7 Ways To Make Doggy Style Even Better

Eye contact during sex isn't just hot, but intimate. "Some women prefer to look at their partner during [sex] because it enhances intimacy for them," Dr. Jennifer Caudle, M.D., a family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University, tells Bustle. "For this reason, some may not prefer doggy style."

So how can those who don't like the missing intimacy and those who want to make it better remedy this? By looking over your shoulder at your partner and locking eyes with them. It's also fun to see how much they're enjoying themselves, too.

No matter the position, it can be adjusted to be even better. If the missionary position can be modified to be more interesting, then doggy style definitely can, too. "Lie flat on your stomach, legs together," Jessica Drake, adult performer and sex educator, tells Bustle. "Same amazingly tight friction as 'special' missionary, and depending on the size and shape of your partner, possible G-spot stimulation."

It's also easier to clench your vaginal and thigh muscles in this position, making that friction that Drake mentions even tighter.

Nothing spruces up a sexual moment like talking dirty. According to a survey of almost 1,000 sexually active adults from the UK-based online pharmacy Superdrug, 90% of respondents indicated arousal during sexual talk — and the most sexually satisfied respondents also spoke most frequently during sex. Meaning, the more you talk during sex, the more satisfied and in tune you feel. From telling your partner what feels good, what you want more of, or something a little spicier, talking dirty can take doggy style to a whole new level.

Whether you use a butt plug, vibrator, or both, sex toys are the easiest way to make doggy style better. It also ups your chances of experiencing the elusive blended orgasm — an orgasm that is both internal (vaginal) and external (clitoral). Per Harvard Health, 75% of cisgender women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, while 25% can orgasm during penetrative sex alone. By introducing an extra layer of stimulation — for example, a vibrator during penetration or a butt plug during oral sex — the added pleasure increases the likelihood of a more intense, satisfying orgasm.

“For women who can achieve vaginal orgasms, for added pleasure and the potential of clitoral and vaginal orgasm, add manual stimulation and/or toys during [sex]," holistic sexologist and sexuality educator Lisa Hochberger tells Bustle. “There is a toy that I recommend women try during vaginal intercourse called the Satisfyer. It will provide women with an overwhelming amount of clitoral stimulation during vaginal intercourse.” Other kinds of toys that enhance clitoral stimulation include the Svakom Echo or the ORA 2.

When you're on your hands and knees in traditional doggy style, it can do a number on your wrists and knees, but pillows can make a big difference here. As Dr. Caudle points out, doggy style can be uncomfortable for the receiver because it puts pressure on the joints. An easy way to fix that is with pillows or by lowering your upper body down, so you're putting pressure on your forearms instead of your wrists. Think Dolphin pose, not cat-cow.

If you feel like you absolutely want (read: need) your partner to get even deeper during doggy style, then arching your back helps. It moves the cervix in such a way that you'll get maximum depth, Shanna Katz, M.Ed, ACS, previously told Bustle. Once you arch your back, you'll feel the difference immediately. If you’re not sure how to arch your back, try creating a downward slope with your body, and lift your butt to the sky. (You can practice arching your back by moving your spine through a cat-cow motion; your back will be arched in “cow.”) For extra support, try a sex wedge placed under your hips.

Even if you're the one on the receiving end of doggy style, that doesn't mean you can't get involved. In addition to talking dirty, you can also add to it by moving, too. Whether you choose to push hard against your partner's groin for deeper penetration, or to swivel your hips around to give you both a different sensation, it's important to be an active part of doggy style if you want to make it even better.