While many people would associate anal play with same-sex male relations, people of all genders and sexual orientations may experience pleasure from anal play. Though not everyone will enjoy anal play, a recent survey found that 32% of people asked had experienced anal sex with a person of the opposite sex, suggesting anal play may be more prevalent in heterosexual relationships than many people think.
But what exactly is anal play? And what role do sex toys play? Read our comprehensive guide to answer all your questions, from first-time curiosity to top recommendations for pleasure.
What Is Anal Play?
Anal play refers to all “butt stuff", and isn't limited to anal penetration. There are plenty of different ways to enjoy anal play, and people experience anal pleasure differently. We're outlining different types of anal stimulation.
Oral Sex and Anal Play
Oral sex may not be the first to spring to mind when we talk about anal play, but for many, rimming is their first experience of anal play. Rimming, also known as analingus or ass eating, is the name given to using your mouth and tongue to stimulate your partner's anus. Kissing, massaging and licking in and around the area will help to relax and stimulate your partner, and moving your tongue in a circular motion or flicking it up and down across the anus can feel pleasurable for your partner.
Many people also choose to combine oral sex with anal stimulation, lightly playing with or inserting a finger into their anus when going down on them.
Penetration and Anal Intercourse
Just as the word sex can be used to describe all sexual activity (rather than just penis-vagina penetration), the term anal play encompasses all sex acts that include the anal region. Anal sex typically refers to penetrative anal sex whereby a body part or toy is inserted into the anus or rectum. The anus is the hole, whereas the rectum is the section of the intestine before the anus is reached in deeper penetration.
The male G-spot is the prostate, which is why many men find anal penetration so pleasurable. Prostate stimulation can help men reach orgasm in the same way that many women achieve orgasm through G-spot stimulation during vaginal sex.
Sexual penetration can also include anal fingering; inserting fingers or other body parts into the back passage. Penetration doesn't just involve a partner; a penis or finger can be swapped for a sex toy.
Sex Toys Designed for Anal Play
There are many anal sex toys designed for different types of anal pleasure, and because everyone has an anus, there can be something for everyone!
Butt Plug
Butt plugs are very versatile and have many uses. Some people use butt plugs before anal sex to warm up the area. They have a flared base to prevent them going too far up the anal canal and to keep them in place. The pointed end of the plug stimulates nerve receptors in the anus, prostate, and vagina, which can help relax the anal muscles ahead of time.
Many people choose to keep butt plugs in place during sexual activity to stimulate multiple areas for increased pleasure. Vibrating butt plugs are a popular choice for this as they continue to stimulate internally through buzzing and pulsing motions.
Butt plugs can also be used for stretching for anyone keen to experiment with inserting larger things. The key is to start small and gradually increase in size to reduce damaging your anal muscles.
Anal Beads
For first-time anal play, anal beads can be an ideal sex toy. It's a string of balls inserted into the anus one by one, increasing the feeling of “fullness” and hitting numerous sensitive nerve endings in the process. You can choose how many beads to insert based on comfort level, and the design means they will rotate and move slightly internally for continued pleasure.
Prostate Massager
As mentioned, prostate stimulation can result in increased pleasure and more intense orgasms for men. This vibrating prostate massager is ergonomically designed for maximum comfort and pleasure and is completely hands-free, so you can insert it to wear alongside other sexual activity.
As with all sexual intercourse, people experience pleasure differently when it comes to anal sex. When buying vibrating sex toys, opt for those that offer a range of settings so you can experiment with personal preference. For example, the Bed Nerdz Bodhi massager has 10 vibrating modes and 5 different speed options, so you can test the intensity of each to establish your favourite.
Vibrators
As sex toys go, vibrators come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. And because women shouldn't miss out when it comes to anal sex, we created this double penetrative vibrator designed for simultaneously penetrating the vagina and anus for maximum pleasure. Perfect for enjoying self-love or couples play, the smaller length is for anal enjoyment, and the longer length offers vaginal stimulation.
Anal Sex and Staying Safe
Anal sex does come with higher risks than other types of sexual activity, so it's important to have the facts before you get started. Read our guidance to reduce risk and keep anal play fun and safe.
Avoiding STIs
Anal sex has a higher risk of spreading STIs (sexually transmitted infections) because of the delicate nature of the area. The lining of the anus and rectum is thin and can easily be damaged, which makes it more vulnerable to infection. Wearing condoms can significantly reduce the risk of spreading bacteria as well as contracting infections.
Reduce Risk of Injury
Anal fissures are tiny tears in the lining of the anal canal, which can be caused by rough sex, fingernails, friction or even tight sphincter muscles. Using lots of lube will help reduce the risk of tears and provide a more pain-free experience. Water-based lube is preferable for use with sex toys as silicone lubricant can damage silicone toys. Oil-based lubricants are also not compatible with latex condoms, so make sure you've got the right combination.
READ THE BLOG: HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST LUBE FOR YOUR SEX TOY
Good Clean Fun
After using sex toys in anal play, you should sterilise them to stop the spread of bacteria like E. Coli. Don't go back and forth between anal and vaginal play without cleaning your toys; you may want to keep dedicated anal toys to avoid any cross-contamination between areas. Consider putting condoms on your sex toys before anal insertion for extra protection against infection.
Reducing Risks with Anal Play
Great communication and trust can really help when exploring anal play. Sex shouldn't be a painful experience, and feeling tense can make it uncomfortable. Make sure you have everyone's consent before exploring anal sex, and take it one step at a time, checking in with your partner throughout.
Regular health checks are recommended, and if you notice any health problems or are experiencing pain from anal sex or anal play, be sure to get it checked out by a professional.
Some people want to avoid anal play altogether, and that's totally fine too! But if you do want to experiment, the key is to start small, gently pushing your limits, but only if you choose to.
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