"Crazy" sex positions don't have to mean circus acts. Usually it just means trying something that changes the angle, the setting or how you hold each other. Below are five adventurous positions, from the "Butterfly" to the "Erotic Accordion". Each one comes with an easier version and clear signs that it's not for you today. They work for different bodies and pairings. Where a position mentions penetration, swap in fingers, a toy or grinding if that suits you better.
Before You Try Anything Wild
- Talk first, not mid-move. Agree on what you're trying and pick a stop word or a simple tap-out signal.
- Warm up. Arousal, foreplay and lube make every position easier. Use silicone- or water-based lube with condoms. Oil-based lube can break latex.
- Check your furniture. Beds, tables and chairs should be stable and able to carry your combined weight. Clear sharp corners nearby.
- Protection still applies. Condoms and dental dams protect against STIs and pregnancy no matter how creative the angle is.
1. The Butterfly
How to get into it: The receiving partner lies on their back with their hips right at the edge of a bed or a sturdy table. They lift their legs and rest them on the standing partner's shoulders or chest. The standing partner holds their hips or thighs for control.
Make it easier: Put a pillow under the receiving partner's hips to raise them to the right height. If the bed is low, the standing partner can kneel on a cushion. Resting the legs against the chest instead of the shoulders puts less strain on tight hamstrings.
Skip it if: the receiving partner has hip or lower-back pain, or if deep penetration feels uncomfortable. Later in pregnancy, many clinicians advise against lying flat on your back for long, so choose a side-lying position instead.
2. The Erotic Accordion
How to get into it: The receiving partner lies on their back and pulls their knees toward their chest. The other partner kneels in front of them and gently holds their shins or ankles. During sex, the kneeling partner slowly opens and closes the receiving partner's legs, like an accordion. That changes the angle and the sensation.
Make it easier: Move slowly and let the receiving partner set the range. They can also hold their own knees so they stay in control.
Skip it if: there's knee, hip or back pain, or during pregnancy, because pulling the knees toward the belly presses on the abdomen.
3. The Wheelbarrow
How to get into it: The receiving partner starts on hands and knees at the edge of the bed. The partner behind stands up, takes hold of the receiving partner's thighs and lifts them to hip height. The receiving partner supports themselves on their hands or forearms.
Make it easier: Keep the receiving partner's forearms and chest on the mattress so their arms don't carry the weight. The standing partner can rest one knee on the bed. Keep it short, because this one is tiring.
Skip it if: either partner has wrist, shoulder or back problems, if the receiving partner has high blood pressure or gets dizzy with their head low, or during pregnancy.
4. Wall-Supported Standing
How to get into it: The receiving partner leans their back against a wall and lifts one leg onto the other partner's hip. Both face each other. The wall takes the weight, so nobody has to lift anyone.
Make it easier: If there's a height difference, the shorter partner can stand on a stable step. The raised foot can also rest on a chair. Full carry-style lifts look impressive in films, but they strain backs quickly. The wall version gives you the closeness without the risk.
Skip it if: balance, knees or the lower back are a problem. Lying down gives you a similar face-to-face angle.
5. The Parked Car Passenger Seat
Ground rules first: Only in a parked car, with the engine off and the keys out of the ignition. Never while anyone is driving. Never in a closed garage with the engine running, because exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. Stay on private property. Sex in a car in a public place can count as public indecency in many places. The driver's seat is out too: there's too little room, and the steering wheel gets in the way.
How to get into it: Push the passenger seat all the way back and recline it. One partner sits in the seat. The other partner straddles them face to face with their knees on either side, or sits on their lap facing forward.
Make it easier: A blanket or towel protects knees and upholstery. Larger cars or a folded-down back seat give you more room.
Skip it if: you can't be sure of privacy, or if knees or the neck don't like the tight space.
Communication and Consent
Adventurous positions work best when you treat them as an experiment, not a performance. Laughing when something doesn't work is completely normal. Check in during sex ("Still good?" "Slower?") and treat any change of mind as final, even mid-position. If a position hurts, stop. Pain is a signal, not something to push through. Afterwards, talk about what you'd do again and what you'd skip next time.
If more than two people are involved, the same rules apply: everyone agrees beforehand, anyone can stop at any time, and protection is planned in advance.
FAQ
Do unusual positions actually feel better?
Not automatically. For some people a new angle hits exactly the right spot. For others the novelty is the fun part. If a "crazy" position feels worse than your favorite, that's useful information, not a failure.
Can we try these with a disability or chronic pain?
Often, yes, if you adapt them. Pillows, wedges and furniture can take over the work of muscles and joints. If you're unsure what's safe for your body, ask a physiotherapist or doctor who works with sexual health.
What if my partner doesn't want to try something?
Then you don't do it. You can ask whether there's a gentler version they'd enjoy, but "no" doesn't need a reason.
