Boston Counseling and Psychotherapy

Sex Therapy: Anal Intercourse Statistics and Safe Anal Sex Tips

August 24, 2008 – 10:20 pm

Portraits

Diane and her husband Dan have been trying new things to spice up their sex life. “Here’s something we haven’t tried,” Dan says.

Coleen wants to preserve her virginity, but her boyfriend wants sex. A girlfriend of hers said that there is a way both can get what they want. “I’m not sure about that,” Coleen says.

Definitions and Key Thoughts

Anal sex generally refers to the act of inserting one’s penis into another person’s rectum. However, the term anal sex may also be used to refer to the act of inserting one’s fingers or other object into a person’s rectum for the purpose of sexual pleasure. Also, anilingus, the act of orally stimulating another person’s rectum is also sometimes referred to as anal sex.

Anal sex is a widely practiced by both homosexual and heterosexual persons.

A 2005 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined the practice of anal sex is increasing with the heterosexual population. Reported in the study, 40 percent of men and 35 percent of women between 25 and 44 had engaged in heterosexual anal sex (in 1992 a similar survey of persons 18-59 found 25.6 percent of men and 20.4 percent of women had participated in anal sex).[i]

According to the famous sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, he found (in the 1940s) that the number of persons who have participated in anal sex is approximately 40%.

In 2005, the University of British Columbia published a study suggesting between 30-50 percent of heterosexuals have participated in anal sex.

Anal Sex is a sexual practice considered to be somewhat “high risk,” due to the potential for physical damage that can occur during the act, infections that can occur due to the septic nature of the rectum, and the increased potential for transmitting sexually transmitted diseases.

Some of these risks of Anal sex can be managed by wearing a condom, using a personal lubricant (Note: lubrication is important with anal sex because the natural rectal mucosa does not provide much lubrication), and good communication between partners during the anal sex act.

Anal sex is sometimes practiced to avoid an unwanted pregnancy, or to engage in sexual activity that does not break the woman’s hymen—preserving a woman’s virginity.

Anal sex is also practiced for sexual pleasure. The anus is generally known to be tighter than the vagina, which may yield more physical pleasure, or a different physical sensation during sex, for both men and women. The anus also contains a cluster of nerves which can create sexual pleasure for the person receiving. With men, the prostate gland is in close proximity to the rectum. This anatomical positioning has been suggested to make anal sex sexually satisfying for men.

Safe Anal Sex Tips

1) Don’t be pressured into Anal Sex.

While some couples practice anal intercourse, others are not interested or against having it.

While some persons have practiced anal sex for birth control reasons, more conventional methods of birth control including condoms, oral contraceptives, spermicidal gels, and abstinence. These may be better practices if one is not interested in having anal sex.

While it is true anal sex will not damage a woman’s hymen and will technically preserve a woman’s virginity according to the medical definition, if one is not ready to have sex or desires to remain a virgin, talking to one’s partner about not being ready or not wanting to have sex may be preferable to having anal sex.

2) Safe anal sex practices.

If you and your partner decide to have anal sex, here are several preparation tips

Use a personal lubricant

The rectal mucosa tissue does not lubricate the way a vagina will lubricate during sexual intercourse. Using a lubricant will make the act of anal sex more enjoyable for both partners, and reduce the risk of physical injury.

Wear a condom

In terms of health risks, anal sex is not a safer practice than vaginal sex. In fact, practicing anal sex increases one’s risk of contracting an STD due to the higher risk of tearing or bleeding that can occur.

Note: due to the septic nature of the rectum, one should always change the condom before engaging in vaginal sex after anal sex.

Sexual communication

Communication between partners is extremely important during anal sex. Talking to your partner about what feels good, and what is painful, will reduce the risk of physical injury as well as make anal sex a more enjoyable experience.

If the “receiving” partner is not accustomed to anal sex, the “giving” partner will likely need to be very gentle and use very slow movements.