There are so many fun, creative and different ways to achieve pleasure or have an orgasm, and often, it has nothing to do with penetration. When it does include penis-in-vagina sex, however, there are plenty of ways to maximise your pleasure and increase the possibility of reaching the finish line, especially for women. Let’s talk about one technique that prioritises clitoral stimulation, known as the coital alignment technique.
A variation on the missionary position, coital alignment technique (CAT) is a penis-in-vagina sex position where the penetrating partner grinds their penis up against the vulva owner’s clitoris during penetration to help the vulva owner reach orgasm. This technique requires the penis-holder to move higher up on the vagina-holder until an erection points down and presses against the nerves closer to the clitoris.
Sometimes referred to as “grinding the corn,” CAT changes the in-and-out thrusting of traditional P-in-V sex to a rocking motion that more resembles dry humping. The partner with the penis attempts to grind his pubic bone into the vulva of the woman and since that stimulates the clitoris, it’s more likely to create the possibility of an orgasm for the woman.
This position might be best for people who are more likely to experience pleasure and/or orgasms through clitoral stimulation, but it’s also a great fit for people with mobility issues or those who simply want to get creative with missionary.
How is CAT different from missionary?
Not terribly so, but there’s enough of a twist to help you and your partner experience pleasure in a new way. The main difference between the coital alignment technique and the missionary position is that CAT sex mainly focuses on the clitoris, plus the penis is pointing downward in the vagina instead of upward.
However, it’s similar to missionary sex because one person is on their back and the other person is on top, facing their partner. With CAT sex, the partner on top—the one using their penis or dildo—focuses on clitoral stimulation while penetrating the vagina. With missionary, on the other hand, the person on top may not use their weight to put pressure on the clitoris or may use their fingers to stimulate manually.
Look at it this way: CAT is the hands-free version!
Benefits of CAT:
Elevates clit-focused pleasure. Here’s why the clitoris is such a pleasure button: The external part of the clitoris, called the glans or head, is partially covered by a hood and filled with more nerve endings than you can imagine. This hood connects to the labia minora (the inner lips of a vulva), and anything that stimulates the labia directly stimulates the clitoris, too.
Clitorises are considered one of the most sensitive erogenous zones, which makes it easy to understand why the grinding and rocking part of CAT sex is perfect for anyone who seeks stimulation that way. Plus, studies show that 81.6% of women don’t orgasm from P-in-V sex without clitoral stimulation, and only 18.4% of women report that penetration alone is enough to orgasm.
You get (extra) close.
Like in the missionary position, exploring this sex technique means you and your partner are rubbing and grinding up against each other. But rather than being focused on thrusting, the heightened closeness of your bodies and genitals gliding against each other is likely to increase your pleasure and pull you deeper into the moment. That might make the sex feel more intimate, if that’s what you’re into.
To get even closer, the partner on the bottom can wrap their legs around their partner while slowly moving down as the penis owner grinds higher.
More variety, less hassle.
Who doesn’t love enjoying something in more ways than one? The coital alignment technique enables tons of variety and caters to the multiple ways you can spice up sex. If you love clitoral stimulation, toys, and mutual masturbation while watching your partner, this can be fun and physically easier for both partners.
Practice makes perfect.
The coital alignment technique takes practice, because it requires knowing your and your partner’s bodies well to apply pressure in the right areas and get the right amount of rocking and friction.”
Because you have to try this technique repeatedly to discover the ways it works best for you and your partner, you get to have more time bonding together intimately and learning how to maximize your pleasure.
How to do it:
Focus on the grinding. To do the CAT sex position, one partner lies on their back with their legs open, and the other lays atop them. Instead of the thrusting common to the missionary position, the person with the penis (or dildo) grinds the penis against the clitoris until it penetrates it.
Here’s where the coital alignment comes in: The top partner should angle their hips so their pelvis is directly on top of the bottom partner’s pelvis. During penetration, the penis-holder should have their chin above their partner’s head and their chest in the other’s face. With this alignment, the base of the penis can create pleasurable friction against the vulva and clitoris, and the penis will be angled slightly downward, which makes it easier to hit the back wall of the vagina.
The coital alignment technique is perfect for a slower pace that heightens clit-focused pleasure. While many people can enjoy the missionary position at a slow and intimate pace, it typically gives way to deep, aggressive thrusting—and no shade to the pros of rough sex, but sometimes the best way to stimulate a clitoris is to take it slow (…then speed it up).
Before you get to the penetrative part of the coital alignment technique, have oral sex first. Oral is a great way for you and your partner to open yourselves up to each other before exploring other kinds of sex, especially if you’re trying something new. Plus, with the heavy grinding and rubbing involved in CAT sex, it might help to engage in an activity that’ll increase lubrication.
