Sexual Positions — Woman on Top
For the woman-on-top position the man lies on his back and the woman lowers herself onto his erect penis. Either the man or the woman may guide the penis into the vagina. The woman can remain squatting on her knees facing the man, she can straighten her legs, or she can turn around and face her partner's feet. Couples may also arrive at this position by rolling over from a man-on-top or side-by-side position.

On top the woman can regulate the depth of penetration of the penis and the rate of thrusting. This position also allows for maximal indirect stimulation of the clitoris by the penis, and some women reach orgasm more easily when they are on top than when they are underneath the man. Couples may like this position because they both can move their hands more freely to caress each other than in most other positions. They can also see more of each other.

Some women find that penetration is too deep in this position, but they can regulate the depth by limiting how far down they lower themselves. Also, with vigorous movements the penis may slip out of the vagina, which may be frustrating.

The woman-on-top position is less often recommended if the woman is trying to become pregnant because the man's semen naturally tends to run out of her vagina. Of course, women who prefer this position can simply change positions immediately after her partner has ejaculated. Moreover, this is a good position for the later months of pregnancy because it allows intercourse without the woman's growing belly getting in the way. For the same reason it is a good position for men with large stomachs.

Sexual Positions — Side-by-Side
The side-by-side position is a position in which the partners have intercourse lying on their sides facing each other. A couple can start off in this position or arrive at it by rolling over from man or woman on top. Deep pelvic thrusting is difficult when a couple is side by side and some couples prefer not to use the position for that reason.

On the other hand, both partners' hands are free to caress each other and the face to face position allows them to kiss. Because energetic thrusting is difficult when side by side, this is a particularly good position for people who need to avoid strenuous activity. It is also a useful position during pregnancy because the woman's belly gets in the way less than, for example, in the man-on-top position.

Sexual Positions — Rear Entry
Rear entry intercourse is when the man's penis enters the woman's vagina when she has her back to him. It is not the same as anal intercourse, which is intercourse with a man's penis inserted in his partner's rectum. Rear entry intercourse can be done with the woman standing but bending over and supporting herself, or with the woman on her hands and knees and the man kneeling behind her (commonly known as doggy style). Or rear entry can be done with both partners lying on their sides, her back to his front.