The Seashell Sex Position Is a Tiny Tweak on Missionary With a *Huge* Impact
Starring you, your legs, and delightfully deep penetration.
Sometimes, a little adjustment can make a huge difference. (See also: the glory of end-of-day bra removal.) The seashell sex position is just a little tweak on missionary that somehow changes everything. It has all the stuff that’s good about missionary—eye contact, lots of skin-to-skin, everyone understands what to do—but it also gives you the deepest penetration humanly possible, which for some, could be The Best Thing Ever. Naturally, it’s not for everyone, but it really depends on your specific tastes, desires, and of course, anatomy.
“Going super deep for some women is painful, while for others, it’s the key to pleasure,” says Jenni Skyler, PhD, LMFT and CST, AASECT certified sex therapist, sexologist and licensed marriage and family therapist for AdamEve.com.
If deep penetration hasn’t been great for you in the past, you can still give this a (careful) go with some helpful preparation. “To ensure you cover all your bases, and to make this position better, grab a good lube and make sure you have a lot of foreplay before going in,” says Skyler. (Ahem, might we suggest taking a look at the winners of Cosmo’s first-ever Lube Awards?!)
Once everyone’s all lubed and foreplay-ed up, start in missionary. Then, the person on the bottom bends their legs and lifts them way up towards their head. “Make sure you talk! Because of the depth of this position, it’s possible to hit the cervix with each thrust. This can be highly pleasurable for some women, and highly uncomfortable for others,” says Skyler.
Adjust the seashell to your whims. The bottom person can press their legs together for a tighter fit, their legs can bend way back or to one side (or just kind of bend, see below: The Not-So-Flexible Shell), and there are plenty of ways to add toys and/or all manners of clit rubbing.
Ready to test drive it for yourself? Behold: Six variations to enjoy the pleasure of the sea(shell).
The Flying V
“This is a fabulous position for deeper penetration and easy to access no matter your flexibility or physical ability,” says Skyler, adding that if the receiver needs to rest their legs, they can put them on the penetrating partner's shoulders. Since your hands are free, it’s also a very vibrator-friendly position. Grab your favorite clitoral stimulator and go to town.
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The Happy Baby
“This seashell requires good hamstring strength and flexibility, but in this version, like the yoga position Happy Baby, the woman can hold her feet in her hands to stabilize herself,” says Skyler. Since your hands won’t be free in this one, add a vibrating penis ring if you like/need vibration to have an orgasm.
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The Shell Yes
“For deeper penetration, try crossing your ankles behind your head or placing a pillow under your hips,” says Tatyana Dyachenko, sex therapist and relationship expert for Peaches and Screams. “Add some sex toys to the mix. I’d highly recommend nipple clamps or a vibrating butt plug for either person.”
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The Riding High/Riding Low
If you like the feeling of a lubed-up penis or dildo rubbing your clit, try riding high. “The penetrating partner ‘rides high’ by rubbing their penis against the clitoris to enhance stimulation,” says Barbara Santini, sex and relationship advisor at Giejo. You can ride high with or without penetration. If it’s internal stim you crave, try riding low. “The receiver opens their legs wider, allowing the penetrating partner to stimulate their internal hot spots using their penis or dildo head.”
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The Venus on the Half Shell
“This is one of my favorite positions!” says Katherin Winnick, sex coach and BDSM expert at Let’s Talk Sex. . “Put one leg down and push the other leg up. Let your partner straddle one of your legs and penetrate. This will make you feel tighter.” If your partner has a penis, they’ll like the tighter feel; if they have a vulva, they can easily hump your thigh (aka a thigh job).
The Not-So-Flexible Shell
If you’re not super flexible, this one’s for you. Instead of pulling your legs up and out, tuck them in à la the fetal position but on your back. “It’s a great option for anal sex, making the anus accessible and allowing for eye contact and easier communication during penetration,” says sex educator Rebecca Blanton, aka Auntie Vice, cohost of the Fat Chicks on Top podcast. Having your legs between your bodies gives you more control. “This is a big benefit for people new to anal sex or whose partner’s penis may be larger than is comfortable for deep thrusting.”
Jill Hamilton is a contributor for Cosmopolitan.com and writes the blog In Bed With Married Women.
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