Anal play

Anal play

Health risk	Mild
Legal risk	Mild

Anal play is the general practice of using body parts or sex toys to stimulate nerves in and near the anus and prostate. Anal play can be practiced alone or with partners and can incorporate the use of objects like dildos, vibrators, appendages, and electrical devices. It includes more specific practices such as anal sex, fisting, anal electrostimulation, fingering, rimming, and pegging.

Appeal

The anus and prostate have a high density of nerves that can be stimulated by touch or electrical means to produce pleasurable sensations in the receiving person. Practitioners receiving penetration during anal play may also be interested in psychological aspects related to cultural or social taboos, domination and submission, or as a way to provide pleasure for their partner.

Methods

Toys

Common types of anal toys include:

• Butt plugs
• Dildos
• Anal beads
• Prostate massagers
• Anal vibrators
• Electrostimulation toys

These toys can vary in size, shape, texture, and functionality, allowing individuals to choose the one that best suits their preferences and comfort level. Some anal insertables are designed for solo use, while others are intended for use with a partner.

Enemas

Main article: Enema play

Risks

Sexually transmitted infections

Having anal sex (penis in anus) without a condom (barebacking) is the sex act most likely to result in transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because the anus and rectum are made of delicate tissue that can easily tear and provide an entry point for pathogens. During anal sex, both participants are susceptible to the following STIs:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Herpes
• HIV
• HPV (warts)
• Mpox
• Mycoplasma genitalium (M. gen)
• Syphilis

During oral-anal sex (also known as rimming or analingus), both partners are susceptible to the following STIs:

• Herpes
• HPV (warts)
• Mpox
• Syphilis

• Gonorrhea (less common)

The chances of getting HIV from oral sex is essentially zero, as HIV does not transmit through saliva (spit), and the mouth is naturally resistant against HIV. The person using their mouth is susceptible to infections by pathogens found in the digestive tract, known as the fecal-oral route:

• Amebiasis
• Campylobacter
• Cryptosporidium
• Giardia
• Hepatitis A
• Salmonella
• Shigella

Abrasion, cuts, tears, punctures

There are numerous incidents where people have injured themselves while doing solo anal play, often as a result of rushing and pushing or forcing toys in. But injury can also occur when slipping or losing your footing when crouching down on a large toy.

For smaller tears and small injuries, douching with a small amount of cold water and holding it in or using an ice cube may help stop minor bleeding. You should probably refrain from further play until you are confident it has healed, and start back with caution and using smaller toys and building back up.

Larger anal injuries where there are larger amounts of blood may require medical treatment, if you are concerned about the amount of blood go to your local emergency department. If there is darker color blood that looks like it has started to coagulate and then has been moved by fresh blood you should go and get checked out as this often suggests a more serious injury.

In serious cases operation may be required to stop the bleeding and repair the tear, in serious cases it can result in being fitted with a stoma while the affected area heals and then all being well with this removed at a later date.

The risk of cuts, tears and punctures increases with the use of alcohol or drugs, as your ability to manage risk reduces and you may not be as aware that you are nearing or have injured yourself. Lighting in darkrooms and sex clubs (or colored lights in home playrooms) can also make it difficult to see blood so proceed with caution.

Due to the risk of tears and injury you should also not use numbing agents and numbing lubes when doing anal play (they often contain lidocaine as the numbing agent). It increases the risk of you or your partner injuring your ass and missing the warning signs.

When fisting, ensure that your nails are trimmed and filed. You can rub your nails along your bottom lip to test how smooth they are, if they feel rough or any sharp points then file more. It is important to wear gloves to reduce the risk of STI transmission (such as Hepatitis C) but they also provide a little additional protection from tears.

Large toys such as the Bad Dragon Rex XL are known to cause injuries due to their shapes.

In short, it is better to use plenty of lube, play slowly and focus on relaxing and breathing rather than pushing and forcing toys in. If you feel burning, and discomfort ease off - listen to what your body is telling you.

Risk mitigation

Condoms may help to prevent the transmission of certain infections during anal sex, and also may protect users from cross contamination from objects when used as a removable and replaceable protective barrier.

Body safe lubricants designed for sexual play may reduce friction and the risk of abrasion and tears.

Not sharing lube, especially when fisting will help reduce transmission risk of STIs (especially such as Hepatitis C which can survive outside the body)

Anything objects into the anus or colon may have physical features prevent them from being lost or lodged entirely inside of the body, such as having long handles that always protrude, or wide bases that prevent full insertion.

When fingering or fisting rubber gloves may help to reduce friction if well lubricated, and help to prevent abrasion, cutting, or tearing from sharp fingernails. Gloves also reduce the risk of transmitting infection when replaced regularly by preventing cross contamination.

Starting with smaller toys and gradually increasing in size can help the body adjust and minimize the risk of injury.

Choosing high-quality anal toys made from body-safe materials, such as 100% platinum cure silicone, can help reduce the risk of adverse reactions or complications.

Regular cleaning and disinfection of anal toys are also important to prevent the spread of bacteria and infection.