Sex Positions After Hip or Knee Replacement
While recovering from a hip or knee replacement, patients may be safe to have sex in certain positions. This guide, based on information from Saint Luke’s Health System (28), is a non-gendered resource on sex positions for people recovering from surgery after their healthcare provider has confirmed that it is safe to have sex.
All patients should discuss sex, positions, and safety precautions with their healthcare providers beforehand.
In this guide, the dark gray figure represents the insertive partner, and the light gray figure represents the receptive partner.
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All healthcare providers and educators are welcome to use this content for patient and student education.
Text description of the information in the above chart:
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Position 1: Appropriate for all partners with a hip or knee replacement. The insertive partner sits in a straight-backed chair with their feet supported or flat on the floor. The insertive partner must keep pillows between their knees to prevent the knees from crossing the body’s midpoint. The receptive partner sits on the insertive partner’s lap.
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Position 2: Appropriate for an insertive partner with a knee replacement, and a receptive partner with a hip or knee replacement. The receptive partner lies on their side, with the new joint(s) on the bottom and a pillow under the other knee for support. The insertive partner is behind the receptive partner, with their new joint on the bottom.
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Position 3: Appropriate for a receptive partner with a hip or knee replacement. The receptive partner lies face-up on a bed, near the edge of the bed with their feet flat on the floor or supported. The insertive partner kneels on the floor, facing the receptive partner.
Position 4: Appropriate for an insertive partner with a hip or knee replacement. The insertive partner lies down, and may have pillows behind their head and back depending on comfort. The insertive partner must have pillows between their knees to prevent the knees from crossing the body’s midpoint. Pillows may also be used to support the legs on the outside. The insertive partner keeps their legs apart and turned out slightly. The receptive partner is on top.
Position 5: Appropriate for an insertive partner with a hip replacement. The receptive partner lies face-down. The insertive partner is face-down on top of the receptive partner. The insertive partner must keep pillows between their knees to prevent the knees from crossing the body’s midpoint.
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This page last updated: 2020