Rear-entry is the umbrella name for any position where the penetrating partner enters from behind while the receiving partner faces away. The best-known version is doggy style: the receiving partner is on hands and knees and the other partner kneels behind them. Side-lying, lying flat and standing versions belong to the same family. Rear-entry works for vaginal or anal sex, with a penis, a strap-on or fingers, and for couples of any gender. Many people love it for the deep angle and the sense of closeness. Others find their knees or back have opinions. Both are fine.
How to Do the Rear-Entry Position Step by Step
Here's the classic doggy style setup, which every variation below builds on:
- Get into position. The receiving partner kneels on the bed, knees about hip-width apart, and leans forward onto hands or forearms. The penetrating partner kneels behind them, between or just outside their knees.
- Use lube and start slow. Begin shallow and gentle. The receiving partner can rock back to choose how deep things go, which is a simple way to share control early on.
- Find the angle. If the receiving partner lowers their chest onto a pillow and keeps their hips raised, the angle changes noticeably. Many people find this hits a spot along the front wall of the vagina or rectum. Experiment a little at a time.
- Add hands. The penetrating partner can hold their partner's hips for rhythm. Either partner can reach around for clitoral or penile stimulation. Rear-entry doesn't give the clitoris much direct contact, so a hand or a vibrator often makes the difference between "nice" and "oh."
5 Rear-Entry Variations to Try
1. Lying Flat (Prone)
The receiving partner lies face down with a pillow or wedge under their hips. The penetrating partner lies or kneels over them, supporting their own weight on their arms. Movement is slower and shallower, and the receiving partner can press against the pillow (or a toy tucked under it) for extra stimulation. It's great when knees need a break.
2. Spooning
Both partners lie on their sides facing the same way, with the penetrating partner behind. The receiving partner lifts their top leg slightly or draws the knee forward to make entry easier. This is the gentlest version: little strain on joints, lots of skin contact, and both of your hands are free.
3. Kneeling Upright
Both partners kneel upright, with the receiving partner's back against the penetrating partner's chest. Penetration is shallower, but you get lots of closeness: the partner behind can kiss the neck, wrap their arms around their partner and touch the chest or genitals. Put a soft surface under your knees, and if balance is wobbly, the receiving partner can lean forward onto the headboard.
4. Standing at the Edge of the Bed
The receiving partner kneels at the edge of the bed or bends over it with their feet on the floor. The penetrating partner stands behind. This is a handy fix for height differences and spares the standing partner's knees. Make sure whatever you lean on is stable and holds weight. A wobbly desk is not your friend here.
5. Reverse Cowgirl
Here the penetrating partner lies on their back and the receiving partner straddles them while facing their feet. It's still entry from behind, but the partner on top controls depth, speed and angle completely. That makes it a good choice when the receiving partner wants to lead or is still learning what feels good. Lean forward or back slowly, since bending a penis at a sharp angle can hurt or cause injury.
Comfort and Safety Tips
- Protect your joints. Use pillows or a folded blanket under knees, and drop to forearms if wrists ache.
- Go easy on depth. Rear-entry can reach deep, and hitting the cervix or going too fast during anal sex hurts. Pain is a signal to slow down or change angle, not something to push through.
- Use plenty of lube, especially for anal sex. The anus doesn't make its own lubrication.
- Use barriers. Condoms lower the risk of STIs and pregnancy. Never go from anal to vaginal penetration without changing the condom or washing, because it can carry bacteria that cause infections.
When Rear-Entry Isn't for You
Skip or adapt these positions if any of the following apply:
- Knee, hip or wrist pain: swap all-fours for spooning or lying flat.
- Lower back problems: deep arching and forceful thrusting can aggravate them. Spooning keeps the spine more neutral.
- Pregnancy: spooning and hands-and-knees versions are often comfortable because nothing presses on the belly. Lying face down is not, especially later on. Follow your clinician's advice on sex during pregnancy.
- Pain during or after sex: repeated pain, bleeding or deep aching is worth checking with a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist rather than putting up with it.
- Emotional reasons: some people feel too disconnected without seeing their partner's face, or the position brings up difficult memories. That's a perfectly good reason to choose something else.
Communication and Consent
You can't read each other's faces in most rear-entry positions, so words matter more. Agree beforehand on simple signals like "slower," "deeper," "stop," or a tap on the thigh for when talking feels awkward. Check in briefly during sex, and the receiving partner can steer by reaching back to guide hips or hands. Extras like spanking or hair-pulling need their own explicit yes before they happen, not after. Afterwards, ask what felt good and what didn't. It's the fastest way to get better at this together.
FAQ
Is rear-entry the same as doggy style?
Doggy style is one kind of rear-entry. Rear-entry also includes spooning, lying flat, standing and reverse cowgirl. It is not the same as woman-on-top (cowgirl), where the partner on top usually faces the person underneath.
How do we make it feel less distant?
Try spooning or kneeling upright for more skin contact, or set up a mirror so you can see each other's faces. Keep talking, too. A whispered "this feels amazing" goes a long way.
What if there's a big height difference?
Raise the shorter partner with pillows under the knees, or use the bed-edge version. In that one, the standing partner can bend their knees or the receiving partner can adjust how high they kneel.
Related
If you like the deep angle a raised pelvis gives, our guide to the legs up position gets a similar effect face to face.
