The signature porn manoeuvre men say offers a ‘whole new sensation’

This performative technique is actually a crowd pleaser (Picture: Getty Images) Whether it’s the 69 being branded the ‘worst ever’ sex position, or men not returning the favour after a blow job, oral can be pretty controversial. And, while countless porn videos depict a woman giving a man head, there’s one common technique that has been dismissed as performative, rather than pleasurable. The ‘cheek push’ involves pressing the head of the penis against the inner cheek of the mouth, creating a visual of your cheek bulging from the outside, but men say it ‘offers a whole new sensation’. It’s become a hot topic after one woman took to Reddit questioning if it was actually enjoyable for guys. ‘In a lot of the videos I watch during a BJ scene, the guy or woman will push the penis into the cheek and rub it there rather than get deeper,’ she wrote. ‘Is this a common thing in actual sex that would feel better than the typical manoeuvres?’ What do men say? Men were quick to share their enthusiasm for this technique and admitted they were very open to their partners giving it a try. ‘Once or twice throughout is a great way to spice it up,’ wrote one. ‘It feels better than a normal blow job,’ added another. Sign up to The Hook-Up, Metro's sex and dating newsletter Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! Men enjoy both the visual element and the sensation it gives (Picture: Getty Images) Others branded it ‘hot’ and a ‘great visual’ for them, while one said it added a ‘new sensation’. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Psychosexual therapist Becky Crepsley-Fox tells Metro this makes a lot of sense. ‘Physically, pushing the penis into the cheek can add sensation,’ she says. ‘Instead of just the tongue touching one part of it, more of the surface, and more nerve endings, are being stimulated. Some people also find it feels closer to penetrative sex, because the inside of the cheek is soft, wet tissue not unlike the vaginal wall.’ But for others, it can simply be enjoying a change in pace. One guy said he liked it as a technique because ‘variety was the spice of life’. ‘It’s largely about the visual’ While some men admitted the ‘cheek push’ is a new, enjoyable sensation during oral sex, Becky points out that a huge part of the appeal is how it looks. ‘This is a hugely popular visual in porn,’ Becky explains. ‘Many men watching porn imagine themselves as the person in the scene, so seeing the penis inside the mouth makes it easier to put themselves in that person’s body. ‘Visually, it leaves no doubt that the penis is in a partner’s mouth. The bulge in the cheek can also make the penis look bigger, and being able to actually see it adds to the eroticism.’ Through her male clients, Becky knows men are very visual creatures during sex. A study in the journal Nature Neuroscience also determined men are generally more interested in and responsive to sexually arousing visual stimuli than women. ‘It’s believed that, historically, men evolved to respond to visual cues so they could assess who might be the best partner to try to get pregnant, based on markers of youth and health,’ Becky says. Men are far more visual creatures than women (Picture: Getty Images) When it comes to ‘cheek pushing’, the psychosexual therapist adds that porn shots are designed to make this action visible, so naturally things may feel more ‘awkward’ to do during oral. ‘Bulging cheeks, eye contact during oral, and the “money shot” all serve the same purpose,’ she says. ‘They show the viewer clear proof of what’s happening and help them imagine it’s them.’ Does it matter if the cheek push is performative? While porn is often decried for being performative, Becky admits that ‘a bit of performance in sex is fine’. ‘As long as you’re both enjoying it,’ she explains. ‘It’s important to do the things that turn you on, and if a cheeky penis-in-cheek moment does that for you, go for it. ‘You don’t want sex to become one long performance, but letting little bits creep in can be fun.’ It’s a simple case of, if you want to try the ‘cheek push’, go for it. If you don’t, no problem. ‘Just go slowly and check in with your partner,’ Becky adds. ‘Teeth can be an issue at that angle, and everyone’s gag reflex is different. It should feel fun and playful for both of you, not like recreating a scene.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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