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Women don’t always orgasm during vaginal intercourse, especially if clitoral stimulation isn’t part of the equation. In fact, in a nationally representative study of more than 1,000 women from the United States, most (59%) said that they orgasm less than half of the time they engage in intercourse that doesn’t involve clitoral stimulation. However, when clitoral stimulation is added, the rate of orgasm increases significantly.
There are obviously many ways to stimulate the clitoris during sex, such as by utilizing vibrators or other sex toys, or using your own (or your partner’s) hands—but this can also be accomplished by changing up your sexual position. Research has found that at least three specific positions up the odds of orgasm for women, in part, because they naturally offer more clitoral stimulation than other positions.
One of these is the woman above, face-to-face position, also know colloquially as the “cowgirl.” In addition to offering more clitoral stimulation, this position allows women more control over speed and depth of penetration; however, some may also simply enjoy the feeling of being on top.
Evidence for this comes from a recent study of more than 11,000 heterosexual adults in the Czech Republic in which participants were asked about the frequency with which they orgasm in 13 different sexual positions [1].
The most frequently used position among participants was the missionary position (face-to-face, man on top). However, this position was unrelated to orgasm consistency in women. By contrast, the cowgirl position was linked to more consistent orgasms.
Only one other position was linked to orgasm consistency in this study: the sitting, face-to-face position, in which both partners are sitting upright with the woman on top.
Both the sitting and cowgirl positions afford more clitoral stimulation because the clitoris receives more direct contact or friction from her partner’s body due to positioning.
This study also found that the rear entry or “doggystyle” position was actually linked to less consistent orgasms in women. This makes sense because, unless the male partner has a large, pendulous scrotum, there are few opportunities for direct clitoral stimulation to occur without the use of hands or sex toys.
While this study asked about 13 different positions, there is one the researchers did not inquire about that other studies have shown to be effective in producing consistent orgasms in women: the coital alignment technique (or CAT for short).
The CAT is basically a modified missionary position in which the male partner is on top and he leans his body forward until the base of his penis touches his partner’s clitoris. The partners then grind or rock their pelvises back and forth to maintain constant penile-clitoral contact. Here’s the technical description of it:
“The positioning for coital alignment requires a shift forward by the male partner from the standard missionary position to the male ‘pelvic-override’ position, in which the base of the penis makes direct contact with the woman’s clitoris. This makes vaginal penetration with constant clitoral contact possible in coitus, completing a fundamental genital ‘circuitry.’ The genital contact is maintained by a coordinated form of sexual movement in which the woman leads the upward stroke and the man the downward stroke. The partner moving his or her pelvis backward exerts a slight but firm counterpressure. The penile-clitoral connection is held together by pressure and counterpressure simultaneously exerted genitally by both partners in a rocking motion rather than the familiar ‘in and out’ pattern of coital thrusting.” [2]
The CAT is a different kind of intercourse in that it’s not about in-and-out thrusting—it’s about a coordinated set of pelvic movements. In other words, it requires a different approach to sex than what most people probably think of.
So there you have it. For heterosexual women who find it difficult to reach orgasm consistently through penile-vaginal penetration alone, finding ways to add clitoral stimulation is very important.
As always, different people may prefer different strategies or techniques. Feel free to use your hands, your partner’s hands, a sex toy or vibrator, or one of the three positions discussed above (cowgirl, sitting face-to-face, and the CAT). Explore, experiment, and try different things. See what works best for you and what you enjoy most.
However, the key takeaway here is that the sex position most frequently used isn’t one that offers women consistent experiences with orgasm, which tells us that one easy way to help close the orgasm gap may be to try a new position.
Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook (facebook.com/psychologyofsex), Twitter (@JustinLehmiller), or Reddit (reddit.com/r/psychologyofsex) to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram.
[1] Krejčová, L., Kuba, R., Flegr, J., & Klapilová, K. (2020). Kamasutra in Practice: The Use of Sexual Positions in the Czech Population and Their Association With Female Coital Orgasm Potential. Sexual Medicine.
[2] Pierce, A. P. (2000). The coital alignment technique (CAT): An overview of studies. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 26, 257-268.
Image Source: 123RF
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