Be Carnally Creative

This is a rather handy solution to the sleepy female/awake and erect male syndrome. Originally used as a method of birth control and to preserve virginity, "femoral intercourse" involves him thrusting his penis between your closed thighs instead of inside your vagina. It's a gentle, noninvasive way to have sex, and it keeps both of you satisfied. If he places his penis near the top of your thighs so it slides in between your vaginal lips, sleepy female can rapidly turn into wide awake, horny female!

Give Him the Finger

Inserting a finger into your partner's rectum during a hand job, usually just before orgasm, could mean he's in for the orgasm of his life. Some men worry that enjoying any sort of anal stimulation makes them homosexual, which is obviously completely untrue. But because it can be a sensitive topic, gauge his reaction by starting to play around the rim (the outside) of his anus. If he lifts his bottom toward you or shoots you a quizzical look, tell him you'd like to try something. Like the clitoris, the root of the penis extends a few inches into his body. Stimulating the perineum or anus massages that inner portion, but the true pleasure spot lies about three inches in. This is the prostate gland, nicknamed the male G-spot. To find it ? and map its position for future reference ? get him to lie on his back as you (gently and after using lots of lubrication) insert your index finger, with your hand palm side up, almost all the way in. Aim toward his navel, then curve your finger in a "come here" gesture.

Remember That Position Counts

Not terribly confident or proficient at giving hand jobs? All too often, women try to deliver the goods in a position that feels uncomfortable or unnatural. Are you left handed or right handed? Which is your best side? Because you're allowed to move, you know! There's no need to make a big deal about it ? simply roll over on top of him or straddle his lap and plant a long, slow, delicious kiss, then climb off onto the side that suits you. And don't be scared to deviate from the usual side-by-side position. Try him standing in front of you and you sitting on the edge of a bed, or him hovering above you and straddling your tummy as you lie on your back.

Slap On the Slippery Stuff

When men do their own five-finger salute (read: masturbate), they usually slap on some lubrication. Why? Well, a dry penis is a sensitive one; it likes gentle stroking, but sliding your hand up and down the shaft (the standard male masturbation technique) when it isn't lubricated can feel uncomfortable to him instead of erotic. Saliva is better than nothing, but clever girls come prepared with a tube of good-quality personal lubricant. Don't feel remotely embarrassed squeezing some into your palm ? he'll be grateful! Avoid using too much, though, as being overly generous is almost as bad as using none because it removes friction entirely.

Introduce Him to Your Vibrator

One of you holding a wand vibrator (slim, cylindrical, nonintrusive) over the clitoral area during penetrative sex is the most effective way to ensure a shared orgasmic experience. Why don't more people do it? Because some don't like introducing something "mechanical" ? and lots of men feel a tad threatened by vibrators. On occasions when his tongue, fingers or penis won't do the trick, teach him to graciously accept defeat and reach into the bedside table drawer to pull one out.

Build Bridges

If your goal is simultaneous orgasms, use the technique most sex therapists recommend. The basic idea is to give you clitoral stimulation almost right up to the point of orgasm ? and then let his thrusting trigger the final orgasmic reflex. This effectively provides a "bridge" between clitoral stimulation and intercourse (that is, he stimulates the clitoris right up to penetration, then his thrusting takes over as your prime stimulation). Some studies show that up to half of women who couldn't previously climax through penetration alone gained that ability ? without "priming" first! ? after using this technique regularly.

Deliberately Develop Orgasm Triggers

The more your brain travels a certain path neurologically, the more effortless it becomes. The act of smiling ? actually curving your lips upward ? lets your brain know you're happy, which triggers the release of serotonin, a hormone that makes you feel happy. The same applies to orgasm: The more signals of impending orgasm that your brain can recognize, the easier it will be to trigger the orgasmic response. Focus on the things you naturally do on approach to orgasm ? sounds you make, how you move ? then exaggerate them.

Stop the Clock

Women constantly ask me, "How long should it take to orgasm?" That's like asking me, "How long should a piece of string be?" (Plus, I hate the word "should"!) If you trip over your tongue just by looking at a guy and it's the first time his hands have gone south and you've just ripped each other's clothes off after a night out, you might orgasm in two minutes flat. If it's your partner of 10 years and you're tired and stressed and the kids are sleeping a few rooms away, it might take two hours. Statistics vary wildly, because this is something that's totally dependant on circumstances. Some say it takes an average of 20 minutes for a woman to orgasm; others say eight minutes of direct clitoral stimulation will do the trick. I say eight to ten minutes of direct contact sounds about right ? but it totally depends on the variables.

Give Instructions

His sexual system is simple. It's like a connect-the-dots game. On the other hand, to say that the woman's sexual system is complicated would be like saying you only need to be pretty good at math to be a rocket scientist! If you don't show or tell him how to touch you ? and I mean when, where, how hard, how fast? in as much detail as possible ? you might as well both give up right there and then. It's seriously not half as embarrassing as you think it is. Try simply opening your mouth and letting out a little moan to let him know you're enjoying what he's doing. Or give a sexy one-word command, like, "Softer." Take baby steps and you'll get there.

Understand His Motives

Men often have sex to feel wanted. Granted, it's hard to accept that he's really after affection when he has one hand up your sweater and the other diving down your skirt. But it's true. Sex for a man appears to be his primal form of giving; it's one way for him to feel accepted both physically and emotionally. Because some men still aren't as verbose or as comfortable with expressing emotion as women are, sex tends to be used as a means of showing his love and feeling close to you. If he really wants to say "I love you," he may suggest sex. So basically, when you reject sex with him, you're not just rejecting the sex. Adopt a new philosophy: When you say no, tell him when you want to have sex instead. And always make it clear you're just saying no to sex ? not to a cuddle or to a cozy chat.

SOURCE: Tracey Cox, Love & Sex Contributor, iVillage.com