SD&V

ANATOMY

Your external anal sphincter is the ring of skin and muscle on the outside, which you can voluntarily control by flexing or relaxing. The anal canal is the tight tube, about 3-4cm (1-1.5”) in length, that ends with the second internal anal sphincter. This one you cannot control, and is much more sensitive to pain. (You need to slowly insert a finger or toy and apply gentle internal stimulation in order to make it open up and relax.)

Next are anal columns, sinuses, and valves, which divide the outer skin of the anus and the inner mucus membranes of the rectum. The rectum is about 12-15cm (5-6”) deep, ending at the sigmoid colon (large intestine), which is about 35-40cm (14-16”) deep.

LIFESTYLE

If you are thinking about doing anal, first have an honest check in with your body. If you are gassy, itchy, runny, or sticky, it’s not a good time. Do not allow yourself to be pressured into doing something you don’t want to do, or aren’t ready for. Only do it if you feel relaxed, confident, and enthusiastic. And give your partner the same respect, in turn.

If you are monitoring your diet, drink lots of water, and choose fresh, healthy foods high in fibre. Avoid greasy or spicy foods, or anything you know makes your stomach upset.

Trimmers trim hair above the skin. Razors shave hair close to the skin, and can leave small cuts. If you prefer to shave, it is better to exfoliate and shave the night before to allow your skin to heal, and to avoid irritation or ingrown hairs due to the friction of sex. It also cuts down on your prep time the day of.

PREP

Fast the night before and/or the day of. Drink lots of water/fluids. Caffeine may speed up digestion and help things move along. You want your body to be empty.

Use the toilet.

Enema or douche. Fill it with lukewarm water, lubricate the tip, and insert just 1-2 cups at a time. You only want enough to fill the rectum. (Too much water, too deep, will wash undigested stuff down from the digestive tract and the process will take longer and be messier than it needs to be.) Fill and hold for as long as you can to allow everything to settle at the bottom, and then let it go. Do this over and over again until the water is clear.

Once the water comes out clear, clean up and get in the shower. To clean the area, you can either insert a soapy finger or a soft toy, depending on how deep you want to go. Soap on a toy will burn, and some sources will tell you not to put soap deep inside you. Its your choice.

Scrub the outside with a washcloth.

If you have a detachable shower head with a jet setting, take it and lay down on the bottom of the shower, knees up toward your chest. Exhale, pushing out, to open yourself up as much as you can, and use the jet to rinse yourself out. (An optional step: squat down and either cough or gag yourself. This will force your hole open to make sure there is no air or anything left inside.)

Out of the shower, oil or lube up the area. You can use an applicator to insert some inside your rectum, and/or use your fingers to gently massage some inside the anal cavity.

SAFETY

Now that you’re all cleaned and prepped, you’re ready to try it! What are some things you need to know to be safe?

Start slow and be gentle. Your ass is a tight ring of muscle that needs to be stretched a little bit at a time. The anus is not self-lubricating like the vagina (aside from mucus), so lube is very important for the comfort and safety of both you and your partner. Without lube, the friction of anal sex can be very painful, and cause tears and bleeding.

It is always okay to take breaks, or to re-prep if you have to. But be aware that over-washing (too hard, too frequently, or with harsh soap) can leave you dry and chronically itchy. I wouldn't recommend doing anal more than once a week.

Only insert objects with a flared base. Otherwise it can get sucked up inside, and you won’t be able to get it out.

Silicone toys have more ‘give’ and are more comfortable for long-time wear and double penetration. Glass and metal give harder, firmer stimulation, which some prefer, but can bruise or make you sore.

Rimming and unprotected penis-in-ass sex are both generally safe if you do your prep. However, if you go ass-to-mouth or ass-to-pussy, you will most likely be sick and need medical care in the days afterword. This could be anything from a urinary tract infection, throat infection, bacterial vaginosis, or serious e. coli infection. (SWs knowingly undertake this risk when assessing a scene, and weigh the risk against the potential career/financial gain they hope to get out of it. Just because you saw it in porn doesn’t mean it is safe.)

Always pee after sex, especially after anal! This helps to flush any potential bacteria out of the urinary tract before it has a chance to cause an infection.

If you choose to fast beforehand, please eat and drink water afterwords!