The Underrated Missionary Sex Position

Often underrated as an enjoyable sexual position, missionary is the default sex position for many. It’s the most frequently used sex position. Missionary is also the most commonly used position the first time a couple has sex.

There are good reasons why missionary is the #1 sex position. It has lots of advantages and very few disadvantages. To keep it from becoming routine, there are lots of variations you can use. And, you can do it at almost any location that has privacy.

8 Advantages of the Missionary Position

1. The face-to-face position in missionary feels intimate and romantic. It’s probably why most new lovers choose this position. It allows intense eye contact.
2. This position makes it easy to kiss and make out before and while having intercourse. Laying together facing each other facilities hugging, touching, and stroking each other’s bodies and hair.
3. The woman’s breasts and nipples can be stimulated by either partner. The movement of the man and the woman rubbing together caress her breasts and nipples. Both men and women enjoy the feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest while having intercourse.
4. If the man moves his body forward, his movements can stimulate her clitoris as his pelvis grinds against her when he thrusts. This variation of missionary is one of the few positions that make it possible for a woman to orgasm during intercourse.
5. If the woman enjoys deep penetration and a feeling of fullness, this position can bring that. Variations where the woman lifts her legs allow for very deep penetration.
6. Since the man is laying on the woman, and the woman is laying on her back, this is a less physically demanding position.
7. It’s easy and fluid for the man to move from giving a woman oral laying on her back, to the man moving on top of her for intercourse in the missionary position.
8. If a woman enjoys a feeling of submission and being dominated by her partner while having sex, the man can hold her arms down over her head or along her sides.
   

4 Disadvantages of the Missionary Position

1. The woman has little control over the depth of penetration or the tempo of movement. While she can move her hips to meet his movements and indicate her preference for faster or slower movements, for the most part the man controls the movements.
2. A smaller woman may feel crushed if she is laying under a larger or heavier partner, or a partner who doesn’t take any of his weight on his elbows. On the other hand, many women enjoy the feeling of a man’s body pressing down on theirs during sex.
3. If a woman does not enjoy feeling the weight of a man laying on her, the man may not have the upper body strength to maintain a plank position with his body for very long.
4. A man may ejaculate more quickly than he intends to due to the powerful hip thrusts and deep penetration in this position.
   

13 Missionary Position Variations to Try

1. One of our favorite variations of the missionary position is for my partner to wrap her legs around me while having intercourse. I enjoy the feeling that she has completely accepted me as a sexual partner, and has opened herself to take me inside her. She encourages my thrusts by pulling me in with her legs.
2. A woman can raise her legs in a “V” position while the man kneels in front of her. If he desires, in this position he can hold her ankles as he thrusts.
3. If a woman does not enjoy having a man’s weight on her, the man can place his body in a plank position where he holds himself up with his straight arms and makes his back rigid. However, it takes a lot of upper body and core strength to maintain this position for long.
4. Another variation is for the woman to raise her legs and rest them on the man’s shoulders as he kneels. The man can hold her legs as he moves, providing some support.
5. To achieve very deep penetration, a woman can raise her legs and rest them on the man’s shoulders, as the man leans forward over her body. Another similar variation is when the man uses his arms to push her legs forward as he leans over her. In this position her vulva is completely open to the man’s thrusting.
6. A woman can tighten her grip on the man’s penis by moving her legs together as he moves inside her. Since the man’s penis is moving through her legs to access her, it sometimes helps to use adequate lubrication on her legs at that location.
7. Sometimes older men find it difficult to engage in the missionary position because of knee or arm problems. In those cases a variation is for the woman to lie on her back with her legs spread, but with her vulva close to the edge of the bed. The man can stand at the edge of the bed and thrust in and out of her.
8. To change the angle of penetration, place pillows under the woman’s butt. This can help facilitate more G Spot stimulation.
9. The woman can give herself pleasure and an orgasm if desired by using a vibrator as the man kneels in front of her with his penis inside her.
10. The man can vary the sensations and stimulation both he and the woman receive by varying his hip positions as he moves in and out of her.
11. Some women enjoy the “varied strokes” approach. With this, the man alternates several shallow strokes with one deep stroke, repeating the pattern for a number of cycles.
12. A man can provide more direct stimulation to a woman during missionary by moving his body forward. By doing so, he exerts pressure and movement on her clitoris.
13. The woman can grab the man’s butt cheeks as he thrusts and pull him in deeper with each thrust. The woman gets deeper penetration, and the man knows the woman is enjoying the way he is thrusting into her.
    

Locations to Use the Missionary Position

The missionary position can be used in a variety of locations:

1. The Bed. Missionary is done most often on a bed. It’s a comfortable, large surface with pillows readily available.
2. The Sofa. A living room sofa can be a great place for missionary. If the sofa is narrow, the woman may have to angle one leg off the side onto the floor. A woman can also sit on the sofa, spread her legs, and slide her vulva to the edge of the sofa. Her partner can kneel in front of her to achieve penetration.
3. The Floor. Since missionary is done laying down, a floor will work as well. However, not all floors are comfortable to lay back on. You might want to lay down a sleeping bag or blanket. Also, if the floor is carpeted, then the man needs to be careful not to get painful rug burn on his elbows and knees.
4. A Table. A woman can lay back on a table, spread her legs, and scoot to the edge. The man can stand in front of her to have intercourse.
5. The Outdoors. The missionary position can be used in private outdoor spaces where there is a space large and flat enough to lay down. Be aware of biting bugs and sharp objects on the ground. An isolated meadow with thick green grass can be ideal (or a private backyard lawn) as a comfortable location to lay down. Otherwise, bring a blanket, sleeping pad or sleeping bag for comfort.
   

Give New Life to the Missionary Position

The missionary position is a favorite for sex for good reasons. It’s intimate, comfortable, and brings great sexual pleasure to both partners.

For some, the missionary position has, unfortunately, become boring and routine. Any position can become boring and routine if you use it all the time with no variety. If that’s your situation, try some of the variations in the position listed above. Also, try mixing in some other positions such as woman-on-top, woman-from-behind, etc.

The next time you have sex, try a variation of the missionary position.

The next time you and your partner plan to have sex together, think of some of the variations you plan to try during the encounter. Find out which work best for you, and which are better ignored in the future.

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