Anal Activities

[ Just finished this one for Lovedreamer - sorry it's not very funny/entertaining, there was just too much information to "cram in there" ^_~ ]

Many people around the world enjoy anal sex and anal play. It’s become almost a staple in many types of pornography and this is generating a lot curiosity – is anal something you might like to try?

Anal play can be very pleasurable; there is a wealth of nerve endings in the rectum that can send your brain pleasure signals when they are stimulated. Despite this promise of bliss, however, many people are still not interested in or are afraid to try anal stimulation; this may be due to fears of it being messy or painful.

Anal sex should not be painful as long as everything is properly lubricated and the receiver is relaxed and prepared. Many beginners do find properly lubricated anal play uncomfortable at first, but once they learn to relax, they are more able to enjoy themselves and the discomfort fades away.

As for mess, most people don’t need to worry about that too much. Although some people swear by enemas before anal, feces isn’t stored in the rectum until just before you get rid of it, so you don’t usually have to worry about that. However, you will still want to prevent the spread of bacteria and infections.

First of all, always use a condom. The rectum is home to many types of bacteria that don’t really belong anywhere else on your body and having anal sex without a condom puts you at risk for a urinary tract infection, among other things. Always change condoms if you want to switch from anal play to anything else and wash the relevant body parts thoroughly. Rectum bacteria don’t belong in the vagina or mouth and can cause nasty infections. You also should be aware that the same rules apply for HIV and STI’s (sexually transmitted infections) with anal sex – so don’t forget that condom! There is often more friction associated with anal sex, which can abrade the skin of your penis and your partner’s rectum, which increases the risk of STI transmission.

The same rules for a penis, or your fingers, also apply to your toys. Be sure to wash toys thoroughly after they’ve been used in anal play – you may even want to put a condom over your toys as well. Some toys are dishwasher safe, which is excellent because the heat from the dishwasher will kill any bacteria that may have hitched a ride on your favourite dildo or plug. Glass or Pyrex toys are a smart choice for anal play because they are not porous like other material, which makes them resistant to bacteria, and they are dishwasher safe. For non-dishwasher safe toys, try a concentrated cleanser like “ForPlay Sex Toy Cleaner” or, again, just slide a condom over them before use.

You should also use a rubber glove for any hand to anal play and use plastic wrap (you can make a handy dental dam out of a condom or purchase ready-made flavoured dams) to provide a barrier during oral-anal play. These methods will help to keep you safe from infection.

If you are experimenting with a partner, besides protecting yourselves from infection, you’ll want to protect yourselves from injury. Anal penetration requires trust between both partners; it’s important that you go very slowly and listen to your partner to make sure that they aren’t in pain. The rectal wall curves and is fairly thin, so you’ll want to be very careful with how fast you go and with the types of objects you slide inside. The same goes for solo penetration, take it slow, breathe deep, and relax – there’s no need to push yourself too far too soon.

Using PLENTY of lubrication is essential. Since you’re going to be safe and will be using a condom for anal sex – and/or will be concerned about protecting your nice anal toys – you’ll want to get a good water-based lubricant. Petroleum based lubricants, like Vaseline, will degrade latex and silicone based lubricants can degrade silicone toys (but are safe to use with condoms). Lovedreamer.com offers some great water based lubricants as well as some anal specific lubes, like “Doc’s Anal Lube”, which are supposed to be a little more viscous. Many anal lubricants also contain a light anaesthetic to dull any initial discomfort; this can help relax your partner (or you).

Anal play is one area where toys can be even more important and useful than usual. Since the average anus is not used to accepting something as large as a penis or large dildo, smaller toys can be essential for “warming up” and for promoting comfort and relaxation as you explore.

It’s best to start with a small plug or probe like the “Silicone Tee” probe. If you are playing with a partner, pay close attention to them, making sure that he or she feels comfortable. After lubing up EVERYTHING (the anus, your finger, the toys, etc), slowly push the plug slightly inside the anus. Do not use force – stop immediately if your partner complains of discomfort – or if you are playing alone, stop if you feel that it’s more than you can handle or if you feel pain. If it is difficult to enter the anus, you probably need more lubrication –be liberal with it. The first time you try anal play, you may feel a bit of pain or discomfort, but with proper lubrication, trust, and relaxation this should disappear. Anal sex is not for everyone, and if you feel uncomfortable, stop and maybe try again another time.

You may find that a thin probe is all you need (or feel comfortable with), or you may want to try going a little thicker, maybe working your way up to something large, like a penis or big dildo/plug. A toy like the “Spectra Gel Anal Toy” is perfect for those who want to explore wider objects, because it starts off at a 1 inch diameter and goes up to 2 inches at its thickest point – this will give you a chance to practice and allow you to ease up to wider toys. Another useful toy for working your way wider is the “Expanding Butt Plug” which inflates to larger sizes (and vibrates). It’s also a good idea to get toys that have a flared base, like the “slim line butt plug”, or some other mechanism to prevent them from getting lodged in the rectum (and save yourself an embarrassing visit to the ER).

It’s best to try a bunch of different toys to figure out what you like best – do you prefer the fullness of a butt plug, the feeling of entry/withdrawal with anal beads, or the motion of a vibrating toy? Most importantly, respect your body. Don’t push the limits and go only as far as you feel comfortable.

[leave me a message if you've got any more questions about anal - I've got tons of links to more information and even a link to galleries (male-male and female-male) that I stumbled across in my quest for information]