52 Fun, New Sex Positions to Try if You’re Feeling Adventurous in the Bedroom

THERE ARE SO many reasons to have sex—finding pleasure, connecting with a partner, even relieving stress. If you’re feeling stressed, though, it might be more difficult to stay fully engaged during intercourse. Trying new things in the bedroom can help achieve that.

“When we’re stressed, it’s often harder to feel desire or to stay in the moment, because our mind is distracted and wandering,” says Justin Lehmiller, PhD, senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, author of Tell Me What You Want, and member of the Men’s Health Advisory Panel. “Trying something new can create this immersive experience that lets us be in the moment and raises sexual arousal.”

Fortunately, bringing variety into your sex life is easy, even in a long-term monogamous relationship. Switching up sex positions is a low-risk way to do exactly that.

Need some fresh ideas? Don’t worry, we did the research for you. Here are 51 of the best sex positions out there.

At Men’s Health, we aim to describe sexual experiences as inclusively as possible. While the positions on this list have traditionally been associated with penis-in-vagina sex, they can be adapted by couples of all genders and sexual orientations and identities. We encourage readers to modify any position to suit their bodies, preferences, and needs. To avoid making assumptions about gender or anatomy, we use nongendered language throughout this article. The “giving partner” or “giver” refers to the partner doing the penetrating, whether with a penis, a strap-on, or even fingers. The “receiving partner” or “receiver” refers to the partner being penetrated, either vaginally or anally.

If you’re not sure where to start, this list of unique sex positions can give you some ideas. (Don’t worry, we also included fan favorites like missionary, cowgirl, spooning, and doggy style.)

As for which position(s) you should try first, start by asking yourself what you’re hoping to achieve by changing up your usual routine. This will guide how you approach this list of 51 sex positions, says Kerner.

If your partner has a vulva and you’re looking for positions to help them orgasm, then you want to look for sex positions where you can manually stimulate your partner’s clitoris during penetration. “Most [vulva owners] are not going to be able to get highly aroused or have an orgasm unless there’s some kind of clitoral stimulation happening,” Kerner explains.

Or perhaps you want to explore elements of BDSM (an umbrella term encompassing Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism, and Masochism). “Some of these positions are great for power play, where you can feel dominant or submissive,” Kerner says.

Some of these sex positions are fun to try for novelty’s sake, but they’re not necessarily ideal for everyone. “Not every position is accessible to everybody, and that’s completely okay,” says Philadelphia-based sex educator Erica Smith. “Some positions may even require strength or flexibility that not everyone has. You’re not missing out on anything if your body won’t perform that way.”

If a sex position feels uncomfortable, don’t overdo it. This isn’t a “push through the pain” situation. And remember—communication is key.

“Trying new positions should be fun, not stressful,” Smith says. “Communication is always important, especially when we’re trying new things. Listen to each other about what’s working and what isn’t.”

If a position isn’t working, just switch to something else! There are plenty of positions here to choose from.

• Justin Lehmiller, PhD, is a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, author of Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life, and a member of the Men’s Health Advisory Panel.
• Jessica O’Reilly, PhD, is a sexologist and co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Seduction and Foreplay.
• Shannon Chavez Qureshiz, PsyD, is a psychologist and sex therapist in Beverly Hills.
• Carolina Pataky, PhD, LMFT, is a sexologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in Coral Gables, Florida.
• Rufus Spann, PhD, is a sex therapist in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area.
• Ian Kerner, PhD, LMFT, is a sex therapist and the author of She Comes First and So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex.
• Jesse Kahn, LCSW, is a queer sex therapist and the director of The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York.
• Rebecca Rosenblat, PhD, is a sex therapist and the author of Seducing Your Man.
• Joy Berkheimer, PhD, LMFT, is a clinical sexologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in Boca Raton, Florida.
• Rachel Wright, LMFT, is a sex and relationships therapist in New York.
• Erica Smith is a sex educator based in Philadelphia.