Experimentation with anal sex may be triggered by pornographic material and wanting to emulate something, which appears to be highly arousing and different. In some countries it is considered an illegal practice between a man and a woman and some religions frown upon anal sex as being inappropriate and sinful.
Anal sex has long been practised by those who wished to avoid pregnancy ? especially teenagers ? but the advent of modern reliable contraceptive methods has done away with this as a method of preventing a pregnancy.
Stimulation of the prostate gland is for many men a very erotic, exciting sensation. One of the ways of stimulating this gland is by anal penetration. Some women find this a highly arousing form of sexual intercourse while others are appalled by the thought, finding it distasteful and an unacceptable way of making love.
Always a contentious issue, there are certain facts that must be presented when discussing anal sex. Anal sex carries with it health risks for both men and women. These may be serious and should not be overlooked. The anus was definitely not made for sexual intercourse. This means that there is no form of natural lubrication nor the flexibility offered by the vagina. This makes anal sex particularly painful and tearing of the delicate tissues may occur in the anus and rectum. The anal sphincter may be stretched or weakened and long-term damage to this area may result in incontinence and loss of sphincter control. Rectal bleeding often occurs and encourages the transmission of STDs. Anal sex is therefore definitely not a safe sex practice as far as the spread of the HIV virus is concerned.
The anus is an area in which high levels of bacteria are found. Transferring these bacteria to the vagina or urethra can result in unwanted infection, which needs to be treated. Damage can be done to the urogenital tract as well as other areas. The golden rule if practising anal sex is to always use a condom and to use plenty of water-based lubrication. Any lubrication that is oil based may destroy the condom and render it useless. The use of a condom prevents the spread of bacteria and is very important. Vaginal sex should never follow anal intercourse unless the condom has been renewed and the genitals and hands washed.
Instead of full penetration, some couples stimulate the area around the anus and this can be very satisfying without the possibility of serious damage. However, the risk of infection is always present and this must be taken into consideration. Some couples enjoy anal sex and, if careful, can handle the risks. It must be noted that as with all sexual practices, both partners should feel comfortable with this form of intercourse and one partner should never coerce or force the other to do something which is unacceptable to him or her.
