People wonder: what is the best position for intercourse? The answer depends on several factors. One’s gender, health, disabilities, flexibility, body size, sexual orientation, genital size, mood, partner’s preferences, etc, impact which position is best.

In general there are only a handful of basic positions: standing, sitting, bending over, straddling, kneeling, side-by-side, and one person on top of the other. Most of the above can be done facing one another or from behind. In general men prefer positions that allow them to move freely and penetrate deeply while thrusting rapidly, while women prefer being in control of depth, angle of penetration and pace.

Male superior (on top) is an example of the former and female superior (on top), the later. Some people prefer the facing positions because they feel they are more intimate and the non-facing is too impersonal.

Increasing the complexity of the issue, each of the above basic positions has a large number of variations. For example, leg(s) up, legs together, legs apart, legs wrapped around, side-saddle, to name a few.

For readers who want to expand their repertoire of positions, Men’s Health has a nice piece on their Men’s Health website titled, “Master Positions” that depicts 26 positions with information on how they enhance stimulation.

There are also books, e.g. Great in Bed, by Debby Herbenick, that provide information on positions, as well as, suggestions to improve romance and sexual relations.

Gay and lesbian couples can also find information on-line or in books regarding sexual positions.

Most couples try a fairly large number of positions when they first become sexually intimate. With time, they usually settle into one or a few position that they find stimulating and comfortable.

Unfortunately this may lead to “sexual boredom” within the relationship. Sometime a little experimentation can rekindle sexual feelings that may have died down.

A variation presented recently in Men’s Health is worth mentioning. The couple engages in the male superior position with the woman’s legs wrapped around the man’s hips. The couple then gently rocks
side to side.

Men’s Health reports that couples who try this often find that the woman achieves orgasm rapidly and intensely in this position.

This is likely due to the rocking pressure on the woman’s clitoris.

People with special needs, e.g. obesity, disabilities, or limited mobility also have resources.

For, example, www.disabled-world.com or www.weightism.org, provide suggestions for successful intercourse that can help people with these conditions.