The spoons position or spooning is both a sexual position and a

cuddling A hug is a form of endearment, found in virtually all human communities, in which two or more people put their arms around the neck, back, under the armpits or waists of one another and hold each other closely. If more than two people are invo ...

technique. The name derives from the way that

spoon A spoon (, ) is a utensil consisting of a shallow bowl (also known as a head), oval or round, at the end of a handle. A type of cutlery (sometimes called flatware in the United States), especially as part of a table setting, place setting, it ...

s may be positioned side by side, with bowls aligned. The sexual spoons position is a form of a rear-entry position, another form being the doggy style position. The spoons sex position has been called one of the "basic four" sex positions.

Practice

In the spoons cuddling position, one partner lies on one side with knees bent while the other partner lies with their front pressed against their back. The spoons cuddling position is not limited to two people. In the sex position, the receiving partner would be in the inner spoon position and the penetrator is in the outer spoon in preparation for rear-entry penetration. For penetration, the partners may separate their upper bodies, with just the pelvises connecting, and their legs can also rest on top of each other. The receiving partner may lift the upper knee to allow for easier penetration.Locker, Sari.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex
' (Penguin, 2005), pp. 194-195. During heterosexual sexual activity, the penetrating partner can caress the woman's

stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the upper gastrointestinal tract of Human, humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The Ancient Greek name for the stomach is ''gaster'' which is used as ''gastric'' in medical t ...

and stimulate her

breast The breasts are two prominences located on the upper ventral region of the torso among humans and other primates. Both sexes develop breasts from the same embryology, embryological tissues. The relative size and development of the breasts is ...

s, the back of the neck and ears, and

clitoris In amniotes, the clitoris ( or ; : clitorises or clitorides) is a female sex organ. In humans, it is the vulva's most erogenous zone, erogenous area and generally the primary anatomical source of female Human sexuality, sexual pleasure. Th ...

. The woman can stimulate her own clitoris or her partner's

scrotum In most terrestrial mammals, the scrotum (: scrotums or scrota; possibly from Latin ''scortum'', meaning "hide" or "skin") or scrotal sac is a part of the external male genitalia located at the base of the penis. It consists of a sac of skin ...

.Sallie Foley, Sally A. Kope, Dennis P. Sugrue.
Sex Matters for Women: A Complete Guide to Taking Care of Your Sexual Self
' (Guilford Press, 2001), pp. 238-239. In addition, the

penis A penis (; : penises or penes) is a sex organ through which male and hermaphrodite animals expel semen during copulation (zoology), copulation, and through which male placental mammals and marsupials also Urination, urinate. The term ''pen ...

stimulates the front of the

vagina In mammals and other animals, the vagina (: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular sex organ, reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The #Vag ...

, and may stimulate an area that is commonly termed ''the

G-spot The G-spot, also called the Gräfenberg spot (for German gynecologist Ernst Gräfenberg), is characterized as an erogenous area of the vagina that, when stimulated, may lead to strong sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and potential female eja ...

''.Rosenau, Douglas E.
A Celebration of Sex
' (Thomas Nelson Inc, 2002), p. 147. Along with the doggy style position, this may be the best position from which to stimulate this area. Variations on this position include the partners lying on their sides face-to-face or in the scissors position.Kalish, Nancy.
The Nice Girl's Guide to Sensational Sex
' (iUniverse, 2003), p. 182.

Anal sex Anal sex or anal intercourse principally means the insertion and pelvic thrusting, thrusting of the Erection, erect human penis, penis into a person's Human anus, anus, or anus and rectum, for sexual pleasure.Sepages 270–271for anal sex inform ...

is also possible in this position, along with use of a vibrator.

Advantages and disadvantages

The spoons position allows for a great deal of

physical intimacy Physical intimacy is sensuous proximity or touching. It is an act or reaction, such as an expression of feelings (including close friendship, platonic love, romantic love, or sexual attraction), between people. Examples of physical intim ...

, as there is full-body contact which allows for cuddling.Julia Heiman, Joseph Lopiccolo, David Palladini.
Becoming Orgasmic: A Sexual and Personal Growth Program for Women
' (Simon and Schuster, 1987), p. 203. Both partners have control of the angle and depth of penetration, and slow, low-intensity sex can last for a long time because it usually takes longer for the man to reach

orgasm Orgasm (from Greek , ; "excitement, swelling"), sexual climax, or simply climax, is the sudden release of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, characterized by intense sexual pleasure resulting in rhythmic, involu ...

. However, there is little visual stimulation for either partner, as they are not facing one another and cannot see each other's bodies fully. The penis can also slip out easily. The spoons position may be preferred by couples who have just woken up or are very tired. It may be used if the woman is

pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring gestation, gestates inside a woman's uterus. A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Conception (biology), Conception usually occurs ...

, even during the last trimester, because it does not put any pressure on the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

. It is also good for those recovering from illness or surgery, or the elderly, because it puts less strain on muscles.

History

The skeletons of the Alepotrypa cave dating back to the Neolithic era are on a spooning position. Most Roman

erotic art Erotic art is a broad field of the visual arts that includes any artistic work intended to evoke arousal. It usually depicts human nudity or sexual activity, and has included works in various visual mediums, including drawings, engravings, fil ...

depicted couples in the spoons position.Younger, John Grimes.
Sex in the Ancient World from A to Z
' (Psychology Press, 2005), p. 124.

References

External links

* {{Sex positions Sex positions

Practice

Advantages and disadvantages

History

References

Further reading

External links