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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Pamela Stephenson Connolly

My wife and I used to love sex – but now I’m out of shape and she has painful knees

‘Intimacy is difficult.’
‘Intimacy is difficult.’ Composite: Guardian Design/Getty images (posed by a model)

My wife and I have enjoyed an active, healthy sex life for most of the 25 years we’ve been married. Recently, though, her knees and my being out of shape have made intimacy difficult. Occasionally we are able to satisfy each other orally, and we still have sex once or twice a month, but we’re both losing interest in it as it’s not as satisfying as it used to be. Do you know any sexual positions that are easy on a woman’s knees? My big belly makes missionary difficult. And do you have any suggestions on how to make it fun again? We both want an enjoyable sex life, but oral sex and toys only go so far.

Whether you have knee problems or not, it’s best to avoid putting stress on your knees during sex. Prolonged kneeling, remaining in one position for too long or being unable to stretch your legs can make sex a miserable experience. But there are options. If the regular missionary position is out, you could try a modified version wherein you accommodate your belly by leaning back. Doing this on a padded bench should allow you to straddle it, and with a bit of practice it could work for you.

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