From the latest must-watch box set to the newest nail art phenomenon, virtually everything in life is subject to constantly-changing trends. But one thing that you'd think might be exempt would be sex, right? After all, short of an enormous evolutionary jump, we're all pretty much working with the same 'tools' that we had last year, so to speak.

But the truth is, sex trends are just as changeable, with new technologies and changing attitudes meaning that we're always seeing new branches of sexuality emerging into the mainstream. A few years ago, it was bondage (thanks to Fifty Shades of Grey); last year, teledildonics (such as app-controlled vibrators) came to the fore; and this year - well, what will it be?

Luckily for those of you looking for a little 2017 sexual inspiration, I've done some snooping around to find out exactly what will be coming to a bedroom near you in the coming months.

Spreader Bars

Thanks in part to that scene in the new Fifty Shades Darker movie, sales of spreader bars have risen enormously. For those who haven't heard of them before, spreader bars are inflexible metal or plastic bars with ankle cuffs at either end that are designed to stop the wearer being able to put their legs together. They're a firm favourite of many who are familiar with the world of bondage, domination, sadism and masochism (BDSM), particularly in what is known as humiliation play, but are already becoming much more mainstream than they were this time last year.

Suction Sex Toys

Now, chances are, you read the word, 'suction' and immediately imagine oddly lifelike mouths aimed at men that stimulate oral sex, but that's not the case at all: the truth is, this year's biggest toys for women are literally going to suck.

Following the outstanding reception of German toy, The Womanizer - a pebble-shaped sex toy that looks a little like an in-ear thermometer - more and more women are discovering (and going crazy for) clitoral sucking sensations, rather than vibrations. Toys like The Womanizer generally feature small silicone tips that nestle around the clitoris and create a gentle, rumbly vacuum effect, which increases circulation and sensitivity for mind-blowing orgasms that would put your faithful rabbit to shame.

Pegging

One that's been steadily on the rise for some time, "pegging" is the term for a woman wearing a strap-on dildo and anally penetrating her male partner. Some years ago, open discussion of this would have been unheard of, but you might be surprised at the number of couples who are now willing to give this a go. In the last few years, the act has been featured in hit shows such as Peep Show, Broad City and Weeds, as well as movies such as Zack and Miri Make A Porno, and last year's superhero smash hit, Deadpool. So, it's not enormously surprising that more and more couples are considering it as something to try in the bedroom.

Virtual reality porn

This one won't come as a surprise to most, as since VR headsets were very first announced, the adult industry has been working on "immersive" new ways to experience pornography. However, this year, virtual reality is set to really take off, with the technology becoming more readily available and more affordable. Plus, it doesn't just end with sights and sounds; porn site CamSoda has even announced a VR headset that promises to deliver authentic "smells" during your skinflick-viewing time. Hmm.

Pansexuality

OK, perhaps 'trend' is not the correct term for this, but given the rise in awareness of the many different gender and sexuality identities that has dominated the media in recent years, it seems that pansexuality - that is, someone who is, "Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity" - will be something that is featured more and more in popular culture. Pansexuality differs from bisexuality in that those who identify as pansexual aren't just attracted to the two binary genders. Many celebrities are reported to identify as pansexual, including Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, and Madonna. Even Ryan Reynolds recently stated last month that he'd love the writers of the new Deadpool film to "play up more" the titular hero's pansexuality. And hey, where Ryan leads, Hollywood tends to follow.

(This article originally appeared on pretty52.com and was written by Sammi Cole)