Anal sex is an old taboo that keeps coming back. Historically anal was illegal or considered to be immoral however these views are changing. Mainstream porn channels feature anal sex as common place rather than being an extreme kink and society as a whole is becoming more open minded. But as anal grows in popularity, some of us are yet to explore it.

Is anal sex dangerous? Are there risks to it? Or is it just an old fashioned idea that you shouldn’t do it?

Anal sex is not inherently dangerous. There are just some things you need to be aware of which don’t always apply to vaginal sex. A key difference between vaginal and anal sex is lubrication. Whereas a woman gets wet naturally when she’s excited, this doesn’t happen during anal.

Anal vs Vaginal sex

Vaginas are designed to receive a penis. When a couple are ready to have sex, a man gets an erection while the woman gets wet and finds her pelvic muscles relax. This keeps sex comfortable and smooth.

Biologically, the backdoor is an exit route which means that you have to compensate for this by getting creative. Whereas a vagina accommodates a cock by stretching and relaxing the muscles, this can’t happen in anal.

The first part to overcome during anal sex is the sphincter. This is a small rubber band like loop of muscle which seals the rectum to stop any poop escaping. Because of this, the anus entrance is ‘tighter’ than a vagina and requires more relaxation of the muscles for any penetration.

In order to achieve comfortable entry, lube and foreplay are essential. We explore possible ways to warm up for anal sex in our rimming article but would also highlight sex toys designed for anal play and gentle fingering.

Risk 1: Not using enough lube = friction & pain

This is where the first risks can arise. If you’re too rough during penetration, this can cause small tears or other damage to the skin. Which could cause bleeding and general discomfort. To avoid this, being slow, gentle and using more lube than you would normally will help.

If you feel any discomfort or resistance, it is better to pause than to push on. Follow your partner’s wishes and pay attention to her comfort. It can help also for her to ‘push down’ against your cock when you enter her as this actually opens the sphincter wider. If she ‘closes up’ by squeezing herself shut, it will make intercourse more painful if not impossible. This obviously increases the risk of injury.

NEVER use any anaesthetic or numbing lube, these can be dangerous because it prevents you from knowing if you’re in pain. Remember that pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t quite right. If this happens, stop and relax before deciding if you should continue or try another day.

2. Being rough during anal

When you are actually having anal sex, the other risks are that there may be internal abrasions. This is why you should top up your lube throughout to keep things smooth. If you run out of lube it can risk having small tears or ‘fistulas’ occur which can again lead to bleeding and discomfort.

Because the skin and internal lining of the rectum are much more delicate, it is better to be gentle. Where rough vaginal sex can cause discomfort or bruising, there is a slightly higher risk of this during anal. This is simply due to the skin being much thinner with the blood capillaries being closer to the surface.

3. STIs risk

While all sexual activity carries the risk of STIs, anal sex can be more risky. This is due to the internal lining being thin and so there being a greater chance of exposure to the blood stream. This means that STIs such as syphilis or HIV can be more easily transmitted during unprotected anal sex than during vaginal intercourse.

Using condoms reduces your risk of catching an STI or unplanned pregnancy by 99%.

Condoms during anal sex also help to avoid transferring bacteria from your partner’s butt to her vagina. If this occurs through dipping between holes, it can lead to all kinds of funky conditions which may make her uncomfortable.

After engaging in any kind of sex but especially with anal, you should use good aftercare etiquette. This helps you to feel comfortable, respected and happy with your experience.