By Tatyana Dyachenko

Anal Play is used to describe any kind of sex that involves the anus or rectum. Anal play is stimulation of the anorectal area including penetration with the penis, anal fingering ( with one or more fingers), fisting, rimming with the tongue, anal beads, dildos or butt plugs.

Both men and women can enjoy anal play. Men find it pleasurable because it directly stimulates the prostate or P-spot, while in women it indirectly stimulates the G-spot. For a man put a finger in the anus and bend it towards the stomach, this will get him going. The anus is a very sensitive area with lots of nerve endings, so this area can be stimulated easily .

There are many shared nerve endings between the walls of the vagina and the anus, so stimulating them both at the same time can be very rewarding. The rectum is elastic and can relax and stretch with stimulation.

The major key to remember with anal play is learn to relax, make sure you communicate properly with your partner and build the play sessions up slowly. Anal play should not hurt if done correctly; you need to relax the muscles before trying to introduce objects. Objects that are introduced into the rectum need to be perfectly smooth and be lubricated with an oil-based or water-based lubricant, to ovoid causing problems to the rectal and colon tissues and be no longer than 4 inches otherwise problems are caused to the lower intestine.

Firstly make sure that the anus is clean. You may want to use an anal douche or enema to clean out the anal passage. It is not necessary to have an internal rinse before engaging in anal sex, but some people find it makes them feel more comfortable doing so.( note : your body holds faeces high up in the intestines , so you shouldn’t encounter much poop).

You may decide to have a bath with your partner, get clean and aroused at the same time. It may be a good idea to massage your partner’s bottom before you get started, try to relax before you start. Ask your partner what their turn-ons are and set boundaries. The internal anal muscle is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. 4

We are not in total control of this muscle so as a result it will squeeze and tighten up when we feel stress, anxiety or discomfort. Some people enjoy the sensation of their anal muscles relaxing as they open up; others enjoy the feeling of having something shoved in and out of their anus.

Analingus is when people lick or insert the tongue into the anus for pleasure. It is important not to perform oral sex after analingus, as harmful bacteria’s can be transferred. There are many different types of live bacteria in this region, so a barrier protection such as condoms and gloves are recommended. For anal play to be pleasurable it’s important to have lots of foreplay before touching the anus.

The anus does not have a natural lubricant like the vagina does, so it’s extremely important to use lubrication. Oil based lubricants such as Vaseline, will cause damage to latex items like rubber butt plugs and condoms. Silicone lubricants will damage any toys that are made with silicone, so check what lubes to use with your toys.

Thicker lubricants work better for anal play, they help protect the sensitive tissues. The anus needs to get used to having things shoved up it, so you need to start off using small toys and fingers. Gradually increase the size of the objects and the time that the objects are placed in there for; you will train the muscles of the sphincter and anal canal to relax. Slide the toy into the anus for a couple of inches then take it out, rest and repeat.

Butt plugs are gently inserted into the anus to give the wearer a full sensation and stay in place once inserted. They are available in many different shapes and sizes, are made of steel, vinyl, acrylic and silicone.

There are also glass butt plugs that can be heated or cooled for different sensations. There are dildos that are specially shaped for easier insertion with a tapered head; the anal dildos are shaped to stimulate the prostate gland in men and the back of the wall of the vagina in women. Some dildos are double ended where one end is for the vagina and the longer shaft is used for penetration of the partner.

Anal beads are placed in the anus into the rectum and then removed at varying speeds, helping to enhance the person’s climax (the beads are made of plastic, silicone, metal, rubber, latex and glass). Some women like to wear strap-on dildos (that consist of a silicone cock attached to a snug fitting adjustable harness that keeps the cock in place) so they can penetrate their partner’s anus.

All anal toys should be smooth, have a flared base and be made of a strong material. Toys made of sterile or easily disinfected materials such as meatal, silicone or pyrex are great for anal play.

Prostate massagers are used to stimulate the prostate gland through the anal wall, creating fantastic sensations. Make sure that all your toys are cleaned properly and follow proper hygiene practises.