Good communication is often described as the foundation of satisfying sex, but a recent study also puts clear names to the practical ways many women adjust things in the moment to feel better during vaginal penetration. The findings were published in PLOS ONE and drew on a survey of more than 3,000 women aged 18 to 93 across the United States. Participants were asked to share what they actually do to increase pleasure, and researchers noticed the same patterns showing up again and again.
The most common approach was what the study calls angled positioning. Nearly nine in ten women said they change the angle of contact by rotating, lifting, or lowering the pelvis and hips, whether their partner is using a penis or a sex toy. It sounds simple, but that is the point. Small shifts can change what feels good without turning intimacy into a complicated performance.
Another frequently reported method was shallow penetration. About 84 percent of women said they often prefer touch that stays close to the vaginal opening rather than deeper thrusting. This highlights something many couples overlook in the rush to imitate what sex is supposed to look like. Comfort and pleasure are often more about precision and pacing than intensity.
The study also identified a technique called rocking, used by around 76 percent of respondents. Rocking focuses on keeping a steady connection while the base of a penis or toy can stimulate the clitoris, instead of repeating a classic in and out motion. Closely related is pairing, reported by roughly 70 percent of women, which means combining clitoral stimulation with fingers or a toy during penetration. Some women do this themselves, while others involve a partner, and the underlying message is that pleasure can be shared without guessing.
Researchers do not present these ideas as shocking discoveries, but they hope that naming them makes it easier for women to recognize what works and talk about it. Julia Robinson, a senior editor at PLOS ONE, said research like this adds to academic knowledge and explores a topic that has often been underexamined even though it relates to women’s health and wellbeing. Psychologist and certified sex therapist Kate Balestrieri, who was not involved in the study, also emphasized how empowering it can be to give women language for guiding their own experience rather than feeling like passive participants.
Which of these techniques feels most relatable to you, and what do you wish more people understood about women’s pleasure? Share your thoughts in the comments.
