1. 10 Rules of Anal Sex by Jack Morin
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5.       Jack Morin, PhD, a San Francisco sex therapist and researcher, is the author of Anal Pleasure and Health.
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7.       Anal Eroticism is surrounded by a powerful taboo. Yet millions of men and women - straight, gay and bisexual - are
8.       experimenting with anal sex. The anus, richly endowed with nerve endings and interconnected with the main pelvic
9.       muscles, is the closest erogenous neighbor of the genitals and contracts rhythmically during orgasm. Thirty-five years
10.       ago, Kinsey stated that the anal region had erotic significance for about half of the population. In a survey of 100,000
11.       Playboy readers, 47 percent of the men and 61 percent of the women admitted to having tried anal intercourse.
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13.       Yet the anal taboo inhibits most people from thinking, talking and learning about the sexual use of the anus. Listed here
14.       are the ten things most men and women still do not know about anal sex.
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16.       1. Anal intercourse is the least practiced form of anal sex.
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18.       There are many ways to enjoy the anus erotically. The most common techniques include touching the anal opening while
19.       masturbating or stimulating a partner's anus during intercourse or oral sex.
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21.       Some people enjoy the sensation of a finger - their own or a lover's - insinuated into their anal opening and gently
22.       rotated. Others may prefer the insertion of a dildo or vibrator beyond the anal opening and short anal canal into the
23.       larger rectum. Many men, including heterosexuals, prefer this form of penetration.
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25.       Oral-anal lovemaking is popularly known as rimming. The very idea disgusts some people. Others enjoy performing it
26.       or allowing themselves to be probed in this special way.
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28.       2. Anal stimulation, including intercourse, is not painful if done properly.
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30.       The belief that anal stimulation, especially intercourse, has to hurt is a persistent and dangerous myth. Just as pain
31.       anywhere in the body indicates that something is wrong, so is the same true of the anal area. With its high concentration
32.       of nerve endings, the anus can produce extreme agony when it is mistreated. Yet it can be a source of great pleasure.
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34.       When a finger, object or penis is introduced into the anus, the anal muscles go into spasm, as if fighting off an invasion.
35.       Pain will result if the partners do not wait for these muscles to relax. Under sufficient stress they will eventually collapse
36.       and the pain subside, unless further damage is done. But, any 'pleasure' afforded from this kind of activity derives mostly
37.       from the absence of discomfort.
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39.       Maximum anal pleasure requires the elimination of all pain or physical trauma from the anal experience. Self-protection
40.       on the part of the passive partner involves being ready to say "no" until he or she is ready to proceed. Readiness is a
41.       combination of physical relaxation, usually helped along by plenty of leisurely anal touching, and desire.
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43.       Occasionally the anal muscles are relaxes, but the passive partner is still not in the mood. Stimulation should mount only
44.       in proportion to the degree of receptivity.
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46.       3. Anal sex can be enjoyed even if it has been consistently uncomfortable in the past.
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48.       Sufficient desire alone does not necessarily guarantee pleasurable anal sex. Nor is an uncomfortable previous
49.       experience always the reason for a lack of interest in or desire for anal sex.
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51.       Chronic anal tension is the most common cause of anal discomfort during sex. Hemorrhoids and constipation are usually
52.       a sign of this condition. Tension can be relieved by touching the anus and becoming more familiar with it. An ideal time
53.       to explore the anal opening is while taking a shower or bath. Deep breathing also affects the anal muscles. Tensing the
54.       anus and the letting go in another way of learning to relax it. Anyone who enjoys masturbation might want to experiment
55.       with some form of anal stimulation, though he or she should stop if any discomfort occurs.
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57.       For many people the turning point in anal sex is when they allow a partner to massage the anus with the understanding
58.       that intercourse will not be attempted. Then the recipient of anal caresses can concentrate solely on the pleasure that this
59.       erogenous zone is capable of generating.
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61.       4. Two muscle rings called sphincters surround the anal opening. Each functions independently.
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63.       If you insert a finger about one half-inch into your anus and press your fingertip against the side, you can clearly feel the
64.       two sphincter muscles. There is less than a quarter-inch between them. The external sphincter is controlled by the
65.       central nervous system - just like the muscles of the hand, for example. You can readily tense and relax this sphincter
66.       whenever you want.
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68.       The internal sphincter is quite different. This muscle is controlled by the involuntary or autonomic part of the nervous
69.       system, which governs such functions as heartbeat and stress response.
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71.       The internal sphincter reflects and responds to fear and anxiety during anal sex. It will cause the anus to tense up
72.       automatically even if the passive partner is trying to relax. Thus, precautions about safety and comfort are essential here.
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74.       Even if a person does feel comfortable during anal sex, he or she may still need to learn voluntary control over his or her
75.       internal sphincter in order to relax it at will. Doing so requires regularly inserting a finger, perhaps in the shower each
76.       day, and feeling the internal sphincter. The muscle changes spontaneously and in response to behavior. In this instance,
77.       simply paying attention is more important than trying to relax. Anyone can gradually learn to control the internal
78.       sphincter at will.
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80.       5. Anal stimulation provides many kinds of pleasure
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82.       The highest concentration of nerve endings is around the anal opening itself. A finger can focus on them especially
83.       effectively. When an object or penis is inserted beyond the anal opening into the rectum, other pleasures are involved.
84.       The outer portion of the rectum, like the vagina, has several nerve endings. The inner portion responds mostly to
85.       pressure.
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87.       Some people enjoy the feelings of pressure and fullness once they understand that these sensations do not presage an
88.       impending bowel movement. Rectal pressure is especially important to enthusiasts of "fisting," a form of anal sex in
89.       which several fingers or even the entire hand and forearm are inserted into the rectum and sometimes into the lower
90.       colon.
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92.       In men, the prostate - which is just beyond the rectal wall, a few inches in, towards the front of the body - can be a
93.       source of pleasure when massaged by a finger, an object, or a penis. Also, the lower end of the penis, or "bulb," is near
94.       the anal opening opening. It is stimulated indirectly by most types of anal sex.
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96.       Anal pleasure can be psychological as well as physical. The anal taboo adds to the thrill of the forbidden. The most
97.       common anti-anal message (it's dirty!) sometimes returns as a source of raunchy, sleazy excitement. Rimming enthusiasts
98.       may enjoy the feeling that they are being disgustingly - and delightfully - perverse. Other people regard the anus as a
99.       secret, special place. Sharing it with a partner is an act of openness and giving.
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101.       6. Anal stimulation can lead to orgasm
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103.       A minority of men and women can respond orgasmically to anal sex without direct genital stimulation. Women probably
104.       do so through pelvic muscle contractions - and a small minority even though the sheer excitement of being anally
105.       penetrated. When men experience an orgasm from anal stimulation, they tend to focus on the prostate. No doubt they
106.       are also responding to indirect stimulation of the penile bulb.
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108.       Orgasms from anal stimulation are most likely to occur when the participants become thoroughly absorbed in their
109.       sensations and fantasies. An almost certain way to prevent such an orgasm is to be become determined to have one.
110.       Seeking an anal orgasm will create new pressures and disrupt the pleasure.
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112.       It must be remembered that most people require direct genital stimulation in order to climax. On the other hand, a few
113.       people have orgasms only with anal stimulation.
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115.       7. Diet contributes to the enjoyment of anal sex
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117.       Regular bowel movements are the major function of the anus and rectum. There must be sufficient fiber in a person's
118.       diet to make his or her feces soft, bulky and well formed. This allows a bowel movement to be produced without force
119.       or effort. Forced evacuations irritate anal tissues, causing discomfort and adding to muscular tensions. Fresh fruits,
120.       vegetables, whole grains or unprocessed bran are important sources of fiber.
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122.       8. Different rules of hygiene apply to the vagina and rectum
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124.       Since intercourse can be vaginal or rectal, many people assume the the same rules apply for the penetration of the
125.       vagina and rectum. Although both are lined with soft tissue and are capable of expanding, they are radically dissimilar.
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127.       The rectum is not straight. After the short anal canal which connects the anal opening to the rectum, the rectum tilts
128.       toward the front of the body. A few inches in, it curves back - sometimes as much as 90 degrees. Then, after a few
129.       more inches, it swoops toward the front of the body once again. A person can learn about the shape of his or her
130.       rectum by gently inserting a soft object, trying different angles and body positions and concentrating on how it feels.
131.       Make sure the object has a flared base so that if you loose your grip, it won't slip into the rectum and become
132.       irretrievable.
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134.       The rectum does not produce lubrication like the vagina but only a small amount of mucus. Therefore, rectal penetration
135.       always requires a lubricant. Chemical additives should be avoided. Water-based lubricants are latex-compatible.
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137.       The main function of the rectum is to act as a passageway for feces. But feces are not normally stored in the rectum
138.       except just prior to a bowel movement. Yet small amounts may remain in the rectum, especially if the feces are not well
139.       formed. Anal douching before lovemaking will help some people especially concerned with cleanliness to relax. For
140.       others the idea of dirtiness heightens the joy of the forbidden; for them, douching is anti-erotic.
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142.       9. Anal intercourse is not necessarily an act of dominance and submission.
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144.       The top-bottom imagery associated with anal intercourse is widespread. No doubt the belief that anal sex has to hurt
145.       contributes to this notion. And in fact some people are intensely excited by top-bottom fantasies about anal sex. The
146.       thought that they are submitting to such a degrading act is a terrific thrill. However, actual, not fantasized, anal pain can
147.       lead to trouble.
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149.       For others, the enjoyment of anal sex is inhibited by top-bottom imagery. The idea of surrendering control, and perhaps
150.       submitting to humiliation, causes immediate, protective tensing of the anal muscles. These individuals are more likely to
151.       relax and enjoy themselves if they can learn to regard anal sex as pleasurable rather than as an expression of power.
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153.       10. Anal sex can be perfectly safe, even beneficial.
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155.       The taboo against anal eroticism is perpetuated by the almost universal belief among physicians that anal sex is inevitably
156.       dangerous. No physical injury from anal stimulation results if both partners refuse to tolerate pain, never use force and
157.       avoid the use of drugs.
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159.       All the other risks center on sexually transmitted diseases. Each of the common STDs - gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes -
160.       can affect the anus. Intestinal parasites, bacteria or tiny bugs are usually passed along when fecal matter finds its way
161.       into someone's mouth or vagina, most likely through rimming.
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163.       AIDS has complicated the matter. The HIV virus can pass from the semen or blood of an infected person to the
164.       bloodstream of a partner through a tiny break in the rectal tissue during anal intercourse.
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166.       To avoid this risk, anal intercourse and rimming should not be practiced casually. Those who do enjoy anal intercourse
167.       should always use a condom. Rimming should always be accomplished by a latex barrier. Of course, in a monogamous
168.       relationship with two healthy people, the risk of disease transmitted anally is reduced.
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170.       Thousands of men and women with chronic anal medical problems have restored their anal health by challenging their
171.       negative attitudes. This approach is indispensable for full erotic enjoyment of the anus.