Fact or Fiction: Butt Stuff Edition

It’s Anal August which means that you are probably going to see and hear a lot of talk about all things anal this month. With that, though, you might be getting mixed information, some stuff that is true and some absolutely outrageous myths. I figured it would be a good idea to actually talk about all things butt stuff and either confirm or disprove if common things are fact or fiction. So let’s myth bust so you can engage in all kinds of anal play this month and always, with peace of mind, knowledge, and the best opportunities to experience maximum pleasure. 

All anal sex hurts? False.

This is a common belief, but it is not true. Yes, anal sex can hurt, but that is if you do not prepare beforehand. Anal training is vital to any penetrative anal play as it helps to relax the muscles in the anus, which are what makes an anal experience pleasurable or painful. Another thing that plays into anal sex hurting or not is using lube! The anus is not self-lubricating like the vagina, so you need to add lubrication for a good time.

Can you tear your asshole? True.

When it comes to the anus, you can experience anal fissures, which are small tears in the lining of the anus. Anal fissures can happen when you don’t use lube or are too rough with the anus. They can also happen when you push too hard during a bowel movement, not just from anal sex.

You can’t have anal sex with hemorrhoids? True and False. 

So you can absolutely still engage in anal play when you have hemorrhoids. Is it recommended? No. Hemorrhoids are already painful, so trying to engage in anal play with them is more than likely going to be uncomfortable, if not painful. If you have hemorrhoids, wait for them to go away before engaging in anal play. There are so many other avenues of pleasure you can try while waiting for hemorrhoids to clear up. 

Does anal sex cause aids? It can, but it isn’t a given.

Anal sex, just like any other sexual activity that is done with a partner, has the potential to transmit STIs and STDs. Practicing safer sex with anal play is paramount for minimizing all STI transmissions. Using barrier methods, like external and internal condoms, using lube, and full-panel triple-site swab STI testing regularly are all safer sex practices. You would need to ask your doctor for STI testing or do an at-home test with a kit. BasisDx, Everlywell, and Nurx all have at-home test kits.

Anal sex makes you constipated? False.

Anal sex won’t make you constipated. When done properly, the relaxing of the anal sphincters actually makes it easier for you to poop because you are relaxed. Anal sex is actually more likely to make you feel like you have to poop. If you prepped beforehand, though, that shouldn’t be the case. 

Is anal sex gay? No.

A common thing said about anal sex is that it is gay, and that is absolutely incorrect. Sex acts themselves can’t be gay. People are gay, and what makes them gay is who they are sexually attracted to, not the sexual activities they engage in. Anyone can have anal sex, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. If you are in conversation with someone that says that anal sex is gay, go ahead and end the conversation or leave the date because they obviously have a limited scope or palette for pleasure, and you don’t need that. 

Things can get lost or stuck in your ass? True.

The anus connects to the intestines, so if you insert things without a flared base, they can move from the anus to the rectum to the intestines. If you want to put things in your butt, make sure they are made for that. You can get toy recs from me in my Anal August Shopping Guide!