Using personal lubricant, having foreplay, and cleaning as you go can make anal play comfortable. It also helps to use a barrier, such as a condom, dental dam or finger cot, during penetration to reduce the risk of infection and spread of germs.
It’s easy to get STIs with anal sex, just as it is with penis in the vagina. Using condoms and regularly testing for STIs are key to keeping safe with anal sex.
Use Condoms
Even if you and your partner are free of STDs and STIs, anal play can still lead to infection. As anyone who has ever had to clean up poop knows, stool contains bacteria that can travel from the anus to the vagina if you’re not careful.
Likewise, the anus is made of delicate tissue that doesn’t self-lubricate and can tear easily if you’re not gentle. This can lead to friction injuries that can increase your risk for bacterial infections like anal vaginosis, as well as sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes and HIV.
Condoms are the best way to protect yourself from STIs, including HIV. Use an external condom (also called a male condom) that can be inserted into the anus, or a dental dam made of natural rubber latex or plastic food wrap; and make sure to change the lubricant frequently. Oil-based lubricants can damage latex condoms, so stick with water-based anal lube or anal-safe silicone lube.
Also, consider getting an enema bulb or other internal-cleaning device specifically designed for the rectum. This can help you remove feces and other debris that might end up in the anus during anal play, lowering your risk of infection and reducing friction-related injuries. And don’t forget to take a shower before anal sex, to clean your penis and sex toys after each use; and always put on a fresh condom when switching from anal to vaginal or oral sex.
Work Up to It
While anal sex is a very intimate experience and it can be incredibly satisfying for many people, it is also not something that should be rushed into. That is why it is important for anyone who wants to try anal sex to work up to it gradually. This will make the experience more enjoyable for both partners and reduce pain or any discomfort that could occur. It’s also a good idea to always communicate how much pressure and or pressure-sensitivity you are experiencing so that you can stop if it becomes uncomfortable. This is the best way to avoid any longer-term damage to the anus or any sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
Taking it slowly and using plenty of lube are other great ways to keep safe while working up to anal play. It is also important to make sure the anal area is completely clean before starting. This means wiping it down with soap and water or a sex toy cleaner before touching it. This can prevent an infection called bacterial vaginosis which is caused by poop traveling from the anus to the mouth or vagina.
While anal sex is often taboo, it is a sexual activity that has been enjoyed for millennia by men, women, and non-binary individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Some people use it as a replacement for vaginal sex because they have a medical condition like vulvodynia or are unable to perform vaginal sex for any reason. However, it is still important to always use condoms during anal sex and practice other safety measures such as using dental dams and swapping out condoms between partners during group sex to prevent spread of infectious disease.
Be Prepared
Even if you and your partner have warmed up to anal sex, you should still prepare for it by using condoms (or dental dams for oral anal) and making sure there’s plenty of lube. This will help reduce STI transmission as well as make anal play more pleasurable.
It’s also important to communicate during anal sex. If a certain part of the process hurts or feels uncomfortable, it’s important to let your partner know so that they can slow down, use more lube, or stop altogether if necessary. This also gives them the chance to ask for a break and to take their time getting used to anal play, which can be more intense than vaginal sex.
While anal sex can’t cause pregnancy, it can carry more bacteria than other parts of the body and may be more susceptible to infections like herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and HIV. If you have unprotected anal sex, you should see a healthcare professional as soon as possible. They can advise you on what to do next, including whether or not post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is right for you.
It’s also important to remember that anal sex isn’t something only a few people do and should be accepted as a normal, healthy part of many sexual experiences. As long as you follow the tips above, anal sex can be safe and pleasurable for anyone.
Stay Hygiene-Clean
Whether you’re a bottom or a top, your anus and rectum are important parts of the body. They are where fecal matter comes out, so it’s vital to keep them clean and safe. This can be as simple as showering right before anal sex, wiping the area with wet wipes or using a lubricant designed specifically for penetration on the anus or penis. A high-fiber diet can help too.
It’s also important to use plenty of lubrication to reduce the risk of tears or injuries to the delicate anal tissue. Many people turn to vaseline for this purpose, but it’s not safe for anal sex, and it can ruin sex toys and stain bedsheets. Water-based lubricants are best. If you’re going to have anal sex with someone wearing latex condoms, Bennett recommends sticking with silicone-based lubricants (not oil-based ones) since latex can break down when exposed to moisture.
And finally, it’s essential to communicate with your partner or partners about what anal sex feels like for each of you before you go through with it. This way, you can be on the same page about how rough you want to go and what kind of sex positions work best for you. It’s also important to communicate if anything hurts or is uncomfortable, so that you can stop if necessary before long-term damage or infection occurs.
