Coital alignment technique

2025-02-11T00:37:25Z

2600:1700:2FD0:6B60:4069:1783:E495:7428: /* History of studies */rm extra space

{{short description|Sex position designed to maximize clitoral stimulation}}
[[File:Vaginal intercourse - Rocking 1.png|193px|thumb|Coital alignment technique]]
The '''coital alignment technique''' [[List of sex positions|sex position]] is used primarily as a variant of the [[missionary position]] and is designed to maximize [[clitoral]] stimulation during [[sexual intercourse]]. This is achieved by combining the "[[Missionary position#Riding_high|riding high]]" variation of the missionary position with pressure-counterpressure movements performed by each partner in rhythm with coitus.<ref name="eichel 1988">{{cite journal |last1=Eichel |first1=Edward W. |last2=De Simone Eichel |first2=Joanne |last3=Kule |first3=Sheldon |title=The technique of coital alignment and its relation to female orgasmic response and simultaneous orgasm |journal=[[Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy]] |date=June 1988 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=129–141 |doi=10.1080/00926238808403913 |pmid=3204637}}</ref>

==Technique==
When used as a variant of the missionary position, the male lies above the female but moves upward along the woman's body, until his erection, which would otherwise point "up," is pointing "down", with the [[Dorsal (anatomy)|dorsal]] side of the [[Human penis|penis]] pressing against the clitoris.<ref name="Kar">{{cite book|author=Nilamadhab Kar|author2=Gopal Chandra Kar|title=Comprehensive Textbook of Sexual Medicine|publisher=[[Jaypee Brothers| Jaypee Brothers Publishers]]|pages=108|isbn=8180614050|year=2005|accessdate=February 10, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxcjMPbGHQIC&pg=PA108}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> By adopting this ‘pelvic-override’ position, the male achieves a fundamental genital 'circuitry': vaginal penetration in coitus with constant direct contact between the base of the penis and the clitoris.<ref name="pierce 2000">{{cite journal |last1=Pierce |first1=Aaron Paul |title=The Coital Alignment Technique (CAT): An Overview of Studies |journal=Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy |date=July 2000 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=257–268 |doi=10.1080/00926230050084650 |pmid=10929574|s2cid=45546508 }}</ref>

The partners then maintain their genital contact by coordinating their sexual movement.<ref name="pierce 2000"/> Instead of engaging in the familiar 'in and out' motion of coital thrusting, the partners hold their penile-clitoral connection together by simultaneously exerting genital pressure and counterpressure in a rocking or grinding motion.<ref name="pierce 2000"/> As opposed to the missionary position, the male's body moves downward (relative to the female's) during the inward stroke, and upward for the outward stroke.<ref name="Kar"/> Sexual movement is focused in the [[Pelvis|pelvises]], without leverage from the arms or legs.<ref name="Kar"/>

The male leads the downward stroke and the female the upward stroke, with the partner who is moving the pelvis backward exerting a slight but firm counterpressure.<ref name="pierce 2000"/> The female may also wrap her legs around the male.<ref name="Kar"/> The rocking downward and upward sexual movement builds arousal that the partners let develop and peak naturally.<ref name="Kar"/>

The woman on top variant is known as the reverse coital alignment technique.<ref name=reversecat>{{cite book|last1=Harper|first1=Dawn|title=The Sex Deck Playful Positions to Spice Up Your Love Life.|date=2006|publisher=Chronicle Books Llc|isbn=0811853578|pages=16}}</ref>

==History of studies==
The technique for coital alignment was first defined by American [[Psychotherapy|psychotherapist]] Edward Eichel,<ref name="Kar"/> and the original study was published by Eichel, De Simone Eichel, and Kule in 1988 in the ''[[Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy]].''<ref name="eichel 1988"/>

Since then, the topic has been studied several times in the same journal.<ref name="pierce 2000"/> A 1992 report by [[Helen Singer Kaplan|Kaplan]] and her sex therapist trainees described the team's cursory trial of the coital alignment technique (CAT), acknowledging that they may have resorted to old routines after only a few attempts out of fear of disappointing their partners.<ref name="kaplan 1992">{{cite journal |last1=Kaplan |first1=Helen Singer |author1-link=Helen Singer Kaplan |title=Does the CAT Technique Enhance Female Orgasm? |journal=Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy |date=December 1992 |volume=18 |issue=4 |pages=285–291 |doi=10.1080/00926239208412853 |pmid=1291699}}</ref> Their call for other sex therapists to give the technique more rigorous testing instigated a series of controlled studies by Hurlbert and colleagues reporting statistically significant results in the treatment of female [[hypoactive sexual desire]].<ref name="hurlbert apt 1995">{{cite journal |last1=Hurlbert |first1=David Farley |last2=Apt |first2=Carol |title=The coital alignment technique and directed masturbation: A comparative study on female orgasm |journal=Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy |date=1 March 1995 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=21–29 |doi=10.1080/00926239508405968 |pmid=7608994}}</ref>

In 2005, Eichel asserted that "the three classic problems of sexual 'dysfunction' have been redefined as interdependent parts of ONE behavioral syndrome - the problems are NOT 'diseases'[…] [t]he 'cure' is a fundamental change in sexual technique". In his concluding paragraph, Eichel wrote that "[t]he CAT model provides a fundamental matrix for the analysis of classic sex problems and other subtle, but widespread, sex-related health problems."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Eichel |first1=Edward W. |title=Coital alignment - The Bleeping Cure for FSD? |journal=[[The BMJ|BMJ]] |date=20 January 2005 |volume=330 |issue=7484 |pages=192–194 |doi=10.1136/bmj.330.7484.192 |pmid=15661785 |pmc=545000 |url=https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/30/coital-alignment-bleeping-cure-fsd |access-date=1 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Eichel |first1=Edward W. |last2=Nobile |first2=Philip |author2-link=Philip Nobile |title=The Perfect Fit: How to Achieve Mutual Fulfillment and Monogamous Passion Through the New Intercourse |date=1992 |publisher=D.I. Fine, Dutton Adult |location=New York |isbn=155611320X |url={{GBurl|PQXaAAAAMAAJ}}}}
* Paul Wolf on Eichel and CAT: [http://www.myprimetime.com/health/sex_love/content/worlds_greatest_position/]{{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120905024728/http://www.myprimetime.com/health/sex_love/content/worlds_greatest_position/ |date=2012-09-05 }} [http://www.myprimetime.com/health/sex_love/content/worlds_greatest_position/index1.shtml]{{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130104032146/http://www.myprimetime.com/health/sex_love/content/worlds_greatest_position/index1.shtml |date=2013-01-04 }}
{{refend}}

{{sex positions}}

[[Category:Sex positions]]

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Coital alignment technique