Anal sex is generic term that describes any form of sex involving the anus. Most commonly that means penetration of the anus by a penis or a Strap On. Butt plugs, rimming, anal fisting and other variants of anal play are often considered anal sex in a more lose definition.
About 40% of women who have tried anal sex enjoyed the experience. The percentage among men is much higher, statistics vary between 60 and 85%. Many men and women can orgasm from being penetrated anally, often experiencing stronger orgasms than from other forms of stimulation. This is explained partially by the anus being one of area’s with the most nerve endings, partially due to mental stimulation - the feeling of doing something dirty or forbidden. Being on the receiving end of anal sex is often also seen as a sign of submission.
Since the anus was not designed for intercourse, health concerns need special attention. Since the anus is not self lubricating, anal sex can easily result in minor damage, making STDs more easily transmittable than vaginal intercourse. In addition to this, the bacteria naturally found in the rectum can cause skin irritation on the penetrating partner.
Another reason for complications can be the penetration itself. The rectum is not padded nor does it contain strong muscles. This can result in bruising and small tears. Deeper penetration can also lead to problems with the sigmoid colon, the first major bend of the colon, located between 6 and 9 inches (15 to 22 cm) past the anus, depending on the persons size and I was recently told by a doctor, race. According to her, black people usually have more space before hitting the sigmoid colon (This information is currently unconfirmed). The sigmoid colon is not much stronger than a paper towel and tears can easily release a lot of blood. Seek health immediately since it this internal bleeding can be fatal. To measure for the sigmoid, a thing very rigid tool can be used. Insert very slowly and carefully as this is fairly dangerous. When you feel resistance increasing, retract, measure and subtract 20%. This should be the safe depth for penetration although no guarantees can be given without verification by a professional.
Because of the sensitivity and the fact that the anus is not self lubricating, lubrication is especially important. Almost all kinds of lubricants can be used, however, special attention on compatibility with condoms or the material of the toy are required.
Although starting anal sex is one of the more often discussed topic, a lot of misinformation exists about this topic.
The first misconception is that anal sex is dirty. In a healthy person, the rectum is usually fairly clean. If you try to make sure to be clean, many people recommend enemas. The second misconception is that anal sex always hurts. Anal sex, if done properly, does not hurt.
Unless you enjoy the pain (and are aware of the possible health issues caused by the friction) there is nothing like too much lubrication. For beginners, silicone or oil based lubricants are recommended because they last longer.
Relaxation is the second key to enjoyable anal experiences. Take your time, make sure you are in a comfortable position and enough lubrication has been applied. Start with a finger or thin dildo before moving on to larger toys or adding a second finger. Many people are recommending the use of butt plugs as a method to prepare for anal sex.
First timers should try anal sex from a spooning position (see below) since this gives the receiving partner the most control. Start very slowly and pause as needed to get used to the penetration.
Many questions revolve around the frequency at which anal sex can be enjoyed. Unfortunately nobody seems to have a good answer. Reports from people that have engaged into daily anal sex show no problems while others complain about issues after each incident. Lubrication seems to be a key point. A high fiber diet is sometimes recommended to reduce digestion related complications (not isn’t that elegantly put?)
While anal sex can be enjoyed in any position, two positions should be mentioned.
First, the spooning position. This very comfortable position has both partners laying on the side, facing the same direction. This allows the penetrated partner complete control, especially important for beginners.
The second position is penetration from behind with the penetrated partner on all four. This position allows for very deep hard penetration, possibly causing bruising of the tissue or the sigmoid colon.