The Sex-Position Playbook

Smart ways to switch it up in the bedroom

Sex shouldn't resemble Naked Twister. Too much twisting and contorting can leave a woman feeling like a sexless member of Cirque du Soleil. "Unlike men, women can lose an orgasm almost in the midst of having one," says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., author of She Comes First and He Comes Next. The solution? This simple series of positions, designed to help you flow naturally from move to move without ending up like a flesh pretzel.

Missionary

Spider

Sit back and pull her toward you while you both lift your knees. "Physically, it allows her to feel a deeper, more intense, more intimate stimulation than missionary, with less friction," says Candida Royalle, author of How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do.

Reverse Cowgirl

Encourage her to turn around and face away from you. This creates G-spot stimulation for her, and the change will help you hold out longer. If she seems uncomfortable on top,  resume the spider or try the spork, two natural transitions

Doggy-style

"It's the most arousing position for men, because it's the most primal," says Linda Banner, Ph.D., author of Advanced Sexual Techniques. The angle also allows for deeper penetration, which ups your chances of stimulating her G-spot.

Belly Flop

Grab a pillow and enjoy a little downtime. "Lay the woman on her stomach with the pillow under her hips so her pelvis is angled and you have a better chance of hitting her G-spot," says Banner. Extend your arms to keep the weight off her.

Lazy Man

Here's another move that maintains intimacy. Simply lean back and gently pull her on top. "This can help women feel in control," says Sarah Janosik, a sex therapist and cofounder and clinical director of the Austin Center for Sexual Medicine.

Spork

Once past the basics, positions become "more about psychological novelty," says Kerner. Doggy-style is about your dominance, but from there you can naturally transition into this rear-entry position that puts her in the driver's seat.

Move logically between positions to increase her arousal.