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Physical effort: High Inverted

Bermuda Triangle: an inverted 69 on the sofa

The Bermuda Triangle is an inverted 69 on a sofa. One partner sits back on the sofa with their feet on the floor, and the other is upside down in front of them, chest to chest, head at the seated partner's lap and legs spread over their shoulders towards the backrest. The seated partner's face is at the inverted partner's genitals, and the inverted partner's mouth is at the seated partner's genitals, so both give and receive oral sex at the same time. It is spectacular but demanding: the inverted partner supports themselves on their hands while the seated partner holds their hips.

Also known as: Bermuda triangle · Inverted 69 · Upside-down 69 on the sofa

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Illustration of Bermuda Triangle: An acrobatic 69 on the sofa: one partner sits and the other hangs upside down against their chest, legs over their shoulders, so both give and receive oral sex
Anatomy and biomechanics

The seated partner sits on the sofa with their back against the backrest, knees apart and feet flat on the floor, and wraps their arms around their partner's hips. The other partner is upside down in front of them, facing them: head at the seated partner's lap, hands resting on their thighs, torso against their chest, and legs spread wide, passing over their shoulders with the feet resting on the backrest on either side of their head. The inverted partner's pelvis ends up at the height of the seated partner's face. Their weight is shared between their own hands, the seated partner's arms and the backrest, so the main load falls on their wrists and neck, and blood rushes to their head. Each partner controls the rhythm of their own oral stimulation. There is no eye contact and no kissing, but body contact is wide.

Why this position works

Some couples enjoy it as a playful, daring version of the 69: it feels different, it involves a lot of trust, and the inverted position offers a novel angle for oral sex. Both give and receive at once, which some people find exciting and others find distracting. It is a position to try for a short while, not to hold for long, and how it feels varies from person to person.

Vigor and Energy Sensory Exploration Difficult High Mobility Required Maximized Clitoral Stimulation Non-Penetrative Interaction

Variations of this position

Variation 1: forearms resting on the seat

The seated partner spreads their knees wider and the inverted partner rests their forearms on the sofa seat on either side, instead of their hands on the seated partner's thighs.

With the forearms on the seat, the wrists no longer carry weight and the inverted partner's head sits a little lower and steadier. It is the most comfortable way to hold the inversion, at the cost of slightly less freedom for oral sex.

  1. The seated partner sits with knees wide apart and holds their partner by the hips.
  2. The other partner gets upside down in front of them, as in the basic position.
  3. Instead of their hands, they rest their forearms on the sofa seat beside the seated partner's legs.
  4. The seated partner keeps hold while you pleasure each other orally.

Variation 2: knees hooked over the backrest

The inverted partner bends their knees and hooks them over the back of the sofa, instead of keeping their legs straight with the feet resting on it.

With the knees hooked over the backrest, the inverted partner's legs carry part of their weight and they rely less on the seated partner's arms. The position becomes steadier and the seated partner can free one hand to caress.

  1. The seated partner sits right against the backrest and holds their partner by the hips.
  2. The other partner gets upside down in front of them and passes their legs over the seated partner's shoulders.
  3. They bend their knees and hook them over the top of the backrest.
  4. Check that the inverted partner feels secure before the seated partner lets go with one hand.

Variation 3: reclining further, less inverted

The seated partner slides forward on the seat and leans back, so their partner's body lies at a diagonal instead of fully upside down.

As the seated partner reclines, their chest tilts back and the other partner rests on them at a diagonal rather than almost vertically. Less blood rushes to the head and the wrists carry less weight, while the genitals stay at the height of the seated partner's face.

  1. The seated partner slides towards the edge of the seat and rests only their upper back against the backrest.
  2. The other partner gets upside down over them, torso resting on their tilted chest.
  3. They pass their legs over the seated partner's shoulders towards the backrest.
  4. The seated partner holds their hips and you adjust the tilt until the inverted partner's head feels comfortable.

✓ Tips
  • Get into position step by step: the partner who will be inverted kneels on the sofa facing the seated partner, who holds their hips firmly; then they lower their hands to the seated partner's thighs while the seated partner lifts their legs over their shoulders.
  • Use a sturdy sofa that will not tip or slide, and put cushions on the floor in front of it in case the inverted partner slips.
  • The seated partner should hold their partner firmly by the hips the whole time; the inverted partner should keep their elbows slightly bent and chin tucked to protect the neck.
  • Being upside down sends blood to the head: keep it short and come out slowly, sitting up for a moment before standing.
  • Oral sex can pass on infections such as herpes, gonorrhoea or HPV: a condom on the penis or a latex barrier on the vulva or anus reduces the risk.
  • Stop if the inverted partner feels dizzy, has pain in the neck or wrists, or the position becomes unstable.
Interaction type
Inverted mutual oral sex (69), on a sofa
Active anatomy
Mouth and tongue
Receptive anatomy
Vulva and penis
Main stimulation
Mutual oral sex: on the vulva and clitoris, and on the penis
Setups and participants
Couple · 2 people Hetero

Frequently asked questions

Is it a position for beginners?

No. Being upside down and supporting yourself on your hands takes strength, balance and trust. It is better to be comfortable with a regular 69 first.

Can it be done on a bed?

It is designed for a sofa or a sturdy armchair: the backrest supports the inverted partner's feet and the other partner needs to sit upright. On a bed it becomes a different position.

How long can you hold it?

Only briefly for most people: being upside down puts pressure on the head and load on the wrists. Come out of it calmly and switch to a more comfortable 69 if you want to carry on.

Are there health reasons to avoid it?

Being upside down is not a good idea with high blood pressure, glaucoma, neck problems or during pregnancy. If in doubt, choose a 69 lying down.

Reviewed by the editorial team ·

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