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Not all bedroom moves are safe — medical experts reveal the riskiest sex positions and how to protect yourself. Stay safe while spicing things up.
If you thought sex was risky enough thanks to the threat of your kids walking in, think again. A new study has looked at the sex positions most likely to break a man’s penis. Ouch.
And experts found doggy style – the nation’s favourite sex position (preferred by one in four Brits, according to research) – caused 41 percent of penile fractures.
The eye-watering study, published in the Journal of Impotence Research focused on the ‘relationship between sexual position and severity of penile fracture’.
Missionary position was the second most dangerous, causing 25 percent of penile fractures. Having sex with the woman on top was third on the list, causing 10 percent of injuries to the men surveyed.
All of which means the potential hazards of parent sex are not just your kids catching you in the act – something that has happened to nearly a fifth of you, found our Netmums sex survey.
Sex therapist and author Annabelle Knight told Netmums, ‘I’m not surprised doggy style tops the list as the most dangerous position.
‘This position is absolutely fantastic if your partner’s a little on the small side, as it allows for deeper penetration.
‘However, if your partner is larger than average then it can be uncomfortable or even painful.
‘The risks associated with this position are unwanted internal bruising for women from all the unabashed thrusting and the possibility of penis fracture for men.’
What is a penis fracture?
One way a man can fracture his penis is if he accidentally hits the woman’s pubic bone during intense sex.
And while there are no bones in a penis to physically break, a penile fracture means membranes tear … all of which sounds incredibly painful.
The doctors who carried out the research said, ‘We do not observe differences between the severity of the penile fracture between the “doggy style” and “man-on-top”, but the “doggy style” had more severity of penile fracture when compared with “woman-on-top”.’
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Can women be affected by painful sex?
And it’s not just men who can experience pain in the bedroom – sex can be painful for women, too. One common reason is simply not being aroused enough.
Annabelle says, ‘Friction during sex can cause tearing of the delicate tissue inside the vagina, as well as bruising and numbness.’
Other causes of painful sex for women include:
- an infection like thrush or an STI like herpes can make sex painful.
- vaginismus – a condition where the vagina muscles shut, sometimes making sex impossible.
- pelvic inflamatory disease, which can cause pain inside the pelvis.
- fibroids growing near your vagina or cerix.
- a ‘depressed vagina’ – otherwise known as a condition called vulvodynia. This causes an unexplained pain in the vulva.
Talk to your GP if you are finding sex painful.
How can you practice ‘safer’ sex?
It’s not just waiting until your kids are occupied so you can sneak in a quickie (something nearly a quarter of mums do, according to our sex survey).
Annabelle says there are a few simple things you can do to practice safer sex:
1 Use lubrication
‘Lube is the number one key to pain-free sex. The less friction there is, the less chance you have of injury. ‘
2 Talk to your partner
‘Communication is another way you can stay sexually safe.
‘If it hurts, is uncomfortable, or something just doesn’t feel quite right, then say something and stop.’
3 Adapt your favourite sex positions
‘If a particular position aggravates the discomfort then avoid that position, or adapt it if you want to.
‘For example, if you’re a lover of doggy style but your partner’s a little too big then try it standing up. His range of motion will be stunted meaning he’s far less likely to accidentally hurt you.’
What are the best sex positions for women?
Even though missionary comes in at number two on the list of most ‘dangerous’ sex positions, it’s a great position for women, says Annabelle.
(Not least because you can keep an eye on the bedroom door in case your kids suddenly appear.)
Annabelle says, ‘There’s a reason missionary is one of the most popular positions. Not only is it one of the most comfortable positions for a woman, it’s also very intimate.
‘This position also provides maximum external contact with your sensitive sweet spots, meaning your chances of climaxing through intercourse are far increased.
‘Woman on top is also a firm favourite as it gives you practically complete control as to what goes on and promotes a far more pleasurable rocking movement.
