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Anal Play / Anal Sex (II)
"How To" and Safety Tips
By POWERotics Foundation
General overview and safety
For various reasons anal play or sex - yes, there is
a difference - appeals to many people who are into
the many forms of erotic power exchange. Although
personal motivations may vary, the need for the sub
to actively cooperate as well as the fact that many
people have a mental barrier here are the most
common factors for this subject's popularity. Anal
play is certainly not without risks, so you should
be very aware of what you are doing. When you
understand and know how to minimize them, the risks
are minimal.
The first thing to be aware of every time you enter
into it is that anal contact is HIV-risk number 1.
If you are playing with a partner you do not know,
just met, or are having a one night stand with - and
possibly most important - if you have a bisexual
partner - take all precautions necessary. Maybe you
have heard this before but the time required for HIV
to be discovered varies from person to person and
can be as long as seven years. In other words,
having known each other for three months is no
guarantee for protection...so protect yourself.
There are five different forms of anal play and the
differences as well as the effects can to a large
extent be compared to vaginal play:
-
penis/anus contact
-
finger- and/or fist play
-
using toys
-
rimming
-
enemas
Don't worry, we'll get to the differences. First.
Let's try to clarify some other - more general -
aspects.
Shame
Anal play is nothing to be ashamed of, although
many, many people are. We started it in our earliest
childhood. In fact it is generally acknowledged as
the first sexually related exploration every baby
does and even some fetuses do it prior to birth.
Let's face it, the odor of plain shit - but called
"musk" - is used in almost every perfume and even
more so in male cosmetics because it is generally
known as sexually appealing. For you animal lovers
out there: the scent is derived from the musk plant,
not the deer. Any biologist will explain that in all
mammals, the genitals and the anus were deliberately
placed close together, simply because the smell of
the one points the way to the other. So, if you like
it, or feel attracted to it, there is absolutely
nothing wrong with it.
Plus, the anus is an erogenous zone by itself,
whether you like it or not. Stimulating it will
cause sexual arousal and feeling somebody "touching
your vagina from the outside" (which is one of the
effects) is an amazing sensation for a woman.
Kinsey - the sexologist best know for his extensive
research of the sexual behavior of both men and
women - said it as follows: "The contractions of the
buttocks reflect, more than any one factor, the
development of the tensions involved in erotic
arousal." The buttock muscles are among the
strongest in the human body and they come into play
during almost any form of sexual intercourse and
even masturbation - especially for women. Some women
even masturbate just by contracting and relaxing
muscles and these include the "back door". In the
event you thought anal sexual attraction is just for
a few, Kinsey - in his extensive research - found
that fifty (!) percent of both men and women had had
some experience with anal stimulation or anal
intercourse. More recent research in the USA shows
that some ten percent of the heterosexual couples
regularly have anal intercourse.
The anal and vaginal region and the penis share the
same nerve roots and this is the physiological
explanation for the sexual attraction of the anus.
And - coming back to erotic power exchange - anal
play and intercourse to many has strong connotations
with terms of dominance and submission.
Forms of play
-
Penis/anal penetration - For the man the main
advantage of penetrating the anus with his penis is
that the anus is not only very narrow, but also the
circular muscle around it is much stronger. As a
result he will feel much more sensation, compared to
penetrating the relatively soft and receptive
vagina. The vaginal contractions he feels only
during the female orgasm is what he feels constantly
while penetrating the anus. To the majority of those
being anally penetrated the attraction is in two
things: one being the "giving" of this to their
partner and of course the stimulation itself.
-
Finger play and fisting - Stimulating the anus with
fingers, although desirable all by itself, causes
very relaxing feelings when done carefully, and is
mainly foreplay to something else: either anal
intercourse or anal fisting. If anal play is new to
someone, they may have trouble relaxing the anal
sphincter muscle. To break through this mostly
mental block, they may require gentle massage and
training to open up. (For information on fisting use
the link provided later).
-
Toys - Toys are mainly used as devices to train the
anus for further play. To avoid all sorts of
unwanted mishaps, please only use specially designed
toys (like butt plugs) for this purpose and not, for
example, vibrators. Apart from this, vibrators and
dildos are usually too stiff for the anus. Toys for
anal play should be very flexible, made from latex
or silicone (which is a different type of silicone
than used for plastic breast surgery).
-
Rimming - Rimming is stimulating the anus with your
tongue. The technique can be compared to oral
stimulation of the vagina.
-
Enemas - An enema is technique where (usually) fluid
is brought into the bowels to force them to
expel their content. This may be used for various purposes
- cleaning before fisting, as a punishment,
humiliation, training and sexual arousal, all of
course depending on your own preferences.
General precautions
The use of latex gloves when using your hands is a
must, to protect yourself, to protect your partners,
their insides and for hygienic reasons. Never move
your hands, fingers, penis or toys from the anus to
the vagina without thoroughly washing them first!
Cover your penis and toys with condoms at all times,
to protect yourself, your partners and your toys.
When penetrating a partner you do not know well, use
a double or even a triple condom and do buy condoms
designed for anal play (Gay Safe for example).
Item number two in any form of anal play is
lubricant. Lots of it. Don't be shy about using
lubricant! Be as generous as you can and add
repeatedly, especially during finger play and
fisting. Always use water based lubricant only. Oil
based lubricants, as well as butter (don't laugh,
this is still frequently used) will ruin latex and
render your protection useless.
Rimming without dental dams is outright unsafe
unless you have been married or lived together for a
long time and have had sex only with each other.
Before finger play or fisting - even when wearing
gloves - file your nails to avoid damaging tissue.
Run the pad of your thumb around each nail, if can
feel your nails at all the odds are you'll cut your
partner...or your glove. File them again.
Wash thoroughly before and after. Some people prefer
the use of enemas before anal play to clean out the
area. The best way to do this is the old-fashioned
way. Use an enema bag and fill it with about a mug
full of lukewarm water or milk, or buy a Fleets
enema kit at the store (USA - brand names in Europe
may vary). Never ever buy an enema kit from a sex
boutique. No matter what they tell you - use the
correct and safe equipment or none at all!
Health risks
Additionally, the following things are best NOT
done:
-
anal play during illness of any kind.
-
using objects or toys that were not specifically
designed for anal use.
-
applying force of any kind (the anus will swallow
your finger, even fist, or toys, all by itself).
Anal sex should be avoided if one has hemorrhoids,
infections or small wounds around the anal area for
various reasons. One is the HIV risk, another is
that your movements around the area may spread
bacteria from the inside to the outside and last but
not least, it usually hurts too much.
Except for the HIV-risk, ejaculating inside is not a
problem at all.
The inside story
The intestines are anything but straight. The rectum
(the part just before the anal opening) ends in a
sharp, ninety degree upward curve. (For some of you
this is why you cannot get all of your penis in). If
you attempt to push past this turn, you will only
cause tremendous pain, for both yourself and for
your partner. When penetrating with your fingers or
fist remember this turn is the second hurdle you
have to take, which requires just as much attention,
ease and patience as the anus itself. The upward
turn has a second ring of muscle around it (which is
what holds the feces inside) and this one needs to
be relaxed as well.
Also, remember that whereas the vagina is literally
a dead end, the intestines are not and this is the
main reason to use only toys designed for this kind
of play. They are designed in such a way that they
cannot accidentally slip inside and disappear.
Should this happen anyway, please do not hesitate to
visit your doctor or the nearest emergency room. It
may come out by itself, but there is no certainty
here. Yes, if it happens it is embarrassing, but do
remember that doctors and nurses have seen it all
before and are only there to help you (which is what
they will do) not to judge you.
The inside of the intestines has very delicate
lining that is damaged easily, a good reason to wear
gloves at all times. Fingernails can do a lot of
damage but so can rough or unexpected movements.
Getting in and out
Getting in takes time, especially the first times.
Take all the time in the world. If you fail the
first time, that is not a problem. In fact it is
normal. Simply try again later or another time. Go
slow and be careful. The anus, when massaged
carefully, gently and long enough, will open up
itself and is usually capable of doing very
unexpected things.
The trick is to relax, so be sure to put your
partner into a comfortable position. Do it step by
step. Get one finger in first, then slowly and
gently add the next one and maybe after a while
another one. If you want to penetrate with your
penis, now is the time to do so.
Getting out is done in the same careful way. Go
slow, even if the anus tries to push you out.
There is a very good chance your partners will need
to visit the bathroom immediately after a session.
If they don't, ask them gently and even accompany or
encourage them to do so. Even if they doesn't "have
to," being open about it will at least take the
tension away and help them relax.
After care and support
Most people, especially when inexperienced in this
area, will need lots and lots of support, love, care
and tenderness, before, during and after a session.
Remember that most people need to break through a
huge mental barrier and that barrier will not be
gone after the first time. It takes quite a while to
get over the feeling of shame. Communication is
paramount here.
Another very practical thing to remember - but it
makes a great form of after care as well - is that
anal play to many people will stimulate the
digestive process. In other words, your partner may
very well be hungry afterwards. Think ahead and make
sure you have a bite to eat readily available (which
is good advice after most scenes, as the stress and
fatigue of a session will make you and your partners
hungry). Sweets, i.e. sugar, will help regain some
energy quickly and be sure to offer something to
drink as well. Both the emotions and stress have a
draining and dehydrating effect.
If you let your partners drink an isotonic drink
first (like Gatorade) they will quickly regain their
energy. This will also help prevent another thing.
If you are planning to have an alcoholic drink
later, remember that after a scene a body will
absorb any liquid like a sponge and if it is has
alcohol will get them very drunk. The isotonic drink
will prevent this from happening.
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