The “ape” sex position is not a clinical term found in medical textbooks or sexology research. It is internet and pop-culture shorthand for a rear-entry sexual position in which the receiving partner assumes a deep squat rather than kneeling on all fours. The name comes from the posture’s visual resemblance to a primate’s crouched stance. Because no governing body of sexology has formally catalogued it, descriptions vary across sources, but the core idea is consistent: a squatting rear-entry position that changes the angle of penetration, the depth of contact, and the muscular demands on both partners compared to standard rear-entry or “doggy style” variants.
What the Position Actually Looks Like
In the most common description, the receiving partner plants both feet flat on a surface and drops into a deep squat, leaning slightly forward for balance. The penetrating partner kneels or squats behind. Some versions have the receiving partner facing away on a bed’s edge while the penetrating partner stands. Others have both partners on the floor. What stays the same across descriptions is the squat: the receiving partner’s hips are deeply flexed, their thighs are apart, and their pelvis is tilted in a way that differs meaningfully from being on hands and knees. That pelvic tilt is what makes this position feel different from ordinary rear-entry positions, and it is what drives most of the anatomical and comfort questions people have about it.
The deep squat also means the receiving partner’s legs are bearing most of their own body weight. That changes the power dynamic of the position compared to kneeling variants, where the penetrating partner typically controls most of the movement. In a squat, the receiving partner can use their legs to rise, lower, and adjust tempo, giving them more control over depth and angle. For some couples, this shared control is the entire appeal.
What Happens Anatomically in Rear-Entry Positions
Researchers have used MRI to observe what happens inside the body during rear-entry intercourse, and the findings explain why squat-based variants feel distinct. In the posterior (rear-entry) position, the penis tends to reach the posterior fornix, the deeper pocket behind the cervix, with preferential contact along the back wall of the vagina. The bladder and uterus are pushed forward during penetration in this orientation.1PubMed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sexual intercourse: second experience in missionary position and initial experience in posterior position That shift in organ position is why rear-entry variants in general tend to produce a sensation of deeper penetration even when the actual depth is similar to other positions. The posterior fornix is sensitive tissue, and direct contact with it is pleasurable for some people and uncomfortable for others.
When you add a deep squat to this equation, the pelvic floor muscles are in a lengthened, more open state compared to kneeling. The vaginal canal’s angle relative to the penetrating partner shifts further, which can intensify contact with the posterior wall and fornix. For people who enjoy deep stimulation, this is the draw. For people who find deep penetration painful, this same geometry can make the position a poor fit without modifications.
The Anterior Wall and G-Spot Stimulation Question
A common claim online is that the ape position stimulates the G-spot effectively. The reality is more nuanced, partly because the G-spot itself remains a debated concept in anatomy. A systematic review of 31 studies found that about 63% of women surveyed reported having a G-spot, and clinical examination identified one in roughly 55% of women examined. However, imaging studies produced contradictory results about its existence and nature, with some research pointing to a broader “clitourethrovaginal complex” rather than a discrete spot on the anterior vaginal wall.2ScienceDirect. G-spot: Fact or Fiction?: A Systematic Review Anatomical studies on vaginal wall innervation did not consistently find a region with richer nerve supply than surrounding tissue.
What this means practically: rear-entry positions, including squat-based ones, primarily direct contact toward the posterior vaginal wall and the posterior fornix, not the anterior wall where the G-spot is traditionally described. If anterior wall stimulation is your goal, a position that angles the penetrating partner’s body toward the front of the vaginal canal, such as modified missionary or certain woman-on-top angles, is more likely to achieve it. The ape position’s strength is depth and posterior wall contact, not targeted anterior wall pressure. People who find it intensely pleasurable are likely responding to posterior fornix stimulation, pelvic floor engagement from the squat, or clitoral stimulation if a hand is free, rather than classic G-spot contact.
Mobility Demands and Joint Safety
The elephant in the room with any squat-based sex position is that many adults simply cannot hold a deep squat comfortably. Ankle mobility, hip flexibility, and knee health all determine whether this position is accessible or a fast track to a leg cramp. The good news is that the deep squat itself is not inherently dangerous for your joints. A scoping review of 15 studies found that 87% of them affirmed deep squatting is safe for knee joint health and does not increase injury risk, provided proper technique is maintained.3PubMed Central. Impact of the deep squat on articular knee joint structures, friend or enemy? A scoping review Only two studies suggested a possible adverse effect, and one of those was a single case study.
The caveat is that “proper technique” in the gym involves a controlled, well-aligned squat without distraction. In bed, you are distracted by definition. The receiving partner is managing balance, movement, and sensation simultaneously, and the surface they are squatting on is often soft and unstable. People with pre-existing knee issues, limited ankle dorsiflexion, or hip impingement may find this position strains joints in ways that a gym squat would not, because the stability environment is completely different. If you cannot sit comfortably in a deep squat for at least 30 seconds on a flat floor without your heels lifting or your knees caving inward, this position will probably be more frustrating than fun without props or modifications.
Fatigue is the other practical issue. Holding a loaded squat is tiring even for fit people, and the receiving partner is essentially performing an isometric hold while also trying to enjoy themselves. Sessions in this position tend to be shorter than in kneeling or lying positions simply because the legs give out. Treating it as a transition position rather than a position you sustain for the entire encounter is a more realistic approach for most people.
Injury Risk in Rear-Entry Positions
One safety concern that applies to rear-entry positions broadly, and squatting variants specifically, is the risk of penile fracture. A systematic review and meta-analysis examining which sexual positions are most associated with this injury found that doggy style presented the most statistically significant risk of penile fracture among all positions analyzed.4International Braz J Urol. What is the most dangerous sexual position that caused the penile fracture? A systematic review and meta-analysis The mechanism is straightforward: in rear-entry positions, the penetrating partner’s penis can slip out during vigorous thrusting and strike the perineum or buttock of the receiving partner, causing a buckling injury to the erect shaft.
A squat-based rear-entry position may modestly change this risk profile in both directions. On one hand, the receiving partner’s ability to control depth and tempo through their leg movement could reduce the frequency of full slippage. On the other hand, the angle of the vaginal canal in a deep squat can differ enough from a kneeling position that the penetrating partner misjudges depth, increasing the chance of a misaligned thrust. The practical takeaway is the same as for any rear-entry variant: avoid extremely forceful thrusting when the penis is near the point of exiting, and both partners should communicate about pace. Penile fracture is rare in absolute terms, but it is a surgical emergency when it happens, so it is worth keeping in mind.
When Rear-Entry Positions Make Pain Worse
For people dealing with pelvic pain conditions such as dyspareunia, endometriosis, or vulvodynia, position choice is not just about preference. It is a clinical decision that affects whether sex is tolerable. A scoping review of sexual position modifications for pain-free intimacy found that rear-entry positions often worsened dyspareunia, while woman-on-top, side-lying, and supported missionary positions were generally favored for reducing pain. Biomechanical and MRI data supported the idea that position-dependent changes in anatomical contact and tissue strain are real and clinically relevant.5Taylor & Francis Online. Sexual Position Modifications for Pain-Free Intimacy: A Scoping Review Partner-controlled depth, angle, and tempo consistently reduced pain and improved sexual function.
The ape position sits in a gray area here. It is technically rear-entry, which is the category most associated with increased pain. But unlike standard doggy style, it gives the receiving partner significant control over depth and angle through their leg movement. That partner-controlled element is exactly what the same review identified as beneficial for pain management. Whether this particular variant helps or hurts depends heavily on the individual’s anatomy and condition. Someone with deep dyspareunia triggered by posterior fornix contact would likely find this position uncomfortable, given that MRI data shows rear-entry positions direct the penis precisely toward the posterior fornix.1PubMed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sexual intercourse: second experience in missionary position and initial experience in posterior position Someone whose pain is primarily related to lack of control over pacing might find the squat variant more tolerable than kneeling rear-entry. There is no universal answer; the anatomy matters more than the label.
Practical Modifications That Help
If the concept appeals to you but the execution feels awkward, a few adjustments can make squat-based rear-entry positions more workable:
- Use a firm surface: A mattress absorbs leg drive and makes balance harder. Moving to the floor with a folded blanket under the knees and feet, or to the edge of a sturdy chair, gives both partners a more stable base.
- Elevate the heels: If ankle mobility limits your squat depth, placing a folded towel or wedge under the receiving partner’s heels allows a deeper squat without straining the Achilles tendon. This is the same trick used in weightlifting with elevated-heel shoes.
- Lean forward more: Resting forearms on a bed, ottoman, or stack of pillows takes weight off the legs and turns the position into something between a squat and a supported bend. This reduces fatigue dramatically while preserving most of the angle benefits.
- Treat it as a transition: Rather than sustaining the full squat for an entire session, use it as one position in a sequence. Thirty to sixty seconds of a novel angle can be more enjoyable than three minutes of shaking quadriceps.
The penetrating partner’s position matters too. Standing behind the receiving partner who is squatting on a bed edge is generally easier on both people’s bodies than both partners squatting on a flat surface. Height differences between partners determine which furniture surfaces create the right alignment. Experimentation with everyday furniture is more productive than trying to force both bodies into a textbook illustration.
Why This Position Has a Name at All
Sex position naming is a strange cultural phenomenon. Most positions that get catchy labels, whether from the Kama Sutra, internet listicles, or social media, are minor variations on a small number of biomechanical templates: face-to-face lying down, face-to-face sitting, rear-entry kneeling, rear-entry standing, side-lying, and seated. The ape position is a variation on the rear-entry template with one key change: the receiving partner squats instead of kneels. That single change affects angle, depth, muscle engagement, and control, so it genuinely feels different. But it is not a fundamentally new category of movement.
The proliferation of named positions in popular culture reflects a broader pattern in how sex advice is packaged. A study analyzing contemporary sex manuals found that sexual improvement advice is frequently framed as a health imperative, encouraging readers to view novelty and variety as necessary for well-being rather than simply enjoyable. This framing can create pressure to “try everything” and treat each named position as a distinct achievement to unlock, when the more useful approach is understanding the underlying mechanics and adjusting them to your own body. If you understand that rear-entry positions target the posterior fornix, that squat depth changes the pelvic angle, and that the receiving partner’s control over movement affects both pleasure and safety, you can improvise your own variations without needing a name for each one.
Anal Sex Considerations
Some descriptions of the ape position reference anal sex rather than vaginal sex, and the squat-based rear-entry setup is used for both. The anatomical considerations change substantially with anal penetration. The rectum does not have a fornix, the tissue is less elastic than vaginal tissue, and the internal anal sphincter does not relax voluntarily. The deep angle that rear-entry squatting produces can direct the penetrating partner toward the rectal wall rather than following the natural curve of the rectum, which increases the risk of mucosal tears if movement is forceful.
The receiving partner’s control over depth and pacing becomes even more important in the anal context. The same principle identified in pain research, that partner-controlled depth, angle, and tempo reduce injury and discomfort, applies with greater urgency here.5Taylor & Francis Online. Sexual Position Modifications for Pain-Free Intimacy: A Scoping Review The squat position’s advantage of giving the receiving partner leg-driven control over movement is a genuine asset for anal sex. But the deep angle of penetration that the squat creates means the margin for error is smaller. Generous lubrication, gradual entry, and clear communication about pace are non-negotiable regardless of the position used, and that applies doubly when the geometry encourages deeper penetration.
For prostate stimulation specifically, the squat angle in rear-entry positions can work well, since the prostate sits along the anterior rectal wall and the curve of the rectum in a deep squat can direct contact in that direction. As with the vaginal G-spot discussion, individual anatomy varies enough that there is no guarantee a particular position will hit the right spot. Adjustments of a few degrees in pelvic tilt or a few inches in stance width can make the difference between effective stimulation and none at all.