WHEN IT COMES to sex positions, there’s one that consistently bow-wows in the bedroom: Doggy style. In fact, roughly 30 percent of people said it was their favorite position in a February 2026 survey by NapLab, making it the most popular position overall. But there’s a doggy style variation that gives the classic rear-entry option a run for its money: Prone Bone.
Essentially a flatter version of standard doggy, Prone Bone offers many of the same perks, says Rufus Spann, PhD, a sex therapist in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. Namely, it’s relatively simple to perform, can work for both vaginal and anal sex, and has multi-tasking potential.
But what sets this position apart from old reliable is the amount of connectedness it can create. “Prone Bone blends the intensity of doggy style with the closeness of full-body contact,” says Carolina Pataky, PhD, LMFT, a sexologist and licensed marriage and family therapist in Coral Gables, Florida.
Whereas traditional doggy style puts space between the giving partner’s front and the receiving partner’s back, Prone Bone introduces skin-on-skin contact “that changes the emotional texture of the experience,” she says. “When bodies are pressed together chest-to-back, you get to feel each other’s breathing, body heat, and subtle movements, which often creates a stronger sense of grounding, containment, and connection.”
At Men’s Health, we aim to describe sexual experiences as inclusively as possible. While the Prone Bone position has traditionally been associated with penis-in-vagina sex, it can be adapted by couples of all genders and sexual orientations and identities. We encourage readers to modify this position to suit their bodies, preferences, and needs. To avoid making assumptions about gender or anatomy, we use non-gendered language throughout this article. The “giving partner” or “giver” refers to the partner doing the penetrating, whether with a penis, a strap-on, or even fingers. The “receiving partner” or “receiver” refers to the partner being penetrated vaginally or anally.
Plus, trying new positions is part of having a healthy sex life, which impacts your overall well-being. “Sexual health leads to mental health, physical health, and overall, a really healthy path in life,” Ofole Mgbako, MD, the Director of HIV Equity Research Program at NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue, previously told Men’s Health.
How to Do the Prone Bone Sex Position
The receiving partner lies flat on their stomach as the penetrating partner gets in back and enters from behind, says Gigi Engle, a sex and relationships psychotherapist and author of Kink Curious. It looks like this:
Getting into the Prone Bone position can take a little more maneuvering than traditional doggy style. When the body is lying flat, the relevant areas aren’t as accessible as they are in more elevated positions. That’s why Engle suggests the receiving partner begin by lying down with their legs spread, which can make it easier for the giving partner to enter them. From there, the receiver can experiment with bringing their legs together to increase friction and achieve a snugger sensation, she says.
Alternatively, placing a pillow — either a regular pillow or a wedge-shaped sex pillow — under the receiving partner’s hips can help tilt the pelvis upward, improving access and comfort for both partners.
