Anal sex is becoming less of a taboo, but it can be a daunting idea and consent is essential. Once a taboo, anal sex is now seen as an enjoyable addition to many sexual relationships. So now your partner wants to give it a try. There seems to be a worrying trend within our society where some teenage boys are persuading girls into having anal sex without making consent a primary concern.

What are the main risks of anal sex?

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Plus the one precaution you should always take. While research suggests anal isn't quite as prevalent as pop culture might suggest—a study found that just To find out more, we spoke with ob-gyn Lauren F. There are a few risks involved with anal that women need to know, she says.
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Does it hurt? Can you orgasm from it? Is everyone having anal regularly now? The truth: Dr. Goldstein explains that stool actually hangs out higher in your body, above the anus and rectum in a section known as the sigmoid colon. In reality, if you eat healthily and get enough fiber for regular, bulky stools, this should be enough to keep the anal canal clean for play. The truth: Is any kind of sex just like what you see in porn? When you watch it in porn, anal might seem like something you can launch into spontaneously, but real-life anal requires much more care and consideration and can go more slowly. Goldstein recommends getting an anal dilation kit with three gradual dilators so you can work your way up.
Back to Sexual health. Penetrative anal sex has a higher risk of spreading STIs than many other types of sexual activity. This is because the lining of the anus is thin and can be easily damaged, which makes it more vulnerable to infection.