38 Oral Sex Positions That’ll Help You Level Up on Going Down
Plus, sexperts share their tried and true tips and tricks for making oral sex amazing sex.
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Oral sex can be so much more than just foreplay, and the very spicy oral sex positions we’ve collected for you here are proof that if you're into it, it's worth a stand-alone moment. It can be insanely intimate, it’s relatively low-risk compared to penetrative sex, not to mention…it’s more reliably orgasmic.
That oral-to-easier-orgasm pipeline is especially true if you're part of the large majority of people with vaginas who depend on clitoral stimulation to cum. “For vulva owners, oral can very often lead to more consistent and intense orgasms than penetration,” says Nikki Coleman, PhD, a licensed psychologist and sex positive therapist. Mouths (especially when coupled with toys and/or fingers) can provide exactly the kind of targeted stimulation a vulva might need.
If you’re the giving partner, one good place to start is by figuring out what makes the receiver, specifically, swollen or wet with lust. Everyone’s different, and moves that might’ve been fool-proof on an ex might be meh for a new partner. “That’s why experimenting with different rhythms, pressures, and patterns, and seeing how your partner's body responds, is essential,” says sex expert Niki Davis-Fainbloom.
Let curiosity guide you. What happens if you slide a firm flat tongue up the shaft of a penis or across a vulva? What if you suck on a penis head or over a clit? Don’t be afraid to find out. “Making oral sex a fun and exhilarating experience hinges on creativity, playfulness, and exploration,” says Davis-Fainbloom
Before you go down under, remember that safety comes first. “Oral sex without protection (such as condoms and dental dams) puts you and your partners at risk of many types of sexually transmissible infections (STIs),” says Jillian LoPiano, OBGYN and Chief Health Officer at Wisp. Practice safe sex and, if you think you might have an STI, get tested.
Once you have the all-clear, get ready to go downtown. Below, 38 ways to give and get the most toe-curling orgasms allowed by law.
The Bend and Slap
Want to try an oral/spanking hybrid? “One partner puts both knees on a chair (with a pillow for comfort) and bends over, holding the back of the chair for stability. The other provides oral pleasure while on their knees,” recommends Alicia Sinclair, certified sex educator and founder of Le Wand. Spank away, or don’t. It also works for 100 percent oral, 0 percent spanking.
SHOP NOW Heart Spanker, $33, Good Vibes
The Human Vibrator
Harness the power of a wand vibrator to do your bidding by having the person giving oral press a wand massager against their throat. “The power of the wand will work its way through the throat to the mouth. Play with different areas to place the wand and vibration intensities to discover what works best for you and your partner,” says Sinclair.
SHOP NOW Le Wand Rechargeable Vibrating Massager, $126, Le Wand
Opposite Day
Work the angles by arraying yourselves just a little differently. One of you sits on a sturdy couch or chair while the other person puts their feet on the cushion, hands on the backrest for stability. “The sitting partner tilts their head backward to stimulate you from below from a unique direction,” says Sinclair. The giver is free to play with balls, slide a finger up a vagina or play with their partner’s ass.
Full Face
Don't be afraid to get all up in there. “Instead of just using your tongue, see how it feels to use your whole face to pleasure your partner,” says Davis-Fainbloom. “The warmth and texture of a cheek, alongside the gentle pressure of a nose (trust!), can provide a unique and stimulating sensation against the vulva or penis.” If you want to put a little lube on your nose, go to town.
The Booty
Adding some butt stuff can enhance oral, amp up orgasms, and expand your kinkiness altogether. “See how it feels to put anal beads in your partner and slowly take them out as you give your partner oral pleasure,” says Davis-Fainbloom. For optimal oomph, pull them out one by one at the moment of orgasm. “When timed right, the slow removal of the beads at peak moments can amplify pleasure significantly, creating a memorable and enjoyable exploration of new sensations together.” You can also use anal beads in the vagina—just make sure you have a dedicated V-only pair.
SHOP NOW Sex and Mischief Black Silicone Anal Beads, $20, Babeland
The Novelist
Inspired by the viral Hysterical Literature Youtube series, watch your partner get overcome by lust by having them read aloud from a book while the other partner gives them oral pleasure. You can choose any book—or a sexy book to up the ante—and see how long they can keep it together. Watching them finally break, despite their best efforts, is what makes this so hot. “As soon as they cannot articulate words properly, switch, and the other partner will receive oral," recommends Davis-Fainbloom.
The Sensation Player
“If you want to explore more of your sensuality in the bedroom, this one's for you,” says Drysdale. “Grab a cup of ice and another cup of warm water. Take one cube of ice in your mouth when going down on your partner to allow them to explore the cool sensations. Next, switch it up with the warm water. This allows you to slow it down while heating up your oral game.” (Make sure your partner is down with this beforehand—no one likes surprise ice groin.)
The Other Kind of Vanilla
“Not a fan of your partner’s taste or want to experiment with different flavors?” says Drysdale. Flavored lube to the rescue! “Grab a handful of WOO More Play’s Coconut Love Oil and apply it to your partner’s genitals generously. This lube will have your partner tasting like the most delicious vanilla cupcakes, without a yeast infection in sight.” (It's organic and all-natural!)
SHOP NOW Woo More Play Coconut Love Oil, $27, Revolve
Sideways Oral
Try the Kivin Method, which is basically oral from the side, but it changes the sensations completely. The receiver lies on their back with their leg lifted while the giver goes in sideways under the leg and slides their tongue up and down along the receiver's vulva. Pop a rumbly internal vibe in and prepare to roll you eyes back into your head.
SHOP NOW Bender Vibrator, $71, Unbound
The Chin Dildo
Okay, hear me out: Chin Dildo. “Once you get over giggling at your partner with a dildo strapped to their chin, using this sexy (silly-looking) tool gives you the best of both worlds: delicious oral and having your V filled at the same time!” says head content creator at Bedbible.com, Edwina Caito. The brave dildo wearer multi-tasks, licking and sucking while moving their head around to bone you with their dildo chin.
SHOP NOW The Accommodator, $15, Adam & Eve
Tantric Oral
Instead of focusing on a specific position, try focusing deeply on your partner—particularly their genitals. In Tantra, oral sex is “a tasting of another person’s soul,” says sexual wellness expert Kenya Stevens, founder of Progressive Love Academy. “It’s not about friction or motion; it's about connecting to the genitals.” Start by slowing down and admiring your partner’s body. “Adorn them with organic, food-grade oil such as coconut or avocado, and gaze, rub, speak with and admire the area before going into what you usually think of as oral sex."
Go With the Flow
Don’t be afraid of oral sex during menstruation. If your partner is down to try it, give yourself permission to receive it! “Many vulva owners find they’re more sensitive and have a higher sex drive during their period, making it a prime time for oral fun,” says certified sexpert Isabelle Uren, writer at Bedbible.com. Not ready to dive right into that crimson tide? “Menstrual cups are great options for period sex, as everything is completely contained within the vagina, leaving the whole labia and clitoris free.” If you’re extra worried, try it in the shower to facilitate clean-up
The Face Time
Help control exactly how much intensity you want by straddling your partner and pressing your vulva against their mouth. It's kinda like face sitting but less of the sitting part. You can sort of rub against them or sort of angle yourself where you want and let them take over. Your partner has their hands free to squeeze your thighs and/or masturbate during bc you're so damn hot
The Double Down
If you're having oral fatigue or just want to amp things up, pop on a wearable finger vibe. If a vulva is involved, try pressing it on one side of the clit while licking the other side. With a penis, try pressing it on the bottom side of the shaft, just under the head or against their perineum.
SHOP NOW Ignite 20 Function Textured Finger Vibrator, $40, Lovehoney
Weak in the Knees
Something about standing oral just feels more must-have-you-now
intense. Tease them a little first by kneeling down and mouthing the outside of their underwear, breathing your warm breath onto them, and kissing and sucking them through the fabric. Keep it up until they beg you to remove them
The Seated 7 and 1
Make a penis happy by using your mouth and hand together, seven strokes up and then one glorious one down. For a vulva, switch between an intense move (deep sucking, shaking your head back and forth, rapid tongue flicks) then a few long languorous licks up their entire vulva. When incoherent moaning occurs, you’re hit the right ratio.
The House Bound
Restraints are great for people who have trouble getting out of their heads. Try having one person lying back with their wrists bound behind their knees. The position and the binding kind of forces vulnerability and really focuses attention on the sensations happening
SHOP NOW Bondage Tape, $11, Good Vibes
Oral Sex for One, Please
If you don’t have a partner around, you can mimic the sensations of oral sex by your own damn self. Try a toy like a Womanizer—the toy we never knew we absolutely needed—for gentle clit suckery. Or get down with an Ora, which has a vibrator and a little round ball that rolls around your clit in a kind of infuriatingly delightful way. Choose a pattern, lie back, and allow the ravishment.
SHOP NOW Womanizer Premium, $200, Adam & Eve
SHOP NOW Lelo Ora 3, $189, Lelo
The Shark Fin
Since oral is impossible to pull off underwater, lie back on a towel with your hips at the edge of the tub. Spread your legs, letting your feet dangle in the water, and appreciate what your partner can do with their mouth. If they’re happy soaking among the warm jets, they can stay down below for a bit longer. Win-win for everyone.
The Butterball
This is a great position not only for cunnilingus, but for a rim job as well. Get yourselves showered up, then the receiver lies back with their knees bent up toward their chest. “This position still gives the giving partner easy access to the receiver’s breasts and clitoris—or with a male butt, access to the penis and testicles—for stimulation fun,” says sex coach Kenneth Play. "If you want to use a barrier for your rimming but don’t have a dental dam handy, a quick sex hack is to grab some plastic wrap to use instead.
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