8 classic sex positions

Doggy style
Description :
You're all fours and he's on his knees and penetrates you from behind.

Which bits does it work on?
A bit of everything. Doggy style sex enables very deep penetration. Sensations can be very diverse as the angle can be changed stimulating different areas inside you. It also makes it easy for him to reach around and play with your breasts or clitoris - or you can even do this yourself if you have good balance.

Who's it for?
It's perfect for quicky morning sex when your breath isn't at its sweetest. It's also great for those who don't like too much body-to-body contact, those who don't need to look into each other's eyes during sex and pregnant women (up to the end of the second trimester, the belly feels unimpeded).

Variation:
Instead of being on all fours, the woman lies down on her belly and the man lies over her. Penetration isn't as deep but the body contact is very intimate.

Julie's thoughts: My boyfriend and I are both big romantics. Although we enjoy having doggy style sex, there's no way in the world that we'd just use that position. It's a position we regularly use for a change, but it's not enough on its own.

 Cowgirl
 Description :
He lies down on his back, you sit on top of him and do all the work!

Which bits does it work on?
Whichever bits you want. You're the one who gets to choose the angle of your body. Depending on the angle you choose, he'll stimulate your G spot, A spot, or any of your other erotic zones. How good is that? On top of that, you set the depth and rhythm of your movements and pauses. Go very slowly if you want to make him weak at the knees, or very fast if you prefer to make him burst at the seams.

Who's it for?
Those who like to take it in turns setting the rhythm. Those who like to give and receive, to control all the action then be on the receiving end of the action. Those who like equality or sharing within the relationship. Women who are into taking control and dominating their partner (at least in the bedroom). And for men who ejaculate too quickly. This position tends to slow down orgasm for men without effecting their enjoyment.

Variation:
She can lie over him, like a reversed missionary position. Body contact is more intense but sexual contact is less stimulating since the angle of penetration is fixed.

Harriet's thoughts: I like it when my boyfriend caresses my breasts while I'm on top. It really turns me on to see that it's me who's giving him pleasure. I feel like I'm not as vigorous as him with the movements so it lasts longer so we use this position quite often.

 Missionary
 If we could only choose to keep one position, most women would probably choose this one because it's a classic. Apart from a few other wild primates, humans are the only species to use this position.

Description:
You lie on your back with your legs apart and he lies on top of you.

Which bits does it work on?
His bits more than yours. The penetration and angle of the penis don't really allow you much scope to move. If your two bodies move together well, it can be mind-blowing, otherwise it might not do much for you.

Who's it for?
Lovers who want to feel the whole length of their bodies next to each other; beginners who don't want to mess up their first time; those who want to make love sensually, without getting too tired. This is an ideal starting position for varying the rhythm and depth: slow penetration can be followed by fast penetration, and deep can be followed by not so deep, etc .

Variation:
The woman squeezes her legs together. Penetration is still possible, although it's a bit trickier. The advantage is that the vagina seems a lot deeper and tighter since the vestibule becomes narrower. What is the vestibule? It's the space between the labia minora which contains the opening of the vagina.

Becky's thoughts: I hate making love in the old-fashioned sort of way. It doesn't turn me on at all. Now that I've had some practice, I much rather prefer being a bit more original.

 Spoons
 Description :
You and your partner both lie on your side - your back is against his stomach.

Which bits does it work on?
Penetration from behind is often quite deep and therefore very enjoyable for both of you. That said, if you stay in this position, close together from head to foot, it's not as complete as with the doggy style position.

Who's it for?
Those who, at that particular moment, prefer tenderness over acrobatics; those who are tired but still want to get physical; and those who have returned home after having one too many drinks.

Variation:
For added sensation, you can lean forwards a bit. Your back will no longer be touching your partner's body but you'll experience some breathtaking sensations because penetration is even deeper. You're able to alter the angle and find what works for you.

Laura's thoughts: This is such a snugly position to make love in. I like it a lot but I still prefer more passionate,  active positions. But when you've been in a relationship for some time, you're not always in the throes of passion like you were in the very beginning, and you also need to be able to appreciate slow and gentle lovemaking. I'm certainly not against this position because I've had some really intense and unexpected orgasms through it. Maybe because pleasure comes more easily when you're relaxed.

 Ridetime
 Description :
He sits down on a chair, sofa or bed and you sit on his knees, with your legs apart, facing him.

Which bits does it work on?
It allows for quite deep penetration. The only downside is that the range of movements is limited. There isn't much room to manoeuvre. But the bodies are against each other and although the thrusting movements are limited, it's possible to stimulate the sides of the vagina by making rotating movements.

Who's it for?
Lovers who have always dreamed of making full use of public benches. And those who fancy a change from making love on the bed.

Variation: You sit on him but facing away from him. You can easily choose the penetration angle by leaning forwards or backwards a bit more.

Clare's thoughts: I tried this out once in a forest, while dressed. He sat on a tree trunk and I folded my skirt up. It was a fantasy come true so it felt amazing!

 Sixty-Nine (69)
 Description :
Lie down head-to-tail, either on your sides or with one lying on his/her back and the other on top. From here you can give each other oral sex at the same time.

Which bits does it work on?
Wherever the tongue and lips can reach. The mouth area is very versatile and good at giving pleasure, often more so than the genitals. For women, the clitoris gets a lot of attention, and for men, the most sensitive part of the penis, the frenulum, benefits from soft, wet and direct contact, just like the clitoris.

Who's it for?
Those who like their partner's entire body, every nook and cranny of it. Those who like to kiss, lick and caress all over. Also, for those who are comfortable enough with their own body and who can let themselves completely go and be 'tended to' by their partner.

Paula's thoughts: I like receiving and giving head but I prefer to do one after the other. When it's happening at the same time, I find it difficult to pleasure the other person and fully enjoy the pleasure I'm receiving. I tend to alternate: I give him my full attention then I let him do the same to me, then I start again. I find it easier to climax that way.

 Standing
 Description :
Standing face to face, your chests are touching and legs are bent so that they are at the ideal height for penetration.

Which bits does it work on?
There aren't that many areas that get stimulated with this position. It doesn't allow for complete penetration and it requires a certain level of concentration to stay on your feet, which somewhat reduces your ability to completely let yourself go.

Who's it for?
Those who like to make love in the doorway or in the great outdoors (even if the ground's wet or covered in nettles.) It's for those who have a partner of about the same height. Otherwise, it becomes a bit perilous.... unless the shorter of the two has a stool or tree stump to stand on.

Variation:
Standing up, the man holds his partner under her hips and lifts her while she clasps her legs around him. Penetration is better and the sensations are more sensational but it's a lot more tiring. Trying it with your back up against a wall is a lot easier and sexier.

 Kirsty's thoughts: I used this position when I first started dating my husband. We had sex everywhere. Thesedays, I admit that I prefer a bit more comfort, and I especially like to spend a lot of time on foreplay. I find that having sex standing is like going back to those days when we were young lovers and we couldn't bear the wait: we had to have it there and then.

 Virginal
 Description :
You lie on the bed with your legs closed. He lies down on top of you and penetrates between your thighs, as high up as possible without entering you.

Which bits does it work on?
For the man, the sensation for the penis is almost as satisfying as it is with vaginal penetration. For the woman, well... you probably won't get pregnant.

Who's it for?
Guys and girls who want to remain virgins. As well as those who have a burning desire to get physical but who haven't got a condom at hand.

Variation:
Between her breasts if they're big enough. You could even try axillary sex - that's in the armpit. He might get a lot out of it but you don't really. That said, a big advantage is that the risk of pregnancy is virtually non-existent.

Lucy's thoughts: I was really nervous about having sex for the first time; I was worried about it hurting. My boyfriend was worried about doing it wrong. Both of us were pretty stressed and complete beginners. This position was our lifesaver. We started like that, and it went really well. Then we gradually went further.