Sex position: Difference between revisions

[[File:10 Vaginal Sex Positions.png|right|thumb|VariousTen sexillustrations of sexual positions involving [[Penile-vaginal intercourse|penile-vaginal penetration]]]]

A '''sex position''' is a positionpositioning of the bodybodies that people use forto engage in [[sexual intercourse]] or other [[Human sexual activity|sexual activities]]. Sexual acts are generally described by the [[Body position|positions]] the participants adopt in order to perform those acts. Though sexual intercourse generally involves [[Sexual penetration|penetration]] of the body of one person by another, sex positions commonly involve penetrative or [[non-penetrative sex|non-penetrative]] sexual activities.

Three broad and overlapping categories of sexual activity are commonly practiced: [[Sexual intercourse|vaginal sex]], [[anal sex]], and [[oral sex]] (mouth-on-genital or [[Anilingus|mouth-on-anus]] stimulation).<ref name="health.discovery.com">{{cite web|title= Sexual Intercourse| publisher=[[Discovery Channel|Discovery.com]]| access-date=2008-01-12|url=http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/intercourse.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822040701/http://health.discovery.com/centers/sex/sexpedia/intercourse.html|archive-date=2008-08-22}}</ref> ThisSex acts may also involvebe part of a fourth category, [[Non-penetrative sex#Manual sex|manual sex]], which is stimulating the genitals or anus by using fingers or hands. OtherSome acts may include stimulation by a device ([[sex toy]]), such as a [[dildo]] or [[vibrator (sex toy)|vibrator]]. There are numerous sex positions that participants may adopt in any of these types of sex acts;, and some authors have argued that the number of sex positions is essentially limitless.<ref name=autogenerated2>Rogiere, Jean, "

[[File:SungaLoveScene.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A love scene sculpture from the [[Shunga Empire|Sunga]] period (c. {{circa|1st century BCE}})]]

[[File:Sexual scene at a red-figure tondo of a kylix at the Museo nazionale (Tarquinia).jpg|thumb|Tondo of an [[Attica|Attic]] [[Red-figure pottery|red-figure]] [[Kylix (drinking cup)|kylix]] by the [[Triptolemos Painter]], c. {{circa|470 BC}}, [[Tarquinia]] National Museum]]

*The receiving partner's torso is angled downwards and the penetrating partner raises their own hips above those of the receiving partner for maximum penetration.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In the ''[[spoons sex position|spoons position]]'' both partners lie on their side, facing the same direction.<ref name="sex for dummies">[[Ruth Westheimer|Westheimer, Ruth K.]], ''Sex for Dummies''. For Dummies. 2nd ed., 2000. {{ISBN|0-7645-5302-X}}, 432 pages.</ref> Variants of this technique include the following:

*[[Doggy style]] penetration maximizes the depth of penetration, but can pose the risk of pushing against the [[sigmoid colon]]. If the receiving partner is male, this increases the chances of stimulating the [[prostate]]. The penetrating partner controls the [[Pelvic thrust|thrust]]ing rhythm. A variation is the ''leapfrog position'', in which the receiving partner angles their torso downward. The receiving partner may also lie flat and face down, with the penetrating partner straddling their thighs.

*Spooning: very popular positions to use during the late stages of pregnancy; allowing only shallow penetration and relieves the pressure on the stomachabdomen.

*Sitting: she mounts the sitting partner, relieving her stomachabdomen of pressure.

*[[Doggy style|From behind]]: allowing her to support stomachabdomen and breasts.

*''[[Fisting]]'': inserting the entire hand into the vagina or [[rectum]]. 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.

*''[[Edging (sexual practice)|Orgasm control]]'': By self or by a partner managing the physical stimulation and sensation connected with the emotional and physiologic excitement levels. Through the practice of masturbation, an individual can learn to develop control of their own body's orgasmic response and timing. In partnered stimulation, either partner can control their own orgasmic response and timing. With mutual agreement, either partner can similarly learn to control or enhance their partner's orgasmic response and timing. PartnerPartnered stimulation orgasm techniques referred to as expanded orgasm, extended orgasm or orgasm control can be learned and practiced for either partner to refine their control of the orgasmic response of the other. Partners mutually choose which is in control or in response to the other.

''Genital-genital rubbing'' (often termed ''GG rubbing'' by [[Primatology|primatologists]] to describe the ubiquitous behavior among female [[bonobo]]s<ref name="songweaver">{{cite journal |author=de Waal FB |title=Bonobo sex and society |journal=[[Scientific American|Sci. Am.]] |volume=272 |issue=3 |pages=82–8 |year=1995 |pmid=7871411 |url=http://www.primates.com/bonobos/bonobosexsoc.html |quote=Perhaps the bonobo's most typical sexual pattern, undocumented in any other primate, is genito-genital rubbing (or GG rubbing) between adult females. One female facing another clings with arms and legs to a partner that, standing on both hands and feet, lifts her off the ground |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0395-82 |bibcode=1995SciAm.272c..82W |access-date=2015-10-24 |archive-date=2005-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051213030103/http://www.primates.com/bonobos/bonobosexsoc.html |url-status=live | issn = 0036-8733 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal

*''Intercrural sex'', or ''interfemoral sex'': the penis is placed between the partner's thighs, perhaps rubbing the [[vulva]], [[scrotum]] or [[perineum]].

*Simultaneous penetration of the anus by two penises or other objects. This is commonly called ''double anal penetration (DAP)'' or ''double stuffing''.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

*Simultaneous penetration of the vagina and anus. If this is done using penises and/or [[strap-on dildo]]s, this is sometimes called the ''sandwich'' or ''BigMac''.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} The ''[[shocker (hand gesture)|shocker]]'' accomplishes this using several fingers of one hand.{{anchor|Spit roast}}

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| title = Time to deconstruct the concepts of “foreplay”"foreplay" and “intercourse”"intercourse": the real structure of human sexual encounters

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*{{cite book|last1=Comfort|first1=Alex|last2=Quilliam|first2=Susan|author-link2=Susan Quilliam|title=[[The Joy of Sex]]|year=2008|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=London|isbn=978-1-84533-429-1}}

* {{cite book|last=Gillian|first=Max|title=The Illustrated Guide to Extended Massive Orgasm|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedguide0000boda|publisher=Hunter House|year=2002|isbn=0-89793-362-1}} (235 pages)

* {{cite book|authorauthor1=Nerve.comEmma Taylor |author2=Lorelei Sharkey |title=Position of the Day Playbook,: Sex Every Day in Every Way |publisher=Chronicle Books |year=20052003 |isbn=0-8118-47013957-25 |url=https://archive.org/details/positionofdaysex00tayl}} (376 pages)