While a ‘speedbump’ in your sex life might sound like something you’d want to seek out a therapist or doctor, it turns out it’s actually the nation’s most searched for position, according to delicto.com. Missionary and cowgirl come second and third.
So what actually is the speedbump? Well, it’s a very easy – and lazy – take on a classic. “The speed bump position is a variation on doggy style – Britain’s most favourite position – whereby the person with a vagina is led face down instead of on their knees, with a pillow or a wedge underneath their hips to raise their pelvis. Hence, speed bump,” explains Annabelle Knight, a Sex and Relationship expert at Lovehoney.
“The speedbump is popular because of the deep penetration made possible by the position and the elevation of the hips made possible by the pillow,” Knight adds.
“The partner doing the penetrating can experiment with positioning of their legs and can kiss the nape of their partner’s neck and could even wear a vibrating cock ring to add an extra level of stimulation.”
As well as letting the person on the bottom have a bit of a rest (look, sometimes you’ve had a long day), it can also be a great way to maximise intimacy. For example, while on top you could do some sensory or light impact play on their partner’s back or press your torso into their back to add a sweet skin-to-skin touch.
Adding a pillow or wedge under your partner allows for deeper penetration. It’ll also create room for clitoral stimulation, either by hand or with a vibrator (if the person on the bottom has a vulva).
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If you’re more into a ‘girl on top’ vibe, the speedbump can be a great option for pegging. Let your male partner take the load off while you spoil them with a prostate orgasm.
While the speedbump is popular for PiV sex, couples where both partners have a vulva don’t have to be left out of the fun. You can try it with a vibrating strap-on for a high-impact experience.
So, don't let speed bumps slow you down, this position is a great edition to your sexual roster.
Lois Shearing is Cosmoplitan's Former Senior Sex and Relationship Writer. They have been writing about sex, sexuality, gender, politics, and relationships for almost ten years. Their writing on these topics has appeared in Mashable, The Independent, Metro, The Advocate, and Byline Times, among others. In 2021, they published their first book, Bi the Way with JKP. They are currently working on two other books, set to be published in 2024. In a previous life, they worked as a content marketer and content writer for various tech start-ups. They continue to be interested in the tech sector and its impact on our lives, relationships, and work, with particular regard to the ways AI will shape our relationships in the future. Outside of work, they are deeply passionate about queer community organising, and run the only support resource for bisexual survivors of sexual violence in the UK: the Bi Survivors Network. You can find them on Instagram and X.
