Relationships Spouses & Partners 8 Sex Positions That Can Reduce Stress By Toketemu Ohwovoriole Toketemu Ohwovoriole LinkedIn Toketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years. Her expertise focuses primarily on mental wellness and women’s health topics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 31, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Roberto Westbrook / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Missionary Standing Up Doggy-style Spooning Coital Alignment Flat Doggy Yab-Yum Get On Top Sex has many benefits, and one of the most surprising ones is stress relief—and there may be some positions that can relieve stress more effectively than others. During sex, your body releases a cocktail of feel-good hormones that not only make sex pleasurable but can also help to reduce feelings of stress or anxiety. In a 2012 study, researchers found that sex can relieve stress for both men and women. What’s even more interesting is that particular positions during sex work better than others in helping to reduce stress. Having sex in any position that maximizes both your pleasures is a great way to use sex as a stress reliever. With that said, here are some sex positions that can help reduce your stress. Missionary Good ol' missionary is excellent for reducing stress because it’s a position most people are familiar with and comfortable with. When you are at your most relaxed, you are more likely to enjoy sex. And when you are enjoying sex, you are more likely to have an orgasm, which releases hormones that can help with stress. Standing Up Standing during sex might seem uncomfortable in theory, but can be an excellent position for stress relief. This is because you are likely to work up a sweat in this position, which is great to reduce stress. It might take a couple of tries for you and your partner to find a position that works for you, but it’s worth it. Tip: It might help for the person who’s being penetrated to be bent over a piece of furniture or leaned against a wall or door. Doggy-style The person on the receiving end of penetration during doggy-style might experience stress relief as a result of relinquishing control during sex. One cause of stress is being overwhelmed with life and feeling like you are juggling too many things at once. Not having to think too much about who’s in control can ease some of that pressure during sex. Spooning Spooning is one of the most intimate positions you could find yourself in during sex. When spooning, you’ll be held as close to your partner as possible. Just doing this, even without penetrative sex, can feel very relaxing and comforting. Spooning is also a relatively low-effort position that many people can easily do. Coital Alignment This is a variation of the missionary position. With coital alignment, however, the person being penetrated keeps their legs only slightly apart. If either partner has a clitoris, this position provides great access to the clitoris for additional stimulation. Flat Doggy This variation of the doggy-style position has you lying on your front instead of being on all fours. Some people find this a little more comfortable than the doggy-style position. You also have the added benefit of having more skin-to-skin contact with your partner. It can be a very intimate and sensual position which increases its potential for stress relief. Yab-Yum The Yab-Yum is a popular tantric style sex position. This position allows for partners to have intimate access to each other’s sensual spots. With the Yab-Yum, you sit facing your partner and wrap your legs around their lower back. This allows them to thrust upwards into you while maintaining eye contact, which increases intimacy. An essential component of Yab-Yum, as is with tantric sex positions, is to slow things down and enjoy each stroke while staring into your partner’s eyes. Get On Top In the same way, relinquishing control with doggy-style or flat doggy-style could help ease your stress; taking control of your pleasure could have the same. This is especially so if you’ve been feeling a little like you don’t have a lot of control over other aspects of your life. Being on top helps you to control the pace and when and how your orgasm occurs. Not to mention that it could also help you work up a sweat, and it’s common knowledge that exercise is a great way to reduce stress. Reminder: Get Comfortable While the positions in this article are a great place to start when using sex as a stress reliever, the most important way to use sex for stress relief is to ensure that you and your partner are at your most comfortable and enjoying the sex. In order to do this, you can:Start by ensuring foreplay is sufficientMake sure you are both aroused Ensure that all parties have given consent Set the mood (you can light candles or play music)However, if you are not in the mood for sex or are too stressed even to enjoy sex, it may be time to look into eliminating stressors from your life. A Word From Verywell Although stress can help reduce sex, it’s important to look into other stress management techniques as stress could inevitably affect your sex drive because high levels of daily stress could reduce the frequency of sexual activity and decrease sexual satisfaction. If you need additional support or want to learn other ways sex can help relieve your stress, reach out to a sex therapist. 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ein-Dor T, Hirschberger G. Sexual healing: Daily diary evidence that sex relieves stress for men and women in satisfying relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2012;29(1):126-139. Jackson EM. Stress relief: the role of exercise in stress management. ACSM’S Health & Fitness Journal. 2013;17(3):14-19. Bodenmann G, Atkins DC, Schär M, Poffet V. The association between daily stress and sexual activity. Journal of Family Psychology. 2010;24(3):271-279. By Toketemu Ohwovoriole Toketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years. Her expertise focuses primarily on mental wellness and women’s health topics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for Relationships Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.