One of the most popular positions of all time is, of course, the iconic 69. But did you know there are loads of ways to enjoy it? For all the 69 lovers out there, we’ve put together a few variations so the good old 69 never gets stale. Bonus: it doesn’t take up much room — perfect for sex on the move.
8 Variations on the 69 position
The positions in this article are illustrated as a man-and-woman pairing, but every variation works brilliantly for lesbian and gay couples too. In some positions, oral can be trickier for gay guys — but rimming is always a great alternative.
69 #1. Man on the bottom
The classic: the 69 with him on the bottom. Comfortable and easy to give each other oral. He gets a front-row, close-up view of her bum and vulva. Ladies, take it up a notch by riding his face.
69 #2. Woman on the bottom
A bit less practical, but no less fun: the version with the woman underneath. She’ll find oral a touch trickier, but she gets free rein to play with his scrotum. He can thrust gently to penetrate her mouth. Reaching her clitoris is harder in this version, but a small pillow under her bum sorts that out nicely.
Tip! Treat his perineum with your tongue. That spot between his scrotum and anus is incredibly sensitive.
69 #3. The Side 69
The Side 69 is brilliant when you’re both up for a lazy 69. Lying on your sides, you cancel out gravity — especially if you drape your outer legs over each other. You can keep going tirelessly with the licking and sucking.
TIP! Want more positions? The Kama Sutra Pocket is packed with tips and inspiration.
69 #4. Yin-Yang
The Yin-Yang is an intimate position with serious payoff for both. She can pull her legs up and hold her ankles to keep them in place, lifting the vulva so he has easy access and can give her perfect oral, while she pleasures him from below.
Did you know? This position is also perfect for rimming her.
69 #5. The Squat
This looks like a simple variation, but it really isn’t. Ladies, you’ve got the heavy lifting here. Squat as low as possible — the deeper you go, the easier it is to lick the head of his penis. Luckily, he can give you a hand by holding his penis in place. A proper workout, but the reward is excellent.
69 #6. The Downward Dog
All yoga lovers, listen up. Ever wanted to combine yoga with sex? Now’s your chance. The Downward (facing) Dog makes a fantastic 69 variation. Not only does he get a great view of the vulva, he can watch you give him oral when he looks down. Trust us — every guy wants to try this one.
To make it easier, you can hold his legs or ankles. He can hold your hips to steady you. That way you stay nicely balanced.
69 #7. The Golden Gate
This variation is one for the flexible ladies among us. Slip a pillow under his head so he can comfortably reach her vulva. She has easy access to his penis too. He can even add some thrusts to bring extra zip to this position.
69 #8. The Orchid
This variation calls for some acrobatic skill. To stay balanced, she can rest on her elbows. He’s in a great spot to give oral, holding her with his arms. Struggling to keep her legs spread? She can wrap her legs around his neck instead.
Tip! While he’s holding her firmly, he can also pleasure her with his fingers.
The benefits of the 69
There’s a reason it’s such a popular position — the 69 brings plenty of advantages.
- Seriously sexy. It’s just hot. Wildly hot, in fact. Reason enough on its own.
- Control. The partner on top (handy if it’s the woman) controls the intensity. Too much? Lift the hips a bit. Want more? Sink in deeper.
- A different angle. Receiving oral the “normal” way comes from one direction. In 69, the angle is completely different — making it feel unique and exciting. And it’s easy to incorporate anal play too.
The downsides of the 69
But every advantage has a downside, as the saying goes. So what are the catches with 69?
- Giving and receiving at the same time. The biggest drawback, in our view, is that you’re giving and receiving simultaneously. Your attention is split, so you can’t fully surrender to the pleasure. Hot, yes — but probably not the best oral of your life.
- Mismatched heights. If there’s a big height difference between you, it can take some manoeuvring. One of you might struggle to reach.
Which variation are you trying tonight?