THE CORKSCREW ISN'T just a tool for opening a bottle of wine. It’s also a sex position—and as the name suggests, it involves some twisting.
Just like any novel bedroom activity, trying a new sex position will help keep that sexy spark alive in your relationship. "Eventually, repetition breeds familiarity and predictability, which breeds boredom,” ]explains Lovehoney sex and relationship expert Jess O’Reilly, Ph.D. Plus, when you try something new, there is often a sense of tension and discomfort, which, ironically, “can heighten excitement and sensation,” O'Reilly adds.
With that said, let's talk about how to do the corkscrew sex position, its benefits and drawbacks, and a few ways to slightly tweak the position to make it accessible for as many people as possible.
What is the corkscrew sex position?
An easy way to get into the corkscrew sex position is to have the receiving partner (the partner being penetrated) start flat on their back. The inserting partner, on their knees, then straddles one of the receiving partner's thighs. From here, the receiving partner twists toward the leg that's being straddled. Lifting their free leg, they hook it around the inserting partner's waist. The inserting partner can help by holding the wrapped leg in place.
Here's what it looks like:
What are the benefits of the corkscrew position?
The biggest pro is deep penetration, explains Dr. Lee Phillips, a psychotherapist and certified sex and couple's therapist. “For people with vulvas, the twisted angle may hit the G-spot in a way it has not been hit before,” he says. “Additionally, when the receiver keeps their legs closed tightly together, it gives a firm hold on the penis.” This creates more sensation for the inserting partner.
Moreover, the twisting motion and unique angle can produce different sensations, “which is why this position has been known to provide more pleasure than other sexual positions such as the missionary sex position,” Phillips says.
In addition to the physical sensation, “You get the benefit of eye contact and a hot view, if you’re a visual lover,” O’Reilly says. The inserting partner can also manually stimulate their partner’s clitoris or massage their breasts/nipples. (FYI, the corkscrew position works with anal penetration, too—another benefit!)
Then you can explore some power dynamics in this position, with either partner exercising control. “The bottom partner can take physical control and play with the threat of twisting/pressure on the shaft of the penis," O'Reilly says. "The upper partner can also pin the bottom partner down using their hands or ties."
What are the cons of the corkscrew position?
Flexibility and strength come into play with this position; you need to have core strength and be able to twist your body and legs around. “Depending on how you are positioned, it could become stressful on the legs and even the pelvic area of the [receiving partner],” explains Tamara Bell, a certified sexologist and sex expert for Momentum Intimacy.
If you're experiencing any of those issues, the receiving partner can try putting a sex wedge under their back or hips to get some extra support in the corkscrew position. That said, remember that if something hurts during sex, stop! Sex is supposed to be pleasurable. There's no reward for pushing through the pain.
Can I use sex toys in the corkscrew position?
You can use sex toys in pretty much any sex position by wearing a cock ring or inserting a vibrating butt plug. But the corkscrew position is particularly ideal for using sex toys because of how easy it is to access the receiving partner's genitals, and because both partners will have at least one free hand. The receiving partner can use their upper hand to hold a vibrator on themselves—or the penetrating partner could do it for them. (If you haven't tried a clit-sucking vibrator before, check out our round-up of the best ones to try.)
