The ‘go-to’ sex position most commonly requested by men

You don’t need to work through the Kama Sutra to please your partner (Picture: Getty Images) Although it’s beloved among women, it turns out men aren’t really fans of the classic cowgirl sex position. But when it comes to the sex position they do like, full-service escort Lillith Lodge says there’s one pose her male clients continually ask for. While it often gets a bad rep for being ‘lame’ or vanilla, good old missionary is by far her most-requested — proving classics are classics for a reason. ‘Most clients are very basic and standard in what they want,’ Lillith tells Metro. ‘It’s not super common, definitely not a weekly event, to have clients ask for something outside of what I feel is “normal”. It’s pretty much just missionary.’ The Brisbane-based sex worker notes many of her clients are slightly older married men, so this may be partly why they choose this position so often. ‘It can be very uncomfortable and not enjoyable for my clients to do crazy positions, unless they’re a really young guy,’ she adds. ‘Sometimes they’ll ask for missionary with my feet up behind my head, (which not everyone is flexible enough to do), but that’s about it.’ Missionary is the clear favourite among men (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) However, this preference for missionary seems to be pretty universal, with it being the most-searched for sex position in the UK in 2025, according to Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, with 736,900 searches. Sign up to The Hook-Up, Metro's sex and dating newsletter Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! That’s 330,000 more searches than cowgirl (the nation’s second favourite). Why men love missionary so much Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Missionary is easily the dirtiest sex position,’ wrote one man on a Reddit thread about the staple. ‘You can look right in each other’s eyes, you can kiss, there’s more skin-on-skin contact.’ Additionally, he highlighted how it allows you to adjust your pace and depth easily, to whisper dirty things to each other while in the throes of passion, and modify it to your tastes — with the receiving partner using their legs for extra stability or movement. Is missionary your favourite sex position? Absolutely, I love itCheck Love juicy stories? Need some sex tips to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up for The Hook Up Newsletter now ‘It’s the most titillating of all,’ he added. ‘Sometimes someone asks me what my favourite position is and I hate that I always have to apologise for being lame before saying missionary.’ ‘Missionary is easily my favourite, mostly because it feels best for me,’ shared another commenter. ‘I don’t get why people write it off so easily.’ One man admitted it was the feeling of having a ‘pair of legs wrapped around [his] hips’ that gives it the edge, while a third wrote: ‘My wife and I have been together for 30 years and it’s our “go-to” position. When I fantasise, I am almost always imagining having sex in the missionary position.’ Missionary can be surprisingly hazardous, too (Picture: Getty Images/Westend61) The pros and cons of missionary Former nurse-turned-relationship psychologist, Dr Louise Goddard-Crawley, previously told Metro the ‘face-to-face nature of the position allows for intimacy… which can help partners feel emotionally connected and secure’. If you struggle with pain or mobility issues, this is also one of the most comfortable, as it doesn’t require extensive flexibility or strength. ‘Missionary can be easily modified to accommodate different preferences and needs, such as adjusting leg positions or incorporating pillows for support,’ Louise added. There are some issues though; for one, missionary was the second most likely sex position to send Brits to A&E? More on sex positions... According to a Lovehoney survey, it had caused harm to more than a third of respondents, from carpet burns to pulled muscles and back injuries to flare-ups of existing spinal problems. Louise echoed this sentiment, adding: ‘It also may feel more restrictive compared to other positions that allow for greater movement and range of motion. ‘For some, the missionary position may place pressure on joints, especially the lower back and knees, potentially causing discomfort or pain for extended periods.’ Deals of the Day Families can save up to 20% on summer 2027 holidays in Club Med's four-day sale Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in Most of us aren't getting enough fibre – this easy supplement could change that My honest review of the new UKLash Lash Lift Gel Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Still, while there may be hazards, this is the case with most sex positions — and as long as you aren’t doing it somewhere especially dangerous, you can embrace your love for the classic vanilla favourite without fear.This article was first published in February 2026 and has since been updated. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: I’m a sex worker — this is what my female clients want and why they’re so hard to please Arrow MORE: My boyfriend’s convinced he’s the ‘next James Bond’ – but I’m tired of supporting him Arrow MORE: Cases of ‘sexually transmitted diarrhoea’ bug are exploding in the UK and US The Hook Up Metro's hottest newsletter, with juicy stories and tips for spicing things up in the bedroom. 18+