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Anal sex is any type of sexual activity involving the anus. There are important things to consider if you’re interested in anal sex.
Like with all sexual activity, some people enjoy anal sex and some don’t. There can sometimes be pressure to enjoy or be willing to try anal sex but it’s important to remember that sex isn’t about ticking off things you’ve done or trying to impress other people. If you’ve seen anal sex in porn and want to try it make sure you read this page to understand the reality of anal sex. More about porn and anal sex
Anal sex is any type of sexual activity involving the anus. This might be:
Anal sex can be enjoyable as the anus and the rectum (which the anus leads to) have sensitive nerve endings. Men and people with penises also have the prostate gland which can be pleasurable when stimulated.
It’s perfectly normal to try anal sex and decide you don’t like it, or to just know it’s not something you want to try. Everyone’s sexual experiences and turn-ons are unique and are not defined by their sexuality.
Many (including 60% of gay and bi men and men who have sex with men) don’t have anal sex and prefer other types of sex. Anal sex may just be one part of your sexual expression, it does not have to define it.
You should never pressure anyone or feel pressured into doing anything you or they don’t want to do.
Anal sex, like all types of sex, should be discussed and agreed beforehand – even if someone has consented to another type of sex. Consent is a verb: it’s a continuous action rather than a one-time thing. That’s why trying a new type of sex without talking about it first is wrong as there is no consent involved.
If you’re going to try anal sex, it’s really important that it’s with someone you can trust and can communicate well with.
Safe anal sex requires preparation, patience and communication, especially as the muscles around the anus can take some time to relax. You need to feel comfortable and trust the person you’re with – if you feel anxious these muscles will be harder to relax and you are more likely to have an uncomfortable or painful experience.
Note – Sex shouldn’t be painful, so if you’re relaxed and comfortable but experience pain, you should visit a sexual health clinic or your GP. More about painful sex
It’s a great idea to talk beforehand about any worries, expectations and to discuss things such as speed and depth if you are considering trying penetration.
But communication shouldn’t stop there – during sex you should regularly check-in with your partner including before and after you try anything new, for example changing speed, depth, size, position. This will help you to work out what you both like, dislike, would like to try, and want to do differently. You might also find it useful to have a more in-depth conversation after sex.
Consent can also be withdrawn at any point and if either of you want to stop at any point that’s okay- you should stop immediately and check in with each other.
More about consent
So you’ve established that you are both 100% up for anal sex, whether this was decided beforehand or ‘in the moment’ what do you do next?
For all types of anal sex, it is a good idea to gently wash the area first with water and gentle soap. Some infections caused by bacteria and viruses can be passed on through oral to anal sex, for example Shigella, Hepatitis A, Salmonella or E. coli.
If you want to have vaginal sex as well, make sure you wash your hands if you have touched the anus, and use a new condom. This is to prevent transferring bacteria from the anus to the vagina, which could cause a urinary infection. You could use gloves to touch the anus as a precaution.
When you have anal sex involving a penis or sex toy, it’s really important you use a condom.
The lining of the anus and rectum is delicate and can be damaged easily, making it easier than other types of sex for STIs to be transmitted. This thin lining is designed to absorb fluids and nutrients from your food and, in a similar way, it can absorb bodily fluids including pre-cum, sperm and any potential STIs along with these.
Condoms stop this transfer of bodily fluids and are also great to use if you’re worried about hygiene or any potential mess.
Find out where to get free condoms
lube, lube and more lube
Unlike the vagina, the anus isn’t self-lubricating, so to make it more comfortable for both partners and prevent tearing which can increase the risk of STIs, it’s important to use lots of lube. Most condoms can only be used with water-based or silicone-based lube – avoid oil-based products as they can damage condoms and leave you unprotected.
Aside from using condoms, you can also protect against STIs during anal sex by:
If you’re engaging in anal sex there is going to be some poo involved – accidents happen and that’s totally normal! If you’re not ready to deal with poo, you might not be ready for anal sex or it simply might not be for you.
But there are some things you can do to avoid potential mess:
Thankfully, our bodies are very good at keeping poo up high out of the way until we need a bowel movement. So the easiest way to minimise the risk of any accidents is to have a poo before anal sex.
Deeper penetration carries a greater risk of mess.
Some people may want to wash the inside of their anus and rectum with water for extra peace of mind, this is called douching. A douche is a device that you use to squirt water up your anus to clean it out. Douching can be damaging as:
If you still want to douche, there are certain things you can do to minimise its harm and risk of infection:
Penetrative anal sex, particularly for the first time, requires time to arouse and stimulate each other and it often doesn’t involve a lengthy amount of penetration time or even ejaculation.
Sex of any kind does not need to end in an orgasm. Ironically, if you’re putting pressure on yourself or your partner to climax, you/they are less likely to.
It may seem obvious, but larger the object, the higher the risk of damaging your muscles and anus lining. That’s why it’s important to gradually introduce objects starting off with a small size, for example a lubed finger and gradually working your way up to bigger objects or penises if that’s what you want. You need to communicate with each other about when you are ready.
And of course, make sure you use lube!
Masturbation
If you’re unsure of what to expect from anal sex, or want to work out what to ask for, you could start by figuring out what feels good to you. Masturbation and self-exploration is one of the best ways of getting to know your body and what you want from sex.
Whatever type of sex you’re having, there shouldn’t be any pain. If either of you feel pain at any point you should stop and check in with the other person. It is very easy to tear the delicate skin on the anus and these tears (called fissures) can take a while to heal.
If you are experiencing pain it may be that you need:
Equally, you may decide you want to stop there and go no further. It’s important that you listen to your body and your partner.
Along with all new sexual behaviours, anal sex can take some trial and error, practice and communication for it to become more comfortable. But you shouldn’t put up with pain or discomfort for the sake of your partner’s pleasure. There are plenty more ways to have sex that are pleasurable for the both of you.
As the anus lining is delicate, you may notice some bleeding or discomfort after anal sex (although this is not experienced by everyone and not every time). If the blood is bright red and disappears after a few minutes, it suggests there might be a minor trauma but your body is working on healing it and it should be fine.
When to see a doctor
If the bleeding doesn’t stop, is a very dark colour, you are in a lot of pain or discomfort, or you are worried, then you should seek medical advice. This could be from a Brook service, another sexual health service, GP or hospital.
There are several things that porn doesn’t always include with anal sex which are really important if this was something you would like to try.
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