Pretty much any STI that can infect your genitals can also infect your anus. A 2024 survey from BedBible.com found that 40% of Americans had tried oral sex. We use web analytics to help us understand user engagement with our website, trends, and overall reach of our products. Planned Parenthood Federation of America uses tracking technologies Pornsok.com to improve your site experience. We also use analytics to better understand how users book appointments. And never put a sex toy that’s been in a butt into a vagina or mouth without washing it or changing the condom first.
When you have sex, you stimulate these, leading to physical pleasure. As with any kind of sex, there are always some risks involved. But if you find you bleed every time you play, talk to your doctor. Slowing down and using more lube next time will help prevent this. After feeling so full, the receiver may feel a sense of loss or emptiness which can be quite emotional for some people.
Butt play may make some partners uncomfortable at least at first, so don’t do it as a surprise. Anal sex is not nearly as taboo as it used to be, but it can still feel awkward to talk about what we like, hate, or really want to try when it comes to our butts. Germs common to the anus, like e-coli, can cause vaginal infections. The anus is where poop comes out and if you’re playing with yours or someone else’s you may encounter some (though usually it will just be trace amounts). Try a smooth feel lube like Trojan™ Infinite Glide™, which is also unscented and non-sticky. You should also know that the skin around the anus is very delicate and can tear easily, which can make you more susceptible to STIs (not to mention these tears can be painful).
As implied above, anal sex can be enjoyed by anyone. The internal and external anal sphincters control the opening and closing of the anus and are abundant in nerve endings that can facilitate pleasure or pain. More than ever, people of all walks of life are dabbling in anal play to spice up their sex lives.
Thus, unprotected anal sex seemed to offer women a way to please their partners, to please themselves and to avoid pregnancy. As this quote illustrates, participants’ intentions to ascertain their partners’ HIV status may have seemed incompatible with their desire to experience emotional intimacy and trust through anal sex. This was the only report of unprotected anal intercourse with a seropositive partner, but another participant (a 41-year-old Hispanic woman) said that she regularly had anal sex with a man whose other partner was HIV-positive. Thus, in reconstructing her rationale for having anal sex, the participant overlooked her own pleasure and emphasized that it was “to please her partner.” Because gender norms encourage women to view themselves in relation to other persons, particularly men,33 and women are expected to meet others’ needs (including sexual needs) before their own,23 it is not surprising that women often reported that they practiced anal intercourse to please their partners. “I’ve had anal sex just for excitement. Just for something different, something added, because a lot of people don’t do that. And I just found a new part of my body I can enjoy. I like it.”—46-year-old white woman
In that sense, every sexual practice requires the mutual consent of the people involved. Anal sex between people of any gender has been around for as long as every other sexual practice. Some doctors in the UK have said there should be more medical discussion around this sexual practice, particularly with women. Safeguarding your health is crucial, so always prioritize safe sex practices to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections. As the anal tissue is unable to produce lubrication, it is more likely to get tiny tears during sex; this can allow bacteria to enter your body more easily.