetrating, with either an erect penis or toy, is at the perfect angle to access the majority of the receiver’s vagina. In these positions, the depth of penetration is now totally up to the two of you. The giver can either lean into the position and hit the receiver’s G-spot (usually located along the upper front wall of the vagina) or pull back and keep things shallow.
“When you’re front-to-front, you’re limited by how wide [the receiver’s] legs will open, as well as where the giver is positioning themselves,” Parks adds. Sex from the back means the angle of penetration better matches the actual angle of the vagina. (The more you know!)
Benefits Of Having Sex From Behind
Other than allowing for deeper penetration, there are plenty of other benefits to having sex from behind.
For one, if you and your partner have found your sex life becoming a bit stale, rear-entry sex can bring back some spark to your sexual relationship. “Many people report they stop having sex because it lacks novelty, is routine, and becomes dull,” says Shamyra Howard, LCSW, an AASECT-certified sex therapist and sexologist for Lovehoney based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Having sex in a rear-entry position allows you to switch it up.” While missionary is definitely reliable, sometimes you need to experiment a little to keep the sexual chemistry alive.
Rear-entry positions are also often more accessible and comfortable for people with mobility issues and certain types of chronic pain. “From anyone who might have mobility issues, joint pain or back pain, sex from the back can not only be a more comfortable way to have sex, but it also gives you the opportunity to control the depth of penetration,” explains Shadeen Francis, LMFT, a board certified sex therapist and co-founding expert of emotional wellness app Mine’d.
If you’re intimidated by eye contact or are concerned about how you look, turning around can also help you get out of your head—allowing you to focus more on the sex itself rather than your body—“as we tend to be most focused with the front of our bodies because that’s the part that we can see,” says Francis. As a result, you’re able to be more fully present and enjoy the experience.
Lastly, sex from behind can up the ante of your sexual play by allowing for consensual power exchange activities (ahem, hair pulling, edging, etc.), says Francis. Not to mention, these positions give both parties easy access to the clit, penis, or nipples, which are “usually trickier when you’re facing each other,” says Parks.
While your partner is pleasuring you from behind, they can also play with your breasts and/or nipples and stimulate your clitoris or penis, says Howard. Even hotter, you can pleasure yourself with your hands or toys—more on that below.
Best Sex Toys To Use During Sex From Behind
The beauty of sex from behind is that it gives both partners easy access to the receiving partner’s front body parts (think: nipples, clit or penis). You know what that means? It’s the perfect opportunity to bring in toys to help you achieve those sweet, sweet Os.
Toys with long handles, such as wands, are great to use in these positions, says Francis. The penetrating partner can reach around and use a wand to stimulate the receiving partner’s clit, or the receiving partner can use it on themself.
Need a toy? Here's a quick guide to finding the perf product...
Oh, and let’s not forget about our penis-having pals. A cock ring is another great toy to use while having sex from behind. It works on a biological penis or a purchased one, a.k.a. a strap-on, says Francis. Plus, “many of them will also stimulate the receiving partner as well.” Win-win.
Another fun item, which isn’t necessarily a toy, is a thrust buffer ring, such as the Ohnut, which can be used to adjust the depth of penetration if deep penetration isn’t exactly the receiving partner’s thing, adds Francis.
Insertable toys such as butt plugs or vibrators could also be nice to incorporate into your play. You could have a butt plug in while your partner penetrates your vagina from behind, or you can insert a wearable vibrator or rabbit while your partner fills up your tush with their penis or strap-on—your choice!
And, let’s not forget about nipple clamps, collars, ball gags, and blindfolds. Honestly, there’s no limit to the type or amount of toys you could use to make sex from behind even more pleasurable.
Best Toys For Sex From Behind
Lovehoney Lovehoney Sweet Kiss Rechargeable Silicone Lipstick Bullet Vibrator
Lovehoney Lovehoney Double Duty Vibrating Double-Ended Strap-On Dildo
Hitachi Magic Magic Wand Mini
We-Vibe We-Vibe Pivot
Ohnut Ohnut Buffer Rings
How To Make Sex From Behind Even More Enjoyable
There are many ways to make rear-entry sex even more enjoyable (i.e. bringing in those toys, engaging in power play or kink) but you know what makes any form of sex uber-sexy? Communication.
“The sexiest thing you can do for your sexual experiences is to talk about them,” says Francis. Before engaging in play, make sure you have a conversation with your partner about what you like, what you don’t, and how you want the experience to play out. Maybe there are moves that both of you are curious to explore, so use this time as an opportunity to go slowly and treat it like an adventure, Francis adds. And as with any form of sexual play you engage in, you’ll want to have a safeword or check-in procedure to make sure everyone is having a good time throughout the entire experience, Howard adds.
On the more technical side of things, let’s be honest: Some of these positions can be a bit strenuous on the body (looking at you, wheelbarrow), so for some added support, Francis suggests using a pillow or wedge under the knees or hips whenever possible. “This will give you some relief on your low back,” she says.
If you’re using a strap-on, make sure to use lube or your mouth (uh, saliva) to avoid friction and also increase stimulation, advises Howard.
Even if penetration isn’t the main goal, you can still get some moan-worthy pleasure from sex from behind as it’s “a great opportunity for all kinds of juicy friction,” says Francis. Both partners can grind and rub against each other’s genitals and other body parts, which can still feel really good. Also, the partner that’s behind can take full, loving advantage of the receiving partner with toys or their trusty hands (which are free, BTW).
If you and your partner already know how you like to have sex from behind (great!), you can still level up the experience by having sex in new places. Think: On the floor instead of the bed, bent over the bathroom sink, in the woods, or, better yet, bent over your car…in the woods. “There are so many ways you can think about adding new textures, sensations, and flavors to your sexual experiences,” Francis notes. In other words, the world is your oyster.
Not matter where or how you choose to have sex, remember this important affirmation from Francis: Honor what feels good to you and your body.
So now that you have 11 new sex positions to add to your sexual repertoire (YW), why not give one of them a go? Seriously, stop reading this, and go enjoy some orgasms!
Naydeline Mejia is an assistant editor at Women’s Health, where she covers sex, relationships, and lifestyle for WomensHealthMag.com and the print magazine. She is a proud graduate of Baruch College and has more than two years of experience writing and editing lifestyle content. When she’s not writing, you can find her thrift-shopping, binge-watching whatever reality dating show is trending at the moment, and spending countless hours scrolling through Pinterest.
