Introduction
The term "anal sex" is most often used to describe sexual intercourse where one partner inserts a penis, sex toy, or fingers into another partner's anal canal. Technically speaking, however, "anal sex" can apply to any form of sexual anal stimulation. For some of us that means only anal intercourse with a penis but for others it includes using toys, fingers, fists, enemas, sex-toys, tongues and anything else you can think of.
First of all, there are a number of common misconceptions, that
should be cleared up.
1. Not only gay men have anal sex - almost half of all women have
tried it at least once. And now for the second misconception, 2.
not all gay men have anal sex!
Anal sex is the highest risk sex act - and not just due
to HIV. Most sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) can pass between
partners during close skin-to-skin contact when a penis contacts
the anus - and vice versa. Infections will travel both ways.
People often have unsafe sex when they are taking recreational
drugs. When you are taking drugs, you don't think about putting
on that condom. Some men also think that if an HIV viral load is
undetectable, there is no risk of HIV transmission. Not true. Most
studies show that blood levels of HIV may not accurately predict
the amount of HIV in ejaculate.
In other words, your semen can have a high viral load even
though it's undetectable in your blood. If you have an
STD, you are at increased risk of transmitting or becoming infected
with HIV.
The physiology of anal sex
Your anus is only 1 to 2 inches long and connects with the rest of your colon.
The colon's primary function is to absorb water from liquid waste
that leaves your small intestines, so that by the time it reaches
your anus it is solid material. It is this heightened absorptive
capacity that makes your rectum so prone to trapping STDs.
The anus has two sphincter muscles, the internal
sphincter and external sphincter, which control the bowel movements.
These muscles are bands that surround your anus and rectum.
Your internal sphincter is actually a part of
the colon wall and is an involuntary muscle - which
means you can't control it. This is the sphincter that relaxes to
let out your bowel movements.
Your external sphincter is located under the
skin of your anus and is a voluntary muscle. You
tighten it to keep from having a bowel movement at inopportune times.
It also contracts reflexively (and out of your control) when something
approaches your anus from the outside.
However like any muscle, there is a limit to how long it can contract
before it will relax, and when this happens your partner (or toy!)
can safely enter you.
There is another important difference between a vagina and an
anus. It is that it will not self-lubricate; you need
to use a water-soluble lubricant (no Olive oil, please!).
In addition to damaging condoms, oil-based lubricants can block
your anal glands and cause infection. Many oils, including hand
creams, also contain perfumes which can irritate your skin and cause
dermatitis.
Technique
Because of the high risk of passing STDs during anal sex and foreplay, place
a condom on your partner as soon as his penis is going to come in
close contact with your anal area - even if he isn't going
to penetrate you. Put a lot of lubricant on your partner's
condom-covered penis and on the outside of your anus.
Beware of the using your fingers to stretch the
anus prior to penetration. as it is far easier to tear your sphincter
muscles like this than with a penis. Fingernails should always be
kept short and clean, as fingernails could cause a tear to the lining
of the anus.
As soon as the head of his penis pushes against the anus,
the internal and external sphincter muscles contract. You will feel
your muscles resisting. Stay there and within 1-2 minutes
(or sometimes considerably longer) your muscles will begin to relax.
The active partner can then safely proceed to enter
the anal cavity, whilst making sure the receiving partner
is comfortable and not experiencing any pain .Once the penis has
entered, the active partner should wait a couple of minutes until
the anal muscles have relaxed, before engaging in intercourse.
Do not stimulate your penis while you are trying to receive
your partner, as this also sets up a strong reflex that contracts
your sphincter muscles even tighter.
Hygiene
No matter how hard you try, the anus is impossible to entirely sterilise. You
can, however, gently wash the outer skin with a moist cloth
or pad to remove any fecal residue stuck to the skin. Avoid
wet toilet paper or tissues because they flake and will leave behind
irritating bits of paper. If necessary, try to move your bowels
prior to sex.
Enemas and douching, may actually increase the risk of
HIV transmission. Enemas -- even if they are just plain
water -- irritate the lining of your colon and make it easier for
HIV to get in or out. The motion of the sex toy, your partner's
hand or penis also stimulates colon contractions. Frequently you
won't successfully evacuate all the liquid enema before sex, and
the remainder is forced out during sex by increased colon contractions,
making intercourse less hygenic!
If you feel like there is still some stool in your rectum, try a gentle washout with warm water.
Complications
Bleeding may sometimes occur: most often from a haemorrhoid. If you see
blood, stop. Most often the bleeding will stop quickly. Do
not have anal sex again until you the bleeding has healed. If you
have haemorrhoids, experiment with different positions to see if you
can tolerate one better than the other. Many men find that when the
receptive partner is on his stomach, his hemorrhoids experience less
swelling and not bleed.
Pain
Pain during anal sex most often results from your sphincter muscles going into
spasm or from a tear. In some extreme cases, it is possible to tear
the sphincters or the delicate anal lining, though this can be avoided
if both partners are gentle and careful. If it hurts, stop
anal sex.
Try treating your fissure conservatively with stool softeners,
sitz baths (warm soaks) and hold off having sex until you
are healed. STDs can often be present with pain in your
anal area but the pain usually doesn't begin until several days
after sex. Pain that begins during or immediately after sex usually
results from a fissure or sphincter injury.
Perforation
A true tear through your colon wall is a very rare complication
of anal sex. A penis is pliable and does not have the strength to
rupture your colon. A toy, on the other hand, can cause serious
damage - especially if it is long. Your colon makes a sharp bend
to the left, approximately eight inches up. A penis can bang against
this turn and you might notice a sharp pain in the pit of your stomach.
It usually won't push through.
A hard toy however can push through and when it does, you are in
a life and death situation. You feel intense pain and must get right
to a hospital. Delay and the bacteria can spread throughout your
abdomen. This type of infection (peritonitis) could take your life.
IncontinenceIncontinence is an inability to control your bowels or gas. If your anal sex is pain free, your muscles should be fine and you don't have to worry about this dreaded complication. Those who enjoy fisting or large toys can permanently overstretch their sphincters however, and are at increased risk for incontinence in later life.
STDs
Anal sex is the highest risk sex act Virtually every STD
can pass between partners during anal sex, and for most, penetration
isn't necessary . STDs are harder to diagnose when they are inside
your anal canal and not on your penis. STDs commonly passed during
anal sex include: HIV,
herpes simplex, gonorrhea, syphilis, molluscum contagiosum, crabs,
human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis, and chlamydia.
Put a condom on early
-- as soon as you anticipate contact between the anus and
penis. Remember that fingers and toys used during foreplay can also
carry STDs between partners. A condom doesn't cover the base of
your partner's shaft, his scrotum or pubic hair -- these are all
places where STDs can lurk or land.
HIV Risk
Your risk increases dramatically in proportion to the number or partners
you have and if your sex is unprotected (whether you are
inserting or receiving).
Condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing HIV. Condoms break and can be improperly used. Semen can leak out, especially if you don't pull out while holding onto your condom as soon as you ejaculate. Precum also contains HIV and it could leak into your partner during foreplay if you don't use a condom. Unprotected sex is like Russian Roulette - you never know which shot has the bullet!
Nonoxynol-9 kills HIV in laboratories but the amount in lubricants
is not enough to kill all the HIV in a partner's ejaculate. Nonoxynol-9
has been shown to irritate the delicate lining of your rectum and
may actually increase your chances of catching or giving HIV.
Buy condoms and safe
sex essentials online in the UK, Ireland and EU at A1Lovers.com.
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