Relationships3 min(s) read
The sex position experts say ‘reliably’ helps women orgasm'
If your sexual partner is a woman, there’s a high probability that you’ll have looked at them longingly after an act of intimacy, only to be greeted by a face of disappointment and unfulfilment.
Not only is there a well-documented gender pay gap, but there is a clear disparity between the achievement of sexual climax, with women tending to attain an orgasm far less frequently, especially in heterosexual relationships.
Unfortunately, pay audits and transparency don’t close the gap when it comes to this common gender problem. So, how do men and women work together to practically refine sexual performance?
In an era of sexual experimentation, missionary still remains the go-to coital position. Many couples love this position for the closeness, eye contact, and deeper connection it allows.
What do sex therapists say?
But according to sex therapists, a subtle adjustment can transform it from merely “good” to a far more pleasurable experience.
That adjustment is known as the coital alignment technique (CAT), a variation of missionary where the penetrating partner shifts slightly higher up. By moving up an inch or two, it increases the frequency with which the base of the penis makes contact with the woman’s clitoris during movement.
Recent research substantiates this claim, with a study published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, women who previously couldn’t orgasm from standard missionary reported a 56 percent increase in orgasm frequency after learning CAT.
The reason is straightforward: many women require both clitoral and penetrative stimulation to climax, with a simple penis-in-vagina motion not merely enough.
“Roughly two-thirds of women don’t have an orgasm with penetration alone,” Megan Fleming, a psychologist and sex therapist, told HuffPost. “CAT offers direct pressure and rocking and grinding that gives women additional clitoral stimulation.”
How to achieve the desired orgasm
So how exactly do you do it? Sexologist and author Sadie Allison suggests beginning in classic missionary with a pillow placed under the woman’s hips to elevate and support her pelvis.
“After you gently slide inside, shift your body up several inches, positioning yourself so your pelvis is directly on top of hers,” she said. “You should be higher up on her now, with your chest near her shoulders versus face-to-face. With this new alignment, your penis shaft is now providing pleasurable friction against her vulva and clitoris with every stroke.”
Instead of the typical in-and-out thrusting, Allison recommends focusing on steady contact and rhythmic motion.
“While staying snug and pressed against her, grind and gyrate your pelvis in small circles against her vulva,” she said. “Try visualizing her clitoris as you press on it, and resist the temptation to lift off and thrust in and out. Just keep your penis snugly inside her, and find the rhythm she needs.
“You’ll know it’s working when you feel her holding you tighter and pulling you closer with her legs!” she added.
There may also be a benefit for men beyond their partner’s heightened pleasure. According to sex therapist Lori Buckley, slowing things down can help with stamina, aiding those with premature ejaculation issues.
“An extra benefit is that this may also help men last longer since they don’t experience the same heightened arousal that fast, deep thrusting provides,” Buckley said.
A simple shift in positioning, more intention in movement, and greater focus on clitoral stimulation can make a meaningful difference for both partners.