Sexual intercourse

:This article is about sexual intercourse in humans and its societal implications. For biological copulation in general, see copulation.

Postures of the body during sexual intercourse

Main article: List of sex positions

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Sexual intercourse may be performed in a wide variety of positions, the most common ones being:

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• The woman lying on her back, the man on top and facing her ("missionary position")
• The woman on hands and knees, the man kneeling behind her ("doggy style" or in Latin coitus more ferarum "sex in the manner of beasts")
• The man on his back or sitting, the woman kneeling or squatting on top (slang "cowgirl" if the woman faces the man or "reverse cowgirl" if the woman faces away from him)
• Both partners lying on their sides, the man entering from the front ("side-by-side position")
• Both partners lying on their sides, the man entering from behind ("spooning")