This list of sex positions includes descriptions of various forms of sexual intercourse and other sexual acts between people. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants take in order to perform those acts. Since the number of positions that can be used for sex is essentially limitless,Rogiere, Jean, "The Little Book of Sex". Ulysses Press. 2001. ISBN 1-56975-305-9 this list is not exhaustive.
Penetrative positions
These positions involve the insertion of a penis or other phallus (such as a strap-on dildo) into a vagina or anus.
Non-penetrative genital-genital positions
1. Male-male
Frot is rubbing erect penis against erect penis, especially the mutual rubbing of the frenula. A variety of sexual positions are possible. For instance, the partners may both be reclining, sitting, kneeling, or standing. Commonly known as "sword fighting". In the halakha of Conservative Judaism, frot is a permissible sex position for a male couple. In one more complicated position similar to the "double Y" with women, both partners recline on their backs, one partner's legs over the other. During frot, a man can masturbate his and his partner's penises simultaneously with one hand. He can also masturbate their penises with the foreskin of one penis over the glans of the other in a position called docking. Circumstitions.com - A glossary of the (intact) penis Circumcised men can also use a sex toy called a "docking sleeve," a tube-shaped device made of silicone, rubber or Cyberskin which takes the place of the foreskin.
2. Female-female
Tribadism, or Scissoring, is female-female genital sex in which the partners rub their vulvas together. Tribadism done with both partners lying on their backs, genitals facing each other, is known as scissors or double Y. It can also be done with one partner on her back and the other in a kneeling position with one leg between the other's legs and the other outside. This usually requires one of the legs of the lying-down partner to be held up, preferably on the shoulder of the kneeling partner. The missionary position is also common.
3. Male-female
As part of foreplay or to avoid penetrative sex, a couple can engage in a variety of genital-genital positions. For instance, the man can rub his penis against his partner's clitoris, or he can slide his penis along the length of her vulva. Since this method of sex can stimulate the clitoris directly, it can, for some women, be more effective at provoking orgasm than penetrative sex. This can also be done clothed:In this case, it is often called dry-humping, or dry-fucking; but is however rarely dry in the occurrence of ejaculation. This practice is sometimes seen in teenagers who are not really sure that they are ready to have sex.
Oral sex positions
Oral sex involves contact between the genitals and/or anus of one person (the passive partner) and the mouth of another (the active partner).
1. Fellatio
Fellatio is oral sex involving a man's genitals.
Possible positions include:
The man lies on his back while his partner kneels between his legs.
The man lies on his back while his partner lies off to the side of his legs.
The man sits in a chair and partner kneels in front of him between his legs.
The man stands while his partner either kneels in front of him or sits (in a chair or on the edge of a bed, etc.) and bends forward.
Gargling - The partner fills their mouth with water and gargles it, and the male inserts his testicles into the water that’s being gargled. (Note: Insert tesitcles one at a time in order to reduce the splash effect that would lower the water level in the mouth)
While the active partner lies on their back, the man assumes the missionary position but adjusted forward so as to insert his penis in his partner's mouth.
The man stands or crouches at the edge of the bed, facing the bed. The active partner lies on the bed with their head hanging over the edge of the bed backward. The man inserts his penis into his partner's mouth, usually to achieve deep throat penetration.
The glory hole – the man inserts his penis into a hole in the wall or fence while someone (usually a complete stranger unseen by him) gives him fellatio from the other side of the wall. This act is vaguely reminiscent of the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, but these two mythical lovers merely passed notes through a hole in the wall, rather than inserting body parts.
The man fellates his own penis; see autofellatio
2. Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is oral sex involving a woman's genitals.
Possible positions include:
The active partner lies on their back while the woman kneels with her legs at their sides and her
genitals on their mouth. Humorously popularised in the Monty Python song "Sit On My Face" (1980).
The woman stands, possibly bracing herself against a wall. The active partner kneels in front of her.
The woman sits on the bed with her legs open, the active partner kneels in front of her.
3. Anilingus
Positions for anilingus, also known as "butt licking," "rimming", "anal-oral sex", "rimjob", or "tossing the salad" are often variants on those for genital-oral sex.
Rimming-specific positions include:
The passive partner is on all fours as in the "doggy style" position. The active partner is behind them.
The passive partner is in the missionary position with their legs up.
4. 69
Simultaneous oral sex between two people is called 69.
Each partner may be male or female. They can be lying side-by-side, lying one on top of the other, or standing with one partner holding the other upside down.
Other positions
1. Non-penetrative
Frottage – rubbing one's genitals on one's partner. This is commonly done against the buttocks or their genitals.
Dry humping – frottage while clothed. This act is common, although not essential, in the dance style known as "Grinding (dance)".
Humping – thrusting one's genitals against the surface of non-sexual objects, clothed or unclothed. This word is also used in the UK as slang for penetrative sex.
Handjob – grasping the penis and moving the hands up and down along its length.
Footjob – using the feet to stimulate the penis or insert into the anus
Mammary intercourse - using the breasts together to stimulate the penis through the cleavage
2. Penetrative
Fingering of the vagina or anus.
Shocker – simultaneous fingering of the vagina and anus using one hand. The index and middle finger are inserted in the vagina, and the pinky in the anus. A number of variations are possible by using different combinations of fingers in each orifice. This act figures prominently in the
Story of O: shortly after O's arrival at the Chateau, a man grabs her in this way. O is shocked, but she learns to accept this and ruder intrusions.
Female shocker – simultaneously fingering a man's anus with one's thumb while stimulating his scrotum with the other fingers. This is done by making a shape with the hands as though one were holding the bowl of a wine glass.
Fisting – inserting the entire hand into the vagina or anus. This usually requires large amounts of lubricant and relaxation. The hand is usually not actually made into a fist, but instead the thumb is placed between the middle and ring fingers, hence the alternate name "duck-billing".
Toejob- inserting a big toe into the anus.
Toying – using inanimate objects to penetrate the vagina or anus.
Group Sex
Various assemblages of people may participate in Group sex. While group sex does not imply that all participants must be in sexual contact with all others simultaneously, some positions are only possible with three or more people.
As with the positions listed above, more group sex positions become practical if erotic furniture is used.
1. With three participants
When three people have sex with each other, it is called a threesome. Possible ways of having all partners in sexual contact with each other include:
a. One person performs oral sex on either of the other two partners, one male and one female, while they engage in anal or vaginal intercourse.
b. A man has vaginal or Anal sex with a woman, while himself being anally penetrated by another man or another woman wearing a strap-on dildo.
c. Three partners lie or stand in parallel, with one between the other two. Sometimes called a sandwich. This term may specifically refer to the double penetration of a woman, with one penis in her anus, and the other in her vagina.
d. A man vaginally or anally penetrates one woman while orally performing upon a second woman. The two women can engage in sexplay from the waist up.
e. A man has vaginal or anal sex with a woman and both give oral sex to a third person who is either male or female.
f. Three people perform oral sex in a triangular configuration, commonly called a "daisy chain".
"Multiple penetration" refers to one person (usually a woman) being sexually penetrated by several objects simultaneously. It generally involves between three and five participants. Penetration may be accomplished by fingers, toes, sex toys (especially women wearing strap-on dildos), or penises. Attempting to accommodate multiple penis-sized objects in either the vagina or the anus can easily be painful, so it is not something that is likely to be done casually. These positions are popular in pornography, but it is difficult to say whether they enjoy any significant popularity outside of it. Positions that are limited to one penetrator per orifice are less challenging.
If one person is penetrated by two objects, it is generically called double penetration. Given the vagina, anus and mouth, there are six ways in which this can be done. These include
Simultaneous penetration of the anus by two penises or other objects. This is commonly called double anal.
a. Simultaneous penetration of the vagina by two penises or other objects. This is commonly called double vaginal.
b. Simultaneous penetration of the vagina and anus. If this is done using penises and/or strap-on dildos, this is sometimes called the sandwich. The Shocker (see above) accomplishes this using several fingers of one hand.
c. Simultaneous penetration of the mouth and either the vagina or anus. If the penetrating objects are penises, this is sometimes called the spit roast. The character Alyssa Jones in Chasing Amy acquired the nickname "finger cuffs" after participating in this act.
If one person is penetrated by three objects, it is generically called triple penetration. Possibilities include:
a. Two penises penetrating the vagina and one in the anus or vice versa. While possible, this position is very difficult. A speciality of ex-porn star Annabel Chong
b. Three penises penetrating either the vagina or the anus simultaneously.
c. Simultaneous penetration of a woman's vagina, anus, and mouth.
Penetration by larger numbers of objects is rarer and generally not named, although it is clear how to extend the nomenclature given above. There is one well known exception:
a. Double vaginal double anal penetration (DVDA) – simultaneous penetration of the vagina and anus of a single woman by two penises each. The term gained popularity after its inclusion in the movie Orgazmo by South Park co-creator Trey Parker, and is also the name of Parker's and Matt Stone's band. There is no evidence that DVDA has ever occurred.
b. Triple-Double - Multiple penetration of a single woman by 6 penises. Two penises in the mouth, vagina, and anus simultaneously.
These variations of multiple penetration are commonly seen in pornography aimed at straight men. Some of these positions put two men in intimate contact with each other, either directly or indirectly. Many heterosexual men are reluctant to try such acts for this reason.
2. With many participants
These positions can be expanded to accommodate any number of participants.
a. A group of males masturbating one another in turn is called a circle jerk.
b. A group of males masturbating and ejaculating on a woman's face, known as bukkake in Japanese pornography, depiction of which may be partially illegal in the US.
c. A group of men, women, or both, each performing oral sex on the next, is called a daisy chain.
d. A group of men simultaneously penetrating and being penetrated by each other anally in a chain formation is often referred to as a man train.
e. A group of men in a line, coupled to each other through anal or oral sex. This can form a full circle, and there can be a woman either at the front of the chain or in the middle being doubly penetrated.
f. A group of many people having sex together is usually known as an orgy.
e. A group of many people having sex for an extended period of time (upwards of hours) is sometimes known as a fuckfest.
