For the woman who likes to take the initiative and the man who enjoys watching his partner as they make love, woman-on-top sex positions cannot be beaten. And with deep penetration as an added bonus, they can increase the sexual pleasure for both partners in any loving relationship by adding new sensations to your lovemaking.

Almost all men say that, on some occasions at least, they like to have the initiative taken away from them and, just as some women feel flattered to be taken with great ardour, so it is also true that many men like to be 'taken' by their female partner in this way.

Increasing arousal

Before penetration, it can be fun for both if the woman teases a little. She can hold her lover's penis firmly, masturbating him while touching her vagina with the tip of it. She can also use it to stimulate her clitoris and her vaginal lips before any actual penetration. Play this game until neither of you can, nor wants to, hold back any longer.

Control is one of the first reasons women give when stating a preference for the woman-on-top sex positions. Once the penis enters the vagina, the woman is in control of it in a way she cannot ever be when being penetrated in any other way.

Angle and rhythm

Once in position, the woman can change the angle and rhythm of penetration as she pleases, by rocking backwards and forwards and from side to side, swiveling her pelvis or moving up and down.

She can also lean forward to kiss her lover, sit up while he runs his hands over her body, reach to stroke his scrotum or anus, or lean back to let his penis push against her G-spot on the front wall of her vagina.

But most importantly she can alter the depth of penetration to suit herself and her lover.

Gentle movements

Many women find that if they are in a position where they are leaning backwards, they can only move their hips very slightly. But small, rhythmic movements of the pelvis can give you both entirely different sensations. The temptation to continue in a thrusting motion is a strong one, but slow, gentle movements in this position can prolong the lovemaking and lead to a deeply satisfying climax for both.

It is very easy to stimulate the woman's clitoris in this position. The woman can squat or lie to bring it into contact with the man's pubic bone and then move her hips to rub against him, or it can be slowly and carefully caressed by hand.

The basic woman-on-top sex position begins with the man lying flat on his back. The woman kneels astride his body, facing his head, and gently guides his penis inside her. By moving her body up and down she can control both the speed and depth of penetration and her hands are free to caress him. He can handle her body and breasts and he can see his penis going into her.

From this position, the woman can lean forwards so that her breasts rest on her lover's chest or over his face. This reduces the range of her movement, but she can still raise and lower her hips over the penis while her partner is able to bury his face between her breasts and lick and suck her nipples.

It can be easy for the man's penis to slip out of the woman when she leans forward in this way. However, if she keeps her movements small and shallow, or simply presses herself firmly down on his penis and then circles her hips around the base instead of using sliding movements up and down the shaft, there should not be a problem.

Advantages of the Cowgirl position

• Fusion allows for much greater penetration mobility, and thus increases the pleasure.
  
  
• Both partners can see one another, and in particular the man can view and caress the woman's breasts while they are in a more natural position.
  
  
• Often the man can delay his orgasm longer in this position.
  
  
• The position is far less tiring for the man as he does not have to support his weight while also being physically active.
  
  
• The woman may take a relatively static position, so that she does not tire (by supporting her upper body with her extended arms with her torso almost horizontal), while the man, not having to support his weight can be quite active without fatigue.
  
  
• This variation eases the strain of motion upon the woman's knees, which may be an advantage for some women.
  
  
• The woman can control the depth, intensity, and angle of penetration, and enjoy the dominant feeling of being in control.
  
  
• The man can enjoy receiving pleasure while relaxing.
  
  
• The woman can easily stimulate her clitoris with her hand (if in the upright version).
  
  
• The man can stimulate the woman's clitoris with his hand, though some find the thumb to be more comfortable.
  
  
• If sitting upright, the woman can reach behind her to stimulate the man's testicles.
  
  
• The man can caress the woman's buttocks and stimulate the anus.
  
  
• In a variant position in which the woman is on top and leaning over the man, the man and woman can embrace and kiss while the man is penetrating the woman. He can also caress her breasts in the position.
  
  
• Unlike in the missionary position, in this position the woman has the active role while the man has the passive role.
  
  
• It has received a reputation as sexual method of waking up a partner. This has often been referred to as a "Cowgirl Wake Up
  
  
• Sex toys that are meant to go around the penis and provide clitoral stimulation for the woman are often most effective with this position.
  
  
• As well as being enjoyable for its own vanilla sexual pleasure, this position is a good position for play with sexual dominance: some women like to take control of the man by holding his arms down, and some men like to take control of the woman by taking hold of her arms behind her back. Those of a switchy disposition can move from one to the other and back again. Some consider this to be a position which is particularly suited to female dominance.