Sex Position - Missionary / Man-On-Top

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Missionary / Man-On-Top Position

How to Do

In the Man on Top Position:

The woman lies on her back with her legs spread flat (horizontally on the same surface as her back) or drawn up toward her chest and her knees raised high, while the man can enter deep into her vagina with his penis.
The man can either lie flat on the woman if he is not too heavy in weight and if it is not uncomfortable for her, or he can support some or all of his weight on his elbows, hands or knees (sometimes the weight of the man on them can restrict a woman's pelvic movement)

The woman can wrap her legs around her partner at various heights: resting on the back of his upper shins or thighs, around his buttocks or back, or over his shoulders. She can wrap one or both legs around him Generally, the higher she lifts her legs, the deeper the penetration.

The woman can use her hands freely to caress the man or stimulate her clitoris as the man has limited use of his hands, but it is a good position for being able to see each other and for kissing and for caressing (Some women do not like the deep penetration of this position)

Variations

The Kama Sutra and Chinese pillow books list many variations on the missionary position. Often the difference is in slight detail only, but there are many other simple, man-on-top sex positions that can be tried for a change.

The missionary position with one of the woman’s legs pulled back to her chest is a pleasant variation that skews the woman’s pelvis and enables the man to stimulate her ovary on one side. This may be tender for some women, so the man should be careful.

The man kneels and raises the woman’s buttocks onto the lower part of his thigh as he penetrates her. She crosses her ankles behind his back. This reduces the depth of penetration considerably but can be very exciting for the woman who enjoys having her vaginal opening teased and stimulated.

The man kneels between her open thighs, penetrates her, and then lifts her bottom from the bed so as to bring her as close as possible to his pelvis. This can produce superb sensations for both partners, but it is tiring for the woman to keep her back arched in this way for very long. One answer is to put a couple of pillows under her bottom.

The 'anvil' sex position allows very deep penetration - the woman raising her feet above her partner's shoulders.

The woman lies over the edge of the bed with her legs open. The man enters her and leans forwards on her body, taking most of his weight on his forearms or hands. This can be very tiring for the man because movement is restricted. It is, therefore, not a very suitable position for the couple who enjoy, or need, deep thrusting during lovemaking.

The woman lies on her side and raises her upper leg. The man cuddles into the front of her body and penetrates her. She curls her upper leg over his body. Here again, the angle of entry of the penis can be to one side, stimulating unfamiliar parts of the woman’s pelvic organs. Most couples find this a very loving and restful position, as the man does not have to support his weight. However, movement is restricted and the woman may have to contract her pelvic muscles to give her man the best pleasure.

A variation is for the woman to raise her upper leg so as to open up her pelvis further and ‘release’ him from the clamping effect around his waist. This allows him considerable movement, even though they are both on their sides, and she can obtain new sensations as she angles her upper leg differently

The Man-On-Top Position/Missionary Position is named after the 19th century Christian missionaries who believed that the man on top was the only natural and proper position for intercourse, and preached to their converts to give up their animal positions in favor of the man-on-top position.

The missionary position is the most popular sex position for many reasons. Many women consider it the most romantic position, almost certainly because the couple are always face to face. Every expression can be noticed, they are free to kiss, and each partner can see that they are being loved – something that is not possible in some other positions, such as rear-entry ones.

The missionary position, being such a passive one for the woman, absolves her of the responsibility of making anything much happen. Some women can relax and enjoy lovemaking more if they do not take a dominant, active role.

Man-on-top sex positions aren't always passive for the woman. With many variations on the 'missionary' position, the woman can control the depth of penetration and set the pace for intercourse. Closely allied to such feelings in the woman are parallel but opposite feelings in the man. Some men enjoy ‘dominating’ their partner during intercourse and tend most to enjoy such positions as encourage this – although from time to time most men enjoy other sex positions in which their partner takes the lead and control.

Many women experience great pleasure from being dominated during intercourse. Some women enjoy sex particularly if the man is in control and makes everything happen. Missionary position sex is ideal for this. The man, being on top, controls the thrusting and can pin the woman down to the bed and take her roughly and at his pace.

Being ‘taken’ like this can be highly exciting to some women. For the woman who is at all guilty about sexual needs and appetites, this position leaves her free of guilt about sex, because she can think of herself as being overpowered by a much stronger man.

Free to kiss

Because the couple’s faces are close together, they can easily kiss – not just lips but all over each other’s face breasts and neck. This helps create a loving and caring atmosphere. For the woman who is aroused by nipple stimulation, the man on top position allows the man to kiss and stroke her nipples.

By altering the angle of her thighs to her tummy, the woman can change the degree of penetration even if the man stays in exactly the same position. As she brings her knees nearer to her chest, the penis goes in deeper. The woman can find just the right angle to give her the best sensations – perhaps as her lover stimulates her cervix with the tip of his penis. A variation of this is for the woman to rock her pelvis backwards and forwards. If, at the same time, she ‘milks’ her partner’s penis by contracting and relaxing her pelvic muscles, this can be extremely exciting for him.

*Use massage oil for extra sensuality in missionary position sex. Oil each other, avoiding the pelvis if using condoms, then slip-slide away

Best for babies!

The man-on-top sex positions are very good for couples who are trying to have a baby, because penetration can be very deep. If the woman holds on to her legs behind her knees and draws her thighs right back, sperm can be deposited deep in the vagina – at the neck of the womb. This provided the best chance of conception occurring.

If the woman stays lying down after sex, with a pillow under her hips, the semen stands the best possible chance of entering her cervix, and the sperm will then be able to fertilize an egg.

*With her feet on her partner's buttocks, the woman can pull the man in to grind against her with his pubic bone.

More than just romantic

Because it is a romantic yet fairly unadventurous sex position, it is a particularly good one when having sex with a new partner. While you are still learning about one another, it makes sense to go for a position that is non-threatening and loving.

The missionary position lays neither partner open to strangeness, anxiety and unfamiliarity. The woman’s hands are free to caress the man. This could be especially valuable – showing him that he is loved and wanted in the new relationship.

Because the man has control of the thrusting he can control his speed to orgasm. This is good news for the individual who fears losing control of ejaculation. A ‘trigger-happy’ man can thus stop when he feels ejaculation approaching, and a man who needs a great deal of thrusting to maintain his erection will also benefit.

Advantages of the Missionary position

Both partners can see each other and make eye contact, thereby receiving feedback from their facial expressions, breathing, and vocalizations
Coitus can be combined with erotic kissing on the mouth, including such variants as the "French kiss."
Penetration is relatively deep
The man's groin can directly or indirectly stimulate the clitoris, depending on how the act is performed
A relatively quick male orgasm can be achieved if so desired; conversely, the greater control afforded the man enables him to delay his orgasm and thereby prolong the copulatory act
The woman may enjoy the sensation of submission to the male and the freedom to caress him as she chooses
The woman is able to either hasten or delay both her orgasm and that of her partner through voluntary, rhythmic flexation and relaxation of the pubococcygeus muscles surrounding her vagina
Very little suppleness or flexibility is required of either partner. Both are able to remain relatively relaxed and avoid fatigue
The intimacy of full-body contact affords a heightened sensual and emotional experience for both the male and female
The man can reach under and stimulate his partner using his fingers on her clitoris

Disadvantages of the Missionary position

If the man's weight is placed upon the woman as it may be uncomfortable for her, to avoid this the man can support his weight upon his arms and knees, which may become tiring for him
It can be difficult for partners to manually stimulate the clitoris
This position sometimes produces a quick male orgasm (premature ejaculation)
Some women do not enjoy the possibly submissive sensation of being under their partner

Variations of Missionary positions

The Plough

The Plough