History of Sextoys

The basics guide to sex toys for adults:

The Vibrator: This is a toy that vibrates at various speeds, sizes, functions, and when used on the clitoris is one of the easiest ways for a women to reach orgasm.
The Dildo: This is a toy that replicates an erect penis, Dildo’s come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes. Some materials may include but is not limited to; silicone, glass, jelly, cyberskin, or metal.

The Strap-On: A dildo you can strap to oneself using a harness ( can be regular or g-string like straps) You can strap these to your hips, your thighs, or even your chest to penetrate a partner.
The Butt Plug: The butt plug is a flexible rubber or jelly toy that is inserted into the anus to heighten sexual exploration. I would describe as an anal dildo, although it is smaller in size, bullet like design and has a flared base to keep it from accidentally slipping all the way into the anus. They can be either vibrating plugs or non-vibrating plugs.

Anal Beads: They are plastic or jelly strands of beads that are inserted into the anus, As the person reaches climax the beads are slowly removed from the anus to heighten the effects of the orgasm.

Orgasm Balls: A.K.A Ben Wa Balls, These are balls which are inserted into the vagina and through rocking and vaginal muscle movement can product fabulous orgasms!!
Female Pumps: Also known as clit or tit pumps. These toys come with a suction cup that is either placed over the clitoral area or the nipple. Once a grip has been established a vibrating stimulator is turned on sending pulsating vibes to the designated area.

Lubricants: One goes hand in hand with the other! Whether natural lubrication is an easy effort or not, when it comes to using sexual toys it is a good idea to use a little extra lube. Here’s a brief touch on the topic. Water-based lubricants is probably your best all around lubricant. It doesn’t stain, it is easily cleaned up, it is good with silicone toys and safe with latex toys. The only issue is that it tends to dry up faster so you may have to re-apply if necessary. Silicone Based Lubricant: I great for use with waterproof toys. Keep in mind while silicone based lube work well with latex toys, it will destroy silicone toys. Petroleum-based lubricants are fantastic for anal play. Their thicker consistency makes anal penetration easier, on the not so good side be precautious as these lubricants will eat away at any latex based product (condoms, diaphragms) so be sure to plan properly how you would like to lubricate yourself.

Dildos: Dildos are perfect for those who like something a little more realistic about their sex toys. If you are looking for some sort of internal stimulation to orgasm, then dildos would be a more ideal toy for you. They can hit your G-spot perfectly when angled right, and most dildos are designed to give you a more generally satisfying feeling of fullness, and perhaps feel good when gently moved in and out. Dildos come with a suction cup base – for hands free play! These can be suctioned to bathtub sides, in the shower, hardwood floors and even headboards. You’ll have to take in consideration for yourself which type of dildo would be right for your or for your partner, the following is some helpful dildo information to take into consideration.

Dildos In Culture It may have not been discussed at the dinner table, however the dildos being used in history have been pictured…
As far back as 1906 lithographs have depicted dildos in culture, two women using dildos are shown in “De Figuris Veneris” which means “On the Figures of Venus” this typical art work was an anthology of ancient Greek and ancient Roman writings on erotic topics, discussed objectively and classified and grouped by subject matter.
A classicist and feminist named Page Du Bois suggested that dildos were present in Greek art because the ancient Greek male imagination found it difficult to conceive of sex taking place without penetration. Therefore female masturbation or sex between women required an artificial phallus to be used.  (bi-sexual activity)

A Simple Break Down of Dildo Toys:
With the help of technology today  dildo makers can offer a wide variety of toys for us to thrust away with, These dildos come in many shapes, sizes and colors and the uses vary as well. Here are the basics.

Realistic Dildos: These dildos look and feel like the real thing. The color and shape are exact (some even have details right down to the main vain.) Many of these dildos are mold of actual penises, some, cast right from the cock of male porn stars like “Mr. Marcus”.

Penis Extenders: Made for the man who has difficulty getting it up or getting an erection at all. These dildos are commonly known as Prosthetic Penis Attachments and are made of hollowed out vinyl with an elastic strap. He slips in, puts the strap around his waist and is able to penetrate his partner successfully.

Anal Dildos: Can be butt plugs, or anal plugs. These dildos are smaller and flared at the end so that they can fit into your rectum and not get lost up there. It takes some time to wiggle a butt plug in, but once it is in place it feels ooo soooo gooood. Take your time and lube up since the anus doesn’t expand when aroused.

G-Spot / P-Spot Dildos: These dildos are curved or have a kink in them so that they hit just the right spot. Smooth and designed to make you sing out joy! G-Spot | P-Spot dildo will never leave you unsatisfied.

Double Dildos: This is a longer dildo, and has a head on both sides. It is perfect for two person pleasure or if the spine is bendable you can experience double penetration all by yourself.

Strap On Dildos: Usually used in accordance with Harnesses. These are basically dildos that are attached to a piece of material resembling a jock strap or bikini thong. Strap around your waist and legs secure the material to the wearer and there is a hold and ring that secure the dildo in front. Perfect for role play, and lesbian action.

Chin Dildo: Your man or woman straps the device on over their head and it rest right below the mouth. While you getting orally served the accommodator dildo penetrates for stimulation of two places at once.

Dildo Ball: A clever device that might remind you of the exercise ball at the gym with one distinct difference. This inflatable ball has a dildo on top so you can ride with the ball in between your legs without banging your privates on hard surface. The squishy ball is also fun to bounce up and down on.

Dildos Materials

Rubber: Dating back to the original idea of creating rubber erect penises, rubber dildos usually incorporated a steel spring for stiffness, they became available in the 1940’s. As it turns out this was less than satisfactory because of the potential for serious injury from cuts from the spring when the rubber finally cracked and came apart.

PVC & Jelly Rubber: These types of sex toys used to be considered as problematic. When PVC was first introduced they contained unsafe phthalates, which are softeners that were added to many plastics and were also found in jewelry, food containers, and other soft rubber toys. Phthalates have been linked to problems such as cancer, and prenatal defects. Now, high end PVC sex toys are Phthalate free (elastomers takes the place of that old materials) they are soft and pliable yet hard enough to feel great. Keep in mind PVC toys are porous and they are not as durable as most sex toys made today, being cautious with this material as it cannot be sterilized. Manufacturers recommend using condoms with these types of toys if the user is sharing. Easy to clean with soap and water or anti-bacterial sex toy cleaner. Can be used with Water-based or Silicone-based Lubricant.

Silicone Rubber: Since the 1990’s silicone rubber dildos became more popular, these dildos are easier to clean, and have the characteristics plastic aroma of PVC. Silicone holds body heat well, and is an excellent conductor of vibrations and subtle movement. Silicone is also a robust material that can be sterilized by boiling or bleaching (10% bleach, 90% water). You can also use warm water and soap, or anti-bacterial sex toy cleaner. These toys can be used with Water based lubricant only, as Silicone based lubricant will cause an adhesive reaction, which results in destruction of that toy.

Chrome Plated Steel: Users prefer them for their hardness and firmness, durability, electrical conductance and low friction. They can also be used to exercise vaginal PC muscles. Steel dildos may be warmed or cooled in water before use to elicit a range of temperature sensations, it may also retain body heat of the user. To be used in conjunction with water based, silicone based or oil based lubricant. Because steel has a polished nonporous surface, it may be sterilized in boiling water.

Glass: Glass dildos has similar features to steel ones, most glass is made with Pyrex (A.K.A Borosilicate glass) which is commonly used for bakeware, cookware, and other durable glass materials. Now, depending on the Manufacturer, glass sex toys like steel ones, may be used to apply firmer pressure than silicone can to a female’s G-spot or male’s prostate gland. They are nonporous and can be sterilized in the dishwasher which makes them ideal for people who find themselves susceptible to allergic reactions from latex and rubber toys. They are also heat absorbent, you can simple pre heat the dildo in warm-hot water before play time, or allow your body heat to warm the toy, as well you can freeze or chill glass for a whole other sensation. However, unlike any other sex toy available, glass sex toys can be personalized with inscriptions. The best lubricant for all types of toys is Water-based, But Oil and Silicone lubes work just as well.

Cyberskin: Is made from synthetic material that feels just like human skin. It is a porous material and cannot be sterilized. After wash, you will find that the toy may feel sticky, add a dust of cornstarch to prolong the life of your toy. Cyberskin toys are more prone to rips and tears than silicone dildos due to delicate material. If you own a cyberskin toy, the best way to keep it clean, wash with soap and water, or a toy cleaner, make sure you let the toy dry thoroughly, dust on a layer of cornstarch or cybernew and store in a soft pouch in such as a linen drawer or anywhere dark and cool. Cyberskin’s are best in enjoyed with Water-based lubricants. Silicone-based or Oil-based lubricants may break down the toys material.

Vibrators Vibrators are devices used to stimulate the body and skin for relaxing and pleasurable feeling. However, some vibrators are designed to ergonomically stimulate erogenous zone for erotic stimulation. If you are female or have a female partner, a vibrator is the toy most likely to make the biggest difference to your sex life. For many women, they have their first orgasm with a vibrator, and most women find it easier to reach orgasm with a vibrator then by any other way, Furthermore, most women cannot reach orgasm through intercourse alone (this is due to how the female body is constructed, don’t sweat it) Similar to dildos vibrators come in a variety of lengths and girths. Some are smaller for beginner use and are unintimidating due to their non-phallic appearance. So, if you’re a male with a female partner and think it would be sexy and hot for her to have an orgasm while you having intercourse, a vibrator could be the best present you could get.

History of Vibrators: For centuries doctors had been treating women for a wide variety of illnesses by performing what is now recognized as masturbation. The pelvic massage was especially common in the treatment of female hysteria during the Victorian era, as the point of such manipulation was to cause “hysterical paroxysm” (orgasm) in the patient. Not only did they regard the “vulvular stimulation” required as having nothing to do with sex, but reportedly found it time consuming and hard work!?
One of the first vibrators was a steam-powered device called “Manipulator” this machine was rather awkward device, but was still heralded as some relief for the doctors who found themselves suffering from fatigued wrists and hands. Dr Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the first “electromechanical” vibrator, after that in 1902 Hamilton Beach company patented the first electrical vibrator available for retail sale, this made the vibrator the fifth domestic appliance to be electrified, after the sewing machine, fan, kettle, or toaster, and approximately a decade before the vacuum, or electric iron!!
Due to sexual revolution of the 1960’s, the vibrator demand was as strong as ever, Therefore on June 30th 1966 Jon H. Tavel applied for a patent for the “Cordless Electric Vibrator - for Use on Human Body” which ushered the modern personal vibrator. In actuality the patent application referenced an earlier patent dating back to 1938, for a flashlight with a shape that left little doubt as to possible alternate use. The cordless vibrator was patented on March 28, 1968, and was soon followed by such improvements as multi-speed and one piece construction, which in result made it cheaper to manufacture and easier to clean.

Types of Vibrators:

Outlet Powered Vibrators: If you choose to buy only one vibrator, consider one that used an electrical outlet rather than batteries: they last longer and they never run out of power just as you’re about to have an orgasm, and since they’re made by mainstream electronic companies and sold in everyday stores you don’t even have to be embarrassed if someone else finds it. (yes, some people still use them for their aching feet and backs) To date, of all the outlet powered vibrators, the preferred choice is still the Hitachi Magic Wand. In comparison to other plug-in models the wand is easier to use during sex with a partner, it’s easier to put a condom over the end in case someone else wants to use it, and the optional penetrative attachments that you can get for it are higher quality. If the vibrations are a little too intense for you bare clit, use it through panties, sheets or a thin towel. If you want to go for multiple clitoral orgasms, then after the first one, back off on the pressure while keeping the vibrator moving, avoiding direct contact with your clit until your arousal level builds again. Moving your hips while using your vibrator (and squeezing and relaxing your PC muscles) in time with your breathing, is something else that can enhance your whole experience. If you want to use your vibrator during intercourse with a partner, you’ll probably find that “doggy style” position is the most convenient position to the vibrator in.

Battery Powered Vibrators: Even if the electric powered vibrator is one of your favorites, you should still consider picking up and separate battery powered vibrator. The smallest of them ca easily be kept in purse, you can use them more discreetly and spontaneously, they may be more convenient for partner sex if you and your partner like to change positions a lot, obviously you can use them when you’re not near an electrical outlet, and some of them can be used in or near water (which is nice if that is the only place you can have some privacy.) At the top of the tips list. Make sure you have spare batteries, and the batteries are removed when not in action!

Types of Erotic Vibrators

Clitoral: Often sold as “back massagers”. The clitoral vibrator is a sex toy used to provide sexual pleasure and to enhance orgasm by stimulating the clitoris. Although most of the vibrators available can be used as clitoral vibrators, they may have special designs and models that would not resemble a vibrator. They commonly come in small sizes and in a variety of colors, textures and shapes. The most common type of clitoral vibrator is small, egg-shaped and attached to a multi-speed battery pack by a long cord. Variations of this kind are in all sorts, narrower, bullet-shaped vibes, and vibrators shaped like cats, bunnies, bears, dewdrops, miniature rockets, and large human tongues. Egg shaped vibrators can be used for stimulation of the clitoris or insertion into the vagina they get their name due to their shape, based on their specific shape they are called either egg vibrators or bullet vibrators. They are considered discreet sex toys as they do not measure more than 3 inches in length and ¾ inches in width. So, regardless of the design one chooses. The main function of the clitoral vibrator is mainly the same. Offering vibrations at varying speeds and intensities.

G-Spot: OOO… ooo. OH! Similar to the traditional vibrator but with a curve and often a soft jelly-like coating. The curve makes it easier to use to stimulate and penetrate the G-Spot or Prostate. This type of vibrator is more curved towards the tip and it is made of materials such as silicone or acrylic. It also comes in different colors, shapes and sizes and it can be used with or without vibrations. Many users though state that vibrations enhance the sensations during G-Spot or Prostate stimulation. However, they are recommended to be used with a significant amount of lubricants, especially when used to provoke sexual pleasure in men.

Waterproof: These types of vibrators can be used wet, such as in the shower. Although marketed as waterproof, most should not be submerged. The ones designed for underwater usage may be used in the swimming pool, bath or shower or any other wet place The waterproof vibrators are recommended to be used with a water compatible lubricant such as silicone based lubricant (be sure that is it not a silicone material toy). One is advised to check the battery pack to make sure it is not defective before using the vibrator underwater. Keep in mind that these vibrators last longer if they are dried after every use and the batteries are kept outside the vibrator when it is not being used.

Rabbit Vibrators: A.K.A “Dual Action” This toy is two pronged for stimulation of both the vagina and the clitoris simultaneously. The rabbit vibrator actually consists of two vibrators of different size. A phallus-like shaped vibrator is intended to be inserted into the vagina to stimulate the vagina, while the smaller clitoral stimulator is placed facing forward onto the main vibrator, some of which resemble a pair of rabbit ears. They are normally made of rubber, jelly, silicone, or latex and they come in a wide variety of colors, sizes and designs and some even have rotating beads, most have varying speeds so you can choose that perfect stimulation, every time!

Pocket Rockets: These vibrators are shaped like a cylinder; one of its ends has some vibrating bulges. It is meant to stimulate the clitoris or nipples, but not for vaginal insertion.  A pocket rocket is a mini-vibrator that is typically about 5 inches long and which resembles a small, travel-sized flashlight, it is a discreet sex toy that may be carried around in one’s purse or briefcase. Specially designed to provide clitoral stimulation and although it is said to be discreet it is not one of the most silent vibrators. However, due to its small dimensions, it is powered by a single battery, and usually only has one speed.

Discreet or Undercover Vibrators: These are vibrators discreetly shaped as everyday objects, such as lipstick tubes, cell phones, or art pieces. This type of vibrator is made of a wide range of materials, shaped and colors. The “undercovers” are usually relatively small enough and most of the time they only have one speed and are powered by a single battery. They tend to copy an exact shape and design of the object they are intended to be mistaken as.

Anal Vibrators: These vibrators are designed for anal use (these toys can be meant for leaving in during sexual intercourse or gradually pulled out for heighten sensations). They have either a flared base or a long handle to grip, to prevent them from slipping inside and becoming lodged in the rectum. Anal vibrators come in different shaped but they are commonly butt plugs or phallus-like vibrators. They are recommended to be used with a significant amount of lubricant and to be inserted gently and carefully to prevent any potential damage to the rectal lining.

Hands free or Butterfly Vibrators: Hands free simply means that a smaller vibrator which may consist of a small shaft to insert, clitoral stimulators and a variety of speeds, that can be strapped to leg and waist and placed perfectly into position, or simply inserted and resting on the outer erogenous zone, for hands free clitoral stimulation during sexual intercourse. This can consist of the “Butterfly” or “We Vibes”. It comes in three variations: Traditional, remote control, and with anal and/or vaginal stimulators. They are generally made of silicone, plastic, latex or jelly.

Multispeed: Multispeed vibrators allow users to customize how fast the vibrator’s pulsing or massaging movements occur. Depending on the specific type of vibrator, the speed change is made by simply pushing a button a certain number of times, allowing the user to change speed several time throughout the usage. With the appropriate size, the multispeed vibrator can be used for clitoral, anal or vaginal stimulation.

Triple Action Vibrators: These vibrators are designed to stimulate three erogenous zones simultaneously or independently. Providing stimulation to vagina, clitoris and anal regions.

About Anal Sex

A look at Anal Sex:

• Anal sex or anal intercourse commonly refers to the sex act involving insertion of the penis into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including but not limited to; Pegging, Oral-anal Sex, Fingering, Object insertion.

• A common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men. This misconception is dispelled by researchers, as not all gay males engage in anal sex, and anal sex is not uncommon in heterosexual relationships. Types of anal sex can also be performed as part of lesbian lovemaking. Many people find anal sex pleasurable and some may reach orgasm, through stimulation of the prostate in men, clitoral and G-Spot leg stimulation in women. However, many people find it painful as well, in some cases extremely so, which may be due to psychological factors in some cases.

• As with most forms of sexual interaction, individuals are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases. And this safe sex practices are advised. Anal sex is considered a high risk sexual practice, and unprotected anal sex is the riskiest of all forms of sexual intercourse, due to the vulnerability of the rectum and sphincter tissues. It is also controversial in many religious traditions, often due to prohibitions against homosexuality and/or to teachings about the procreative purpose of sex. However, as attitudes towards sexuality have changed in recent years, many religious groups, non-procreative sex, including male homosexuality.

Anatomy and Stimulation:

• The abundance of nerve endings in the anal region and rectum make anal sex pleasurable for many men and women. The opening and closing of the anus is controlled by the internal and external sphincter muscles. (These are the most important muscles when engaging in anal sex.) The sphincter muscle is a sensitive membrane with many nerve endings and this is the source of pleasure and pain.

• In a male receiving partner, being penetrated can produce a pleasurable sensation due to the inserted penis rubbing or brushing against the prostate (A.K.A Male G-Spot, P-Spot or A-Spot) through the anal wall. This can result in pleasurable sensations and can lead to an orgasm in some cases. The prostate is located next to the rectum and is larger, more developed male homologue to the Skene’s Glands which are believed to be connected to the female G-Spot. The Skene’s Glands are sometimes referred to as the “female prostate” they are located around the urethra and can be felt through the wall of the vagina.

• Most women can only achieve orgasm through clitoral stimulation. The clitoris surrounds the vagina somewhat like a horseshoe, it is viewed as the key to women’s sexual pleasure. In addition to nerve endings present within the anus and rectum, a physiological explanation for why some women may find anal stimulation pleasurable is that the clitoris has “legs” which extend along the vaginal lips back to the anus. The Grafenberg spot, or G-Spot, a small area behind the female pubic bone surrounding the urethra and accessible through the anterior wall of the vagina, is considered to have legs in relation to the clitoris, which may also be accessible through anal penetration. Stimulation of the clitoris or G-Spot, or both, during anal sex may help some women to enjoy the experience.

• In pornography, anal sex is portrayed as quite normal. But according to researchers it occurs much less frequently than other sexual behaviors. Anal sex is presented as something that is both routine and generally painless for women, however in real life this is not the case. Attributing the increase of anal activity among heterosexual couples to anal pornography. It’s been said that some people explore in anal sex because mentally it seems taboo or naughty. However, some people like the flavor of dominance and submission.. while some do not. (more on this topic is Bondage.) For men, anal sex can yield more tactile pleasure for the penis, the anus usually being tighter than the vagina.

• As each person’s sphincter muscles react to penetration differently, the anal sphincter is surrounded in delicate tissue that can tear, and the rectal mucous membrane provides insufficient natural lubrication, researchers agree on adequate personal lubrication (silicone based or oil based due to constrict of friction.) bodily relaxation and communication with the sex partner for avoidance of pain, as well as avoidance of damage to the anus. Ensuring that the anal area is clean and the bowel is empty, for both aesthetics and practicality, is also advised.

Heterosexual:

Male to Female Anal Penetration

• Some men may enjoy being the “ass-ertive” partner in anal sex due to the anus usually being tighter than the vagina. The attitude of women towards being the receptive partner in this practice is diverse: while some consider it painful or uncomfortable, others say they find it pleasurable and some even prefer it to vaginal intercourse.

• In a study of hetero anal sex, female participants stated that stimulation to multiple erogenous zones simultaneously (clitoris, anal and g-spot) enabled the woman to enjoy anal intercourse with much less discomfort compared to anal penetration by itself. Women who had orgasms during anal sex reported that an orgasm during anal sex was more of a full body experience than an orgasm from just clitoral stimulation.

• The risk to woman is greater than the risk to the man during male to female anal intercourse. At the same time, this act is held to carry a very low risk of unwanted pregnancy when not accompanied with vaginal intercourse, as anal intercourse cannot lead to pregnancy unless sperm is somehow transported to the vaginal opening in the process; in some populations, this activity is frequently used as a means of contraception, often in the absence of a condom.

• The risk of injury to the receptive partner due to anal intercourse is many times higher than that due to vaginal sex. Also, the risk for transmission of the HIV virus is higher for anal sex than for vaginal sex. Experts caution couples engaging in this practice to take steps to prevent damage to the rectal area, such as lubrication and also the use of protection, such as condoms, to stop the transmission of STD’s. Additionally, the man should never move from anal sex immediately to vaginal sex while barebacking or with changing the condom, due to infections that can arise in the vagina by bacteria present within the anus; this also applies to the use of sex toys.

Female to Male Anal Penetration:

• Pegging: is a sexual practice in which a woman penetrates a man’s anus with a strap-on dildo. It is listed that all men should try pegging at least once, as it may introduce them to a new enjoyable sexual activity and illuminate them to the receiver’s perspective in sex. A few instructional movies and books have emerged in recent years.

Homosexuality:

Male to Male Anal Penetration:

• Historically, anal sex has been commonly associated with male homosexuality. However, many gay men or men who have sex with men in general, do not engage in anal sex. Among men who have anal sex with other men, the insertive partner is called the “top” and the one being penetrated is called the “bottom”. Those who enjoy either role are referred to as versatile. Gay men who prefer anal sex may view it as their version of intercourse. And as the natural apex of sex, a wonderful expression of intimacy, and a great source of pleasure. Psychologist say that anal sex for gay men is the same emotional significance that vaginal sex has for heterosexuals.

• Some men who have sex with men prefer to engage in “frot” a non-penetrative male/male sex or penis to penis contact, or mutual masturbation because they find it more pleasurable and/or more affectionate, to preserve technical virginity, or as safe sex alternatives to anal sex. While other frot advocates denounce anal sex as degrading to the respective partner and unnecessarily risky.

• Pain: Pain during receptive anal sex is formally known as anodyspareunia. One study found that about 12% of gay men find it too painful to pursue, and concluded that the perception of anal sex as painful is just as likely to be psychologically or emotionally based as it is to be physically based. Other studies that examined pain during insertive and receptive anal sex in gay men found that 3% of top (insertive) and 16% of bottoms (receptive) reported significant pain. Factors predictive of pain during anal sex include inadequate lubrication, feeling tense or anxious, lack of relaxation or stimulation, as well as lack of social ease with being gay and being closeted. Research has found that psychological factors can in fact be the primary contributors to the experience of pain during anal intercourse and that adequate communication between sexual partners can prevent it, countering the notion that pain is always inevitable during anal sex.

Female to Female Anal Penetration:

• There is less research on anal sexuality in the lesbian community, and among women who have sex with women in general, as compared to couples of other sexual orientations, but stimulating the anus for sexual pleasure is stated to be a part of many lesbian’s sex lives; the anus can be rimmed (tongue move around the edge), stroked, or penetrated with fingers or a dildo.

Health Risks:

• Anal sex exposes participants to two principal dangers; infections, due to the high number of infectious micro-organisms not found elsewhere on the body, and physical damage to the anus and the rectum due to their vulnerability. It is generally understood that penetration can be painful. Frequent anal sex is associated with hemorrhoids, anal prolapsed, leakage, ano-rectal pain, ulcers and fissures.

• Experts say that as a social mores ease, more young heterosexuals are engaging in anal sex, a behavior once rarely mentioned in polite circles. The experimentation, they worry, may be linked to the current increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

• Anal sex carries with it a much greater risk of passing on sexually transmitted diseases than vaginal sex, as the anal sphincter is delicate tissue and the chances of a small tear occurring are much higher, which also provides more opportunity for diseases. Condoms offer protection, but condoms are more likely to break or come off during anal sex, so this form of sex is riskier unless both parties are absolutely disease free!!!!!

HIV / AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases:

Increased Risk of Anal Cancer:

• Anal cancer is relatively rare, accounting for about 1 percent of gastrointestinal malignancies, but as many as 4,000 new cases can be diagnosed within a year in the US. Most cases of anal cancer are related to infection with the human papillomavirus HPV, (family of viruses which can effect humans). Anal sex alone does not cause anal cancer; the risk of anal cancer through anal sex is attributed to HPV infection, which is often contracted through unprotected anal sex. The incidence of the disease has jumped 160% in men and 78% in women in the last thirty years, according to a 2004 American study, The increase is attributed to changing trends in sexual behavior (such as history of multiple sex partners, 15 or more, and receptive anal sex.) and smoking. If a current smoker, there is a fourfold increase in the risk, though independent of other behavioral risk factors, such as sexual activity. Receptive anal sex increases the incidence sevenfold. Among the female control group studied, 21.5 percent has reported practicing safe anal sex, a significant increase from a previous case control study by epidemiologist, in which 11 percent of female controls has reported ever having anal sex. This and other studies also indicate that gay or bisexual sex among men is on the rise, which may account for the increase in anal cancer.

Physical Damage:

• Physical damage to the rectum and anus can manifest as generalized ano-rectal trauma, anal fissures, rectal prolapsed, and exacerbating (but not causing) hemorrhoids. An insufficient amount of lubricant can make it especially painful or injurious. Damage is more likely to occur if intercourse is forcible or aggressive or if alcohol or other drugs have dulled sensitivity. Loss of control over the bowels, though rare according to some, is thought to be a valid concern and is reported to be caused by repeated injury, or by the insertion of large objects, even simply by regular anal sex, which leads to internal sphincter dilation and soiling.

• Kegel exercises were then recommended to prevent loss of muscle tone from anal fisting or insertion of large objects in a presentation of clinical aspects of anal sexuality, delivered at the 1998 joint conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators. He added, however, that he had never personally observed, “loosening” in any of his patients.

Cultural Issues:

• In many western countries, anal sex has generally been taboo since the Middle Ages when heretical movements were sometimes attacked by accusations that their members practiced anal sex among themselves. At the time the mainstream Christian clergy was not celibate, but the highest orders of some heretical sects were, leading to rumours that their celibacy was a sign of their attraction to members of the same sex. The term buggery originated in medieval Europe as an insult used to describe the rumoured same-sex sexual practices of the hertics from a sect originating in Bulgaria. Where the followers were called bogomils, when they spread out of the country they were called buggres (buglars) Another

Bondage Knowledge

Bondage | BDSM Explained:

BDSM can be broken down into three major areas or six different “acts”:

For an overall look at BDSM your first impression would be “kinky”, pain, physical restraint and servitude. Now, outside the bedroom this may be considered wrong or frowned upon, however these practices are engaged in with the consent of both people involved for mutual satisfaction and excitement. Now, this can be as simple as being tied-up and ravished or being the dominant partner and controlling the naught proceedings. Until the 90’s, psychiatrist believed that sadomasochistic activities were pathological, although now they are regarded as fairly common sexual practice among people who love play along the pain and or pleasure barrier. Bondage and kink have become more main stream in the advent of sessions such as bondage gatherings, S&M gatherings, and of course fetish parties. While these parties and gatherings are more for the look of BDSM activities rather than the spiritual side, it is still considered a positive sign that more and more people are feeding their BDSM fetishes. So if you like what you are hearing so far… Read on for more interesting BDSM activities;

BONDAGE:

Being a part of a practice that involves being physically restrained, or physically restraining someone else, using the appropriate bondage equipment . We have probably already used bondage in the bedroom before, most people start with a little friskiness by using furry hand cuffs . This is considered the basis of bondage. This practice provides feelings of helplessness, or feeling masterful. Some people just crave being tied-up, or enjoy the feeling of constriction, or wreathing against restraints. But, bondage isn’t just about being restricted, it is also about learning. It teaches you to lie back and enjoy what is being done by your partner(s). As well, bondage can be used to control each other’s orgasmic shudder which is extremely satisfying. So if you like what you are learning about bondage, and want to try some check out some of the items we have for bondage beginners and intermediates.

DISCIPLINE:

This practice involves acts of enforcement in obedience or gaining control through rules and other forms of punishment. Enforcement can mean spanking or slapping the thicker areas of the buttocks/thighs, this act of discipline occurs when the submissive “bottom” of the relationship requires attention to rectify behavior that could be considered to be breaking preset rules. These rules are seet out before the naughtiness occurs and are agreed by both partners. This practice can be done in a soft angle or a serious discipline. (“Cleansing must be our naughtiness can occur” or “They shall not orgasm”). Now, being comfortable with this right from the start may be a no go. However, if you wish to involve yourself, you can practice role playing scenarios to get you more comfortable. If you like discipline to a great degree, the best investment would be a paddle.

History of Sex_do’s and Don’ts

We have compiled all these Q&A from wikipedia for your convenience.

Dildo

Silicone dildo

A dildo is a sex toy , often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for bodily penetration during masturbation or sex with partners.

Description and uses

A dildo is a sexual device resembling a penis in shape, size, and overall appearance. Some expand this definition to include vibrators . ^[1] Others exclude penis prosthetic aids, which are known "extensions". Some include penis-shaped items clearly designed with vaginal penetration in mind even if they are not true approximations of a penis. Some people include devices designed for anal penetration ( butt plugs ) while others do not. These devices are often used by people of all genders and sexual orientations , for masturbation or for other sexual activity. Dildos are increasingly popular, in large part due to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV , from sex with other people.

Uses

Vaginal and/or anal penetration are the obvious uses. Dildos have fetishistic value as well, and some users wield them in other ways, running them over the skin during foreplay for example. If of appropriate sizes, they can be used as gags , for oral penetration for a sort of artificial fellatio . Some people also use specially designed dildos to stimulate the G-spot .

A dildo to be inserted in the anus and remain in place for a period of time is called a butt-plug . Dildos used for repeated anal penetration, such as thrusting, are usually referred to as simply "dildos" and must have a flared base to be safe for anal play. There are also double-ended dildos , with different-sized shafts pointing in the same direction, used by women to accomplish both anal and vaginal penetration at once, or for two partners to share a single dildo. In this case, the dildo acts as a sort of "see-saw"; each partner takes an end and receives stimulation.

There are dildos designed to be worn in a harness, sometimes called a strap-on harness or strap-on dildo , or to be worn inside, sometimes with vibrating devices attached externally.

Strap-on dildos may be double-ended, in which case they are meant to be worn by users who want to experience vaginal or anal penetration while also penetrating a partner. They may also be used for anal penetration of men. If the penetration is done by a female partner to a male partner, the act is known as pegging .

Other types of dildos include those designed to be fitted to the face of one party, inflatable dildos, and dildos with suction cups attached to the base (sometimes referred to as a wall mount). Other types of harness mounts for dildos (besides strapping to the groin) include thigh mount, face mount, or furniture mounting straps.

Recent social acceptance and popularity has resulted in the emergence of highly adorned dildos. These are often made of expensive materials and may also be jewelled .

Etymology

Acryl dildo

The etymology of the word dildo is unclear. The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED ) describes the word as being of "obscure origin". ^[2] One theory is that it originally referred to the phallus-shaped peg used to lock an oar in position on a dory (small boat). It would be inserted into a hole on the side of the boat, and is very similar in shape to the modern toy. It is possible that the sex toy takes its name from this sailing tool, which also lends its name to the town of Dildo and the nearby Dildo Island in Newfoundland , Canada . Others suggest the word is a corruption of Italian diletto (for "delight"). ^[3]

According to the OED , the word's first appearance in English was in Thomas Nashe 's Choise of Valentines or the Merie Ballad of Nash his Dildo (c. 1593). ^[4] The word also appears in Ben Jonson 's 1610 play, The Alchemist . William Shakespeare used the term once in The Winter's Tale , believed to be from 1610 or 1611, but not printed until the First Folio of 1623. ^[5]

The phrase "Dil Doul", referring to a man's penis, appears in the 17th century folk ballad "The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul". ^[6] The song was among the many in the library of Samuel Pepys .

Olisbos is a classical term for a dildo, from the Greek ολισβος . A godemiche is a dildo in the shape of a penis with scrotum.

In some modern languages, the names for dildo can be more descriptive, creative or subtle—note, for instance, the Russian Фаллоимитатор ("phallic imitator"), the Hindi darshildo , the Spanish consolador ("consoler"), and the Welsh cala goeg ("fake penis").

History

Dildos in one form or another have been present in society throughout history. Artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic which have previously been described as batons were most likely used for sexual purposes. ^[7] However, there appears to be hesitation on the part of archaeologists to label these items as sex toys: as archaeologist Timothy Taylor put it, "Looking at the size, shape, and—some cases—explicit symbolism of the ice age batons, it seems disingenuous to avoid the most obvious and straightforward interpretation. But it has been avoided." ^{[8] [9]}

The world's oldest known dildo is a siltstone 20-centimeter phallus from the Upper Palaeolithic period 30,000 years ago that was found in Hohle Fels Cave near Ulm Germany . ^[10] Findings of the archaeologists show that ancient Egyptians used dildos 2,500 years ago ^{[ citation needed ]} . Also, these sex toys were known to the ancient Greeks and sometimes depicted in art (see Dildos in Culture ).

The first dildos were made of stone, tar, wood and other materials that could be shaped as penises and that were firm enough to be used as penetrative sex toys. Chinese women in the 15th century used dildos made of lacquered wood with textured surfaces. With the invention of modern materials, there appeared the possibility of making dildos of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures. ^[11] There have been many references to dildos in the historical and ethnographic literature. Haberlandt, ^[12] for example, illustrates single and double-ended wooden dildos from late 19th century Zanzibar .

In 1966, Ted Marche pioneered the manufacturing and distributing of rubber dildos and other sex toys. ^[13]

Legal and ethical issues

The possession and sale of dildos is illegal in some jurisdictions, including India . ^[14]

United States

Until recently, many Southern and some Great Plains states banned the sale of dildos completely, either directly or through laws regulating "obscene devices". ^[15] In 2007, a federal appeals court upheld Alabama's law prohibiting the sale of sex toys. ^[16] The law, the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998, was also upheld by the Alabama Supreme Court on September 11, 2009. ^{[ citation needed ]}

In February 2008, a federal appeals court overturned a Texas statute banning the sales of dildos and other sexual toys, deeming such a statute as violating the Constitution's 14th Amendment on the right to privacy. ^[17] The appeals court cited Lawrence v. Texas , where the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 struck down bans on consensual sex between gay couples, as unconstitutionally aiming at "enforcing a public moral code by restricting private intimate conduct." Similar statutes have been struck down in Kansas and Colorado . As of 2009, Alabama is the only state where a law prohibiting the sale of sex toys remain on the books. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Some Conservative Christians believe that the use of sex toys is immoral and prohibited by The Bible . ^{[ citation needed ]} American Baptist preacher, Dan Ireland , has been an outspoken critic of such devices and has fought to ban them on religious and ethical grounds. ^{[ citation needed ]} According to Ireland, "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves....These devices should be outlawed because they are conducive to promiscuity, because they promote loose morals and because they entice improper and potentially deadly behaviors." ^[18] Ireland believes that "there is no moral way to use one of these devices." ^[18]

Dildos in culture

Dildo being used by two women. Lithograph from De Figuris Veneris (1906) by Édouard-Henri Avril

Dildos may be seen in Greek vase art . Some pieces show their use in group sex or in solitary female masturbation. ^[19] One vessel, of about the 6th century BC, depicts a scene in which a woman bends over to perform oral sex on a man, while another man is about to thrust a dildo into her anus . ^[20]

They are mentioned several times in Aristophanes ' comedy of 411 BC, Lysistrata .

LYSISTRATA

And so, girls, when fucking time comes… not the faintest whiff of it anywhere, right? From the time those Milesians betrayed us, we can’t even find our eight-fingered leather dildos. At least they’d serve as a sort of flesh-replacement for our poor cunts… So, then! Would you like me to find some mechanism by which we could end this war? ^[21]

Herodas ' comic Mime VI, written in the 3rd Century BC, is about a woman anxious to discover from a friend where she recently acquired a dildo.

METRO

I beg you, don't lie,

dear Corrioto: who was the man who stitched for you this bright red dildo? ^[22]

She eventually discovers the maker to be a certain Kerdon, who hides his trade by the front of being a cobbler, and leaves to seek him out.

Page duBois, a classicist and feminist theorist, suggests that dildos were present in Greek art because the ancient Greek male imagination found it difficult to conceive of sex taking place without penetration. Therefore female masturbation or sex between women required an artificial phallus to be used. ^[19]

Dildos are humorously mentioned in Act IV, scene iv of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale . This play and Ben Jonson 's play The Alchemist (1610) are typically cited as the first usage of the word in publication.

John Wilmot , the 17th century English libertine , published his poem Signor Dildo in 1673. During the Parliamentary session of that year, objections were raised to the proposed marriage of James, Duke of York , brother of the King and heir to the throne, to Mary of Modena , an Italian Catholic Princess. An address was presented to King Charles on 3 November, foreseeing the dangerous consequences of marriage to a Catholic, and urging him to put a stop to any planned wedding '...to the unspeakable Joy and Comfort of all Your loyal Subjects." Wilmot's response was Signior Dildo (You ladies all of merry England) , a mock address anticipating the 'solid' advantages of a Catholic marriage, namely the wholesale importation of Italian dildos, to the unspeakable joy and comfort of all the ladies of England:

You ladies all of merry England

Who have been to kiss the Duchess's hand,

Pray, did you not lately observe in the show

A noble Italian called Signor Dildo? ...

A rabble of pricks who were welcomed before ,

Now finding the porter denied them the door,

Maliciously waited his coming below

And inhumanly fell on Signor Dildo ...

This ballad was subsequently added to by other authors, and became so popular that Signor became a term for a dildo. ^[23] In the epilogue to The Mistaken Husband (1674), by John Dryden , an actress complains:

To act with young boys is loving without men.

What will not poor forsaken women try?

When man's not near, the Signior must supply. ^[23]

Materials

Mahogany wood dildo

Rubber dildos, usually incorporating a steel spring for stiffness, became available in the 1940s. This was a less than satisfactory arrangement because of the potential for serious injury from cuts from the spring when the rubber finally cracked and came apart.

Later, PVC dildos with a softer PVC filler became popular. Most of the inexpensive dildos sold today are made this way.

PVC and jelly-rubber toys have often been found to be problematic because they contain unsafe phthalates , softeners added to many plastics that are also found in some jewelry, food containers, and other soft rubber toys. Phthalates have been linked to health problems such as cancer and prenatal defects. Products made of PVC or jelly rubber cannot be sterilized . Manufacturers recommend using condoms with these toys if users share them.

In the 1990s, silicone rubber dildos became more popular, a trend that has continued as the prices have lowered. These are easier to clean and do not have the characteristic plastic aroma of PVC. They were expensive when introduced but are now reasonably priced, making them an excellent choice for the first-time user. Silicone holds body heat well, and is an excellent conductor of vibrations, allowing users to hold a vibrator at one end. Silicone is also a robust material (especially when compared to the cheap, unsafe jelly rubber that many dildos are made of) that can be sterilized by boiling or bleaching (using a bleach solution, diluted: 10% bleach 90% water).

High-end, chrome plated steel dildos are also popular in the BDSM scene. Some users prefer them because of their hardness , firmness, durability, electrical conductance (see erotic electrostimulation ), and low friction, especially when used in conjunction with lubricant. Because they are heavy, they can be used to exercise vaginal PC muscles . ( Betty Dodson 's "barbell" is an example.)

A steel dildo may be warmed or cooled in water before use to elicit a range of temperature sensations. It may also retain body heat of the user. Because of its polished nonporous surface, it may be sterilized in boiling water, or in an autoclave .

Glass dildos have similar features to steel ones. In most of the cases, glass toys are solid, and made of Pyrex or other types borosilicate glass (Schott-Duranglas and Simax), although this may vary, depending on the manufacturer. Like steel, glass toys may be used to apply firmer pressure than silicone can to a female's G-spot ( urethral sponge ) or male's prostate gland . Unlike other types of toys, glass sex toys can also be personalized with inscriptions.

Cyberskin is a synthetic material that feels more like human skin. It is a porous material and cannot be sterilized. It often gets sticky after washing (which can be remedied by a dusting of cornstarch ) and is more delicate and more prone to rips and tears than silicone dildos. " Packing dildos", which are not designed for penetration, are often made of this material.

Phallus-shaped vegetables and fruits, such as banana or zucchini have even been used as dildos, possibly since prehistory. Smooth rocks of phallic shape are suited to use as a dildo. Any object of sufficient firmness and shape could be hypothetically used as a dildo.

Shape

Conventionally, many dildos are shaped like a human penis with varying degrees of detail, others are made to resemble the phallus of male animals. Not all, however, are fashioned to reproduce the male anatomy meticulously, and dildos come in a wide variety of shapes. These may resemble figures, or simply be practical creations which stimulate more easily than conventional designs. In Japan , many dildos are created to resemble animals or cartoon characters, such as Hello Kitty , so that they may be sold as toys, thus avoiding obscenity laws .

Some dildos have textured surfaces to enhance sexual pleasure. Many dildos of high quality, also called "top shelf" toys, tend to have less of a resemblance to a penis, opting for ergonomic design.

Still other dildos kits are offered which allow a male to insert his erect penis into a larger plastic tube filled with molding material. This allows the man to create an exact replica of his own penis using ballistics gel or latex rubber (which is poured inside the finished mold). Such dildos may be offered to the man's partner to ensure fidelity or (more commonly) as a status symbol, simply for show.

Vibrator (sex toy)

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Vibrators are devices for the body and skin, to stimulate the nerves for a relaxing and pleasurable feeling. Some vibrators are designed to ergonomically stimulate erogenous zones for erotic stimulation.

History

1913 advertisement

For centuries, doctors had been treating women for a wide variety of illnesses by performing what is now recognized as masturbation . The "pelvic massage" was especially common in the treatment of female hysteria during the Victorian Era, as the point of such manipulation was to cause "hysterical paroxysm" ( orgasm ) in the patient. However, not only did they regard the "vulvular stimulation" required as having nothing to do with sex, but reportedly found it time-consuming and hard work. ^[1]

One of the first vibrators was a steam-powered device called the "Manipulator", which was created by American physician George Taylor, M.D. ^[2] This machine was a rather awkward device, but was still heralded as some relief for the doctors who found themselves suffering from fatigued wrists and hands. ^[3] Circa 1880, Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the first electromechanical vibrator, then, in 1902, the American company Hamilton Beach patented the first electric vibrator available for retail sale, making the vibrator the fifth domestic appliance to be electrified, after the sewing machine , fan , tea kettle , and toaster , and about a decade before the vacuum cleaner and electric iron . ^[4]

The home versions soon became extremely popular, with advertisements in periodicals such as Needlecraft , Woman's Home Companion , Modern Priscilla , and the Sears, Roebuck catalog . These disappeared in the 1920s, apparently because their appearance in pornography made it no longer tenable for polite society to avoid the sexual connotations of the devices.

The vibrator re-emerged due to the sexual revolution of the 1960s. On June 30, 1966, Jon H. Tavel applied for a patent for the "Cordless Electric Vibrator for Use on the Human Body", ushering in the modern personal vibrator. The patent application referenced an earlier patent dating back to 1938, for a flashlight with a shape that left little doubt as to a possible alternate use. The cordless vibrator was patented on March 28, 1968, and was soon followed by such improvements as multi-speed and one-piece construction, which made it cheaper to manufacture and easier to clean.

Since the 1980s, vibrators and sex toys have become more visible in mainstream public culture, with the opening of new “sex stores”, as well as a landmark “vibrator” discussion on the HBO show Sex and the City .

These days the sextoy industry has become explosive from the internet due to its private and discreet nature, The vibrator is the most purchased item on the net, A full spectrum of these can be found on many online shops such as www.intimacystore.co.uk or www.annsummers.co.uk there are literaly thousands of online shops to choose from each with its own unique view on the items, but the fact of the matter remains they are by and large the same no matter where you purchase one from.

[ edit ] Vibrators and Orgasm

Vibrator for Couples: Love Ring

Only 30% of women achieve orgasm through intercourse. In many women the position and stimulation of the clitoris, during sexual intercourse is not conducive to orgasm and there is no way that intercourse alone can produce an orgasm. ^[5]

Vibrators may be recommended by sex therapists to women who have difficulty reaching orgasm through masturbation and/or intercourse. ^[6]

Couples may also choose to use a vibrator to enhance the pleasure of one or both partners. There is a device available that functions as a small vibrator specifically meant for couples to use during intercourse. ^[5]

Types of erotic vibrators

Designer vibrators

Some vibrators are marketed as "body massagers"—although they still may be used, like the ones sold as adult sex toys, for autoeroticism . Some vibrators run on batteries while others have a power cord that plugs in to a wall socket. There is also a vibrator that uses the flow of air from a vacuum cleaner to stimulate the clitoris. Modern versions of old musical vibrators synchronize the vibrations to music from a music player or a cell phone .

There is a wide range of vibrators but most of them fall into several broad categories:

• Clitoral : Often sold as "back massagers", these are powerful vibrators such as the Hitachi Magic Wand or the AcuVibe. The clitoral vibrator is a sex toy used to provide sexual pleasure and to enhance orgasm by stimulating the clitoris. Although most of the vibrators available can be used as clitoral vibrators, they may have special designs and models that would not resemble a vibrator. They commonly come in small sizes and in a variety of colors, textures and shapes . There is also a dual type of vibrator which provides stimulation to both clitoris and G-spot. They are normally driven by batteries and some of them are specially designed for underwater use.The most common type of clitoral vibrator is small, egg-shaped and attached to a multi-speed battery pack by a long cord. Variations on the basic design include narrower, bullet-shaped vibes, and vibrators shaped like cats , bunnies , bears , dewdrops, miniature rocket vibrators and large human tongues . Regardless the design one chooses, the main function of the clitoral vibrator is mainly the same, meaning offering vibrations at varying speeds and intensities. Some of the clitoral vibrators may be inserted into the vagina. They often have a small animal, such as a rabbit, bear, dolphin or beaver , perched near the base of the vibrator and facing forward which provides clitoral stimulation at the same time with vaginal stimulation.
• Dildo -shaped: Approximately penis-shaped, can be made of plastic, silicone, rubber, vinyl, or latex. Dildo is the common name used to define a phallus-like sex toy which does not however provide any type of vibrations. But as vibrators have commonly the shape of a penis, there are many models and designs of vibrating dildos available. Vibrating dildos are designed for both individual usage and with a partner. They may be used for vaginal and anal penetration as well as for oral penetration. They come in different sizes, colors and textures and they may be double-ended so both anal and vaginal stimulation is achieved at the same time.
• Waterproof: Can be used wet, such as in the shower. Although marketed as waterproof, most should not be submerged. The ones designed for underwater usage may be used in the swimming pool, bath or shower or any other wet place. The waterproof vibrators are recommended to be used with a water compatible lubricant , such as silicone-based lubricant. One is advised to check the battery pack to make sure it is not defective before using the vibrator underwater. These vibrators last longer if they are dried after every use and the batteries are kept outside the vibrator when it is not used.
• Rabbit , "Jackrabbit" or "Rampant Rabbit": Two-pronged for stimulation of both the vagina and the clitoris simultaneously. It was featured on Sex and the City in the late 90's. ^[7] The rabbit vibrator actually consists of two vibrators of different sizes. A phallus-like shaped vibrator is intended to be inserted into the vagina to stimulate the vagina, while a smaller clitoral stimulator is placed facing forward onto the main vibrator. The rabbit vibrator was named after the shape of the clitoral stimulator, which resembles to a pair of rabbit ears . They are normally made of rubber , jelly , silicone , or latex and they come in a wide variety of colors, sizes and designs.
• G-spot : Similar to the traditional vibrator but with a curve and often a soft jelly-like coating. The curve makes it easier to use to stimulate the g-spot or prostate . The G-spot vibrators are specially designed to stimulate the G-spot in women, and the prostate in men. This type of vibrators is more curved towards the tip and it is made of materials such as silicone or acrylic . It also comes in different colors, shapes and sizes and it can be used with or without the vibrations. Many users though state that vibrations enhance the sensations during G-spot or prostate stimulation. They are recommended to be used with a significant amount of lubricant, especially when used to provoke sexual pleasure in men.
• Egg : Egg-shaped vibrator which can be used for stimulation of the clitoris or insertion into the vagina . The egg, also known as love egg, is a type of vibrator that may also have the shape of bullet which comes in very small sizes. Based on their specific shape, they are called either egg vibrators or bullet vibrators. They are considered discreet sex toys as they do not measure more than 3 inches in length and ¾ inches in width.
• Pocket rocket: Shaped like a cylinder, one of its ends has some vibrating bulges. It is meant to stimulate the clitoris or nipples, not for vaginal insertion. A pocket rocket is a mini-vibrator that is typically about five inches long and which resembles a small, travel-sized flashlight . The Pocket Rocket vibrator is a discreet sex toy that may be carried around in one's purse or briefcase . It is specially designed to provide clitoral stimulation and although it is said to be discreet is not one of the most silent vibrators. Many users claim that it is quite noisy. Due to its small dimension, it is powered by a single battery. It usually has only one speed.
• "Undercover" vibrators: Vibrators discreetly shaped as everyday objects, such as lipstick tubes, cell phones, or art pieces. Occasionally some women use actual mobile phones in this function. This type of vibrators is made of a wide range of materials, shapes and colors. The undercover vibrators are usually relatively small enough and most of the time they have only one speed and are powered by a single battery. They tend to copy an exact shape and design of the object they are intended to be mistaken as.
• Anal vibrators : Vibrators designed for anal use have either a flared base or a long handle to grip, to prevent them from slipping inside and becoming lodged in the rectum. Anal vibrators come in different shapes but they are commonly butt plugs or phallus-like vibrators. They are recommended to be used with a significant amount of lubricant and to be inserted gently and carefully to prevent any potential damage to the rectal lining.
• " Butterfly ": Vibrator strapped around legs and waist for hands-free clitoral stimulation during sexual intercourse. The butterfly vibrator was named after its shape. It comes in three variations: traditional, remote control , and with anal and/or vaginal stimulators. They are made of silicone, plastic and latex, or jelly.
• Vibrating cockring: Vibrator (usually cordless) inserted in or attached to a cock ring , usually for stimulation of the clitoris.This is actually a part of a cock ring which is attached to the penis to enhance clitoral stimulation during sexual intercourse.
• Dual area vibrators: These vibrators are designed to stimulate two erogenous zones simultaneously or independently. They are usually found in the form of a clitoral stimulator and vaginal stimulator; an example is the Sybian .
• Triple area vibrators: These vibrators are designed to stimulate three erogenous zones simultaneously or independently. These provide stimulation to the vagina, clitoris and anal regions.
• Multispeed Vibrators: Multispeed vibrators allow users to customize how fast the vibrator's pulsing or massaging movements occur. Depending on the specific type of vibrator, the speed change is made by simply pushing a button a certain number of times, allowing users to change speeds several times throughout the usage. ^[8] In the appropriate size, the multispeed vibrators can be used for clitoral, anal or vaginal stimulation.

Vibrators for disabled people

Disabled people can find that vibrators are an essential part of their sex life for two reasons: First, it might be the only way to get sexual satisfaction due to impaired arm and hand function. ^[9] Second, for some disabled men, the use of a vibrator is their only way to provide a semen sample to become fathers. ^[9]

Legal and ethical issues

The possession and sale of vibrators is illegal in some jurisdictions, including India . ^[10]

Until recently, many American Southern and some Great Plains states banned the sale of vibrators completely, either directly or through laws regulating "obscene devices." ^[11] A federal appeals court upheld Alabama's law prohibiting the sale of sex toys on Valentine's Day, 2007. ^[12] The law, the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1998, was also upheld by the Alabama Supreme Court on September 11, 2009. ^[13]

In February 2008, a US federal appeals court overturned a Texas statute banning the sales of vibrators and other sexual toys, deeming such a statute as violating the Constitution's 14th Amendment on the right to privacy. ^[14] The appeals court cited Lawrence v. Texas , where the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 struck down bans on consensual sex between gay couples, as unconstitutionally aiming at "enforcing a public moral code by restricting private intimate conduct." Similar statutes have been struck down in Colorado , and Kansas . As of 2009, Alabama is the only state where a law prohibiting the sale of sex toys remains on the books, though Alabama residents are permitted to buy sex toys with a doctor's note. ^{[13] [15]}

Some conservative Christians believe that the use of vibrators is immoral and prohibited by The Bible . An American Baptist preacher, Dan Ireland , has been an outspoken critic of such devices and has fought to ban them on religious and ethical grounds. According to Ireland, "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves....These devices should be outlawed because they are conducive to promiscuity, because they promote loose morals and because they entice improper and potentially deadly behaviors." ^[16] Ireland believes that "there is no moral way to use one of these devices." ^[16]

An American bioethicist and medical historian , Jacob M. Appel has argued that sex toys are actually a "social good" and that the devices, which he refers to as "marital substitutes," play "an important role in the emotional lives of millions of Americans." ^[13] Appel has written:

I cannot say whether more Alabama women own vibrators than own Bibles. If I were guessing, I would suspect that a majority derive more use out of the vibrators. Certainly more pleasure. Nor does there appear to be any remotely rational basis for keeping sex toys out of the hands of married adults, or single adults, or even children. Now that we are relatively confident that masturbation does not make little girls go blind, or cause palms to sprout hair, exposure to sex toys shouldn't harm them. On the list of items that I might not want children to be exposed to in stores—guns, matches, poisons, junk food—sex toys are way down the list. ^[13]

Perineum

The muscles of the male perineum
Gray's	subject #120 424
Artery	perineal artery , dorsal artery of the penis , deep artery of the penis
Nerve	perineal nerve , posterior scrotal nerves , dorsal nerve of the penis , dorsal nerve of clitoris
Lymph	primarily superficial inguinal lymph nodes

In human anatomy , the perineum (Late Latin, from Greek περίνεος - perineos ^[1] ) is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures. There is some variability in how the boundaries are defined. ^[2]

Terminology

It is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx . The perineum is the region of the body inferior to the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs. It is a diamond-shaped area on the inferior surface of the trunk which includes the anus and, in females, the vagina . ^[3] Its definition varies: it can refer to only the superficial structures in this region, or it can be used to include both superficial and deep structures. It is an erogenous zone for both males and females. Perineal tears and episiotomy often occur in childbirth with first time deliveries, but the risk of these injuries can be reduced by preparing the perineum, e.g. through massage.

The perineum corresponds to the outlet of the pelvis .

A wide variety of slang terms are commonly used for this area of the human body, but they generally refer to a smaller, less inclusive area -- just the surface skin region between the anus and the scrotum or vaginal opening.

The anogenital distance is a measure of the distance between the anus and the base of the penis or vagina . Studies show that the human perineum is twice as long in males as in females. ^[4] Measuring the anogenital distance in neonatal humans has been suggested as a noninvasive method to determine male feminisation and thereby predict neonatal and adult reproductive disorders . ^[5]

Boundaries

Its deep boundaries are as follows: ^[6]

• in front: the pubic arch and the arcuate ligament of the pubis
• behind: the tip of the coccyx
• on either side: the inferior rami of the pubis and ischial tuberosity , and the sacrotuberous ligament

In Alfred Kinsey's 1967 report, he concluded that the perineum was one of the 6 key erogenous zones for males. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Triangles

A line drawn transversely across in front of the ischial tuberosities divides the space into two triangles:

Name	Location	Contents
Urogenital triangle	the anterior triangle	in females, contains the vagina
Anal triangle	the posterior triangle	contains the anus

Perineal fascia

The terminology of the perineal fascia can be confusing, and there is some controversy over the nomenclature. This stems from the fact that there are two parts to the fascia, the superficial and deep parts, and each of these can be subdivided into superficial and deep parts.

The layers and contents are as follows, from superficial to deep:

• 1) Foreskin

• 2) superficial perineal fascia: Subcutaneous tissue divided into two layers: (a) A superficial fatty layer, and (b) Colles' fascia , a deeper, membranous layer.

• 3) deep perineal fascia and muscles:

superficial perineal pouch	Contains superficial perineal muscles: transversus perinei superficialis , bulbospongiosus , ischiocavernosus
inferior fascia of urogenital diaphragm , or perineal membrane	A membranous layer of the deep fascia .
deep perineal pouch	Contains the deep perineal muscles: transversus perinei profundus , sphincter urethrae membranaceae
superior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm	Considered hypothetical by some modern anatomists, but still commonly used to logically divide the contents of the region.

• 4) fascia and muscles of pelvic floor ( levator ani , coccygeus )

[ edit ] Areas of the perineum

The region of the perineum can be considered a distinct area from pelvic cavity, with the two regions separated by the pelvic diaphragm . The following areas are thus classified as parts of the perineal region:

• perineal pouches: superficial and deep (see above for details)
• Ischioanal fossa – a fat filled space at the lateral sides of anal canal. It is bounded laterally by obturator internus muscle, medially by pelvic diaphragm and anal canal. Its base is the skin.
  • Anal canal
  • Pudendal canal – contains internal pudendal artery and the pudendal nerve .

[ edit ] Gallery

• 

Diameters of inferior aperture of lesser pelvis (female)

• 

The perineum. The integument and superficial layer of superficial fascia reflected

• 

Muscles of the female perineum

• 

The superficial branches of the internal pudendal artery

• 

The posterior aspect of the rectum exposed by removing the lower part of the sacrum and the coccyx

• 

Anal sex

Depiction of anal sex on 510 BC Attic red-figure kylix

Anal sex (or anal intercourse ) commonly refers to the sex act involving insertion of the penis into the anus of a sexual partner . ^{[1] [2]} The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging , anal–oral sex , fingering , and object insertion . ^{[1] [2]}

Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men. This misconception is dispelled by researchers, as not all gay males engage in anal sex, and anal sex is not uncommon among heterosexual relationships. ^{[1] [2]} Types of anal sex can also be performed as part of lesbian lovemaking. Many people find anal sex pleasurable, and some may reach orgasm —through stimulation of the prostate in men, and clitoral and G-Spot leg stimulation in women. ^{[3] [4]} However, many people find it painful as well; in some cases extremely so, ^{[5] [6]} which may be due to psychological factors in some cases. ^[6]

As with most forms of sexual interaction, individuals are at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases , ^{[7] [8]} and thus safe sex practices are advised. ^[7] Anal sex is considered a high-risk sexual practice, and unprotected anal sex is the riskiest of all forms of sexual intercourse, ^[1] due to the vulnerability of the rectum and sphincter tissues. ^{[1] [2]} It is also controversial in many religious traditions, often due to prohibitions against homosexuality and/or to teachings about the procreative purpose of sex . However, as attitudes toward sexuality have changed in recent years, many religious groups, especially in Euroamerican Judaism and Christianity , have become more accepting of non-procreative sex, including male homosexuality.

Anatomy and stimulation

Male genital anatomy, showing the location of the prostate with respect to the rectum.

See also: Prostate massage

The abundance of nerve endings in the anal region and rectum makes anal sex pleasurable for many men and women. ^[9] "The opening and closing of the anus is controlled by the internal and external sphincter muscles (the most important muscles when engaging in anal sex). The sphincter muscle is a sensitive membrane with many nerve endings and thus the source of pleasure or pain." ^[10]

In a male receiving partner, being penetrated can produce a pleasurable sensation due to the inserted penis rubbing or brushing against the prostate (also known as the "male G-Spot", "P-Spot" or "A-Spot") through the anal wall. ^{[3] [11]} This can result in pleasurable sensations and can lead to an orgasm in some cases. ^[3] The prostate is located next to the rectum and is the larger, more developed ^{[12] [ Full citation needed ]} male homologue to the Skene's glands , which are believed to be connected to the female " G-Spot ". ^[13] The Skene's glands are sometimes referred to as the "female prostate"; ^[14] they are located around the urethra and can be felt through the wall of the vagina.

Most women can only achieve orgasm through clitoral stimulation. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]} The clitoris surrounds the vagina somewhat like a horseshoe, and is viewed as the key to women's sexual pleasure. ^{[15] [17]} In addition to nerve endings present within the anus and rectum, a physiological explanation for why some women may find anal stimulation pleasurable is that the clitoris has "legs" which extend along the vaginal lips back to the anus. ^[19] The Gräfenberg spot, or G-Spot, a small area behind the female pubic bone surrounding the urethra and accessible through the anterior wall of the vagina, is considered to have legs in relation to the clitoris ^{[15] [20]} which may also be accessible through anal penetration. Stimulation of the clitoris or G-Spot, or both, during anal sex may help some women to enjoy the experience. ^[21]

In pornography , "anal sex is portrayed as quite normal," but according to Go Ask Alice! and other researchers, it occurs "much less frequently" than other sexual behaviors. ^{[1] [22]} "Often, it is presented as something that is both routine and [generally] painless for women. In real life, this is not the case," relayed doctors John Dean and David Delvin of NetDoctor, attributing the increase of anal activity among heterosexual couples to anal pornography. ^[1] "Some people like [anal] because it seems taboo or naughty," stated author and sex therapist Jack Morin. "Some people like the flavor of dominance and submission... some don’t." ^[23] For men, anal sex can yield more tactile pleasure for the penis, the anus usually being tighter than the vagina. ^[24]

As each person's sphincter muscles react to penetration differently, ^[10] the anal sphincter is delicate tissue that can tear, and the rectal mucous membrane provides insufficient natural lubrication, researchers agree on adequate personal lubrication , bodily relaxation and communication with the sex partner for avoidance of pain, as well as avoidance of damage to the anus. ^{[1] [4] [6] [21] [23] [25] [26]} Ensuring that the anal area is clean and the bowel is empty, for both aesthetics and practicality, is also advised. ^[1]

Heterosexual

Male to female

1892 lithograph by Paul Avril depicting male-to-female anal sex

Some men may enjoy being the insertive partner in anal sex due to the anus usually being tighter than the vagina. ^[24] The attitude of women towards being the receptive partner in this practice is diverse: while some consider it painful or uncomfortable, others say they find it pleasurable and some even prefer it to vaginal intercourse . ^{[27] [28]}

In a study of hetero anal sex (8/2010 (n=214)), female participants stated that stimulation to multiple erogenous zones simultaneously (the clitoris, the G-Spot, the anus, and other erogenous zones) enabled the woman to enjoy anal intercourse with much less discomfort compared to anal penetration by itself. Women who had orgasms during anal sex reported that an orgasm during anal sex was more of a full-body experience than an orgasm from just clitoral stimulation. ^[21]

The risk to the woman is greater than the risk to the man during male-to-female anal intercourse. ^[29] At the same time, this act is held to carry a very low risk of unwanted pregnancy when not accompanied with vaginal intercourse, as anal intercourse cannot lead to pregnancy unless sperm is somehow transported to the vaginal opening in the process; in some populations, this activity is frequently used as a means of contraception, often in the absence of a condom. ^[30]

The risk of injury to the receptive partner due to anal intercourse is many times higher than that due to vaginal sex. ^[31] Also, the risk for transmission of the HIV virus is higher for anal sex than for vaginal sex. ^[32] Experts caution couples engaging in this practice to take steps to prevent damage to the rectal area, such as lubrication and also the use of protection, such as condoms, to stop the transmission of STDs. ^[1] Additionally, the man should never move from anal sex immediately to vaginal sex while barebacking or without changing the condom, due to infections that can arise in the vagina by bacteria present within the anus; this also applies to the use of sex toys. ^{[19] [33] [34]}

Female virginity

Male-to-female anal sex is sometimes seen as preserving female virginity because, in addition to its non- procreative nature, it leaves the hymen intact. Among sexually active heterosexuals, the concept of " technical virginity ", which includes oral sex and mutual masturbation , is conceived as resting solely on penile-vaginal penetration. ^{[35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41]} Since the early 1990s, "technical virginity" has been popular among teenagers . ^[38]

Prevalence

In 1992, a study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only 26% of men 18 to 59 and 20% of women 18 to 59 had engaged in heterosexual anal sex; a similar 2005 survey (also conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found a rising incidence of anal sex relations in the American heterosexual population. The survey showed that 40% of men and 35% of women between 25 and 44 had engaged in heterosexual anal sex. ^[42] In terms of overall numbers of survey respondents, seven times as many women as gay men said that they engaged in anal intercourse, with this figure reflecting the larger heterosexual population size. ^[43] According to the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), although anal intercourse is reported by fewer women than other partnered sex behaviors, partnered women in the age groups between 18-49 are significantly more likely to report having anal sex in the past 90 days. ^[44]

In a 2007 report entitled Prevalence and Correlates of Heterosexual Anal and Oral Sex in Adolescents and Adults in the United States , published in the Journal of Infectious Disease, a national survey of Family Growth found that 34% men and 30% women reported ever participating in heterosexual anal sex. The percentage of participants reporting heterosexual anal sex was significantly higher among 20- to 24-year-olds and peaked among 30- to 34-year-olds. ^{[45] [46]} Another survey in, 2008, focused on a much younger demographic of teenagers and young adults, aged 15–21. It found that 16% of 1350 surveyed had had this type of sex in the previous 3 months, with condoms being used 29% of the time. ^[47] However, given the subject matter, the survey hypothesized the prevalence was probably underestimated.

In 2009, Kimberly R. McBride published a clinical report in The Journal of Sex Research which stated that changing norms may affect the frequency of heterosexual anal sex behaviors and suggests that there is a role for the exotic in the sexual repertoires of some heterosexuals" "[F]or a certain number of heterosexuals, anal intercourse is pleasurable, exciting, and perhaps considered more intimate than vaginal sex...". McBride and her colleagues investigated the prevalence of non-intercourse anal sex behaviors among a sample of men (n=1,299) and women (n=1,919) compared to anal intercourse experience and found that 51% of men and 43% of women had participated in at least one act of oral–anal sex, manual–anal sex, or anal sex toy use. ^{[45] [48]} McBride and Janssen found that the majority of men (n=631)and women (n=856) who reported heterosexual anal intercourse in the past 12 months were in exclusive, monogamous relationships: 69% and 73%, respectively. ^{[45] [48]}

Figures for prevalence can vary amongst different demographics, regions, and nationalities. A 2001 French survey of five hundred female respondents concluded that a total of 29% had engaged in this practice, with one third of these confirming to have enjoyed the experience. ^[49] In contrast, in a 1999 South Korean survey of 586 women, 3.5% of respondents reported having had this type of sex. ^[50]

Figures for the prevalence of sexual behavior can also fluctuate over time. Edward O. Laumann's 1992 survey, reported in The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States , found that about 20% of heterosexuals had engaged in male-to-female anal sex. Sex researcher Alfred Kinsey , working in the 1940s, had found that number to be closer to 40% at the time. More recently, a researcher from the University of British Columbia in 2005 put the number of heterosexuals who have engaged in this practice at between 30% and 50%. ^[51] According to Columbia University 's health website Go Ask Alice! : "Studies indicate that about 25 percent of heterosexual couples have had anal sex at least once, and 10 percent regularly have anal penetration." ^[52]

Female to male (pegging)

A woman wearing a strap-on dildo about to engage in anal sex with a man.

See also: Pegging (sexual practice)

Pegging is a sexual practice in which a woman penetrates a man's anus with a strap-on dildo . ^[53] Advice columnist Dan Savage wrote that he believes all men should try pegging at least once, as it may introduce them to a new enjoyable sexual activity and illuminate them to the receiver's perspective in sex. ^[54] A few instructional movies and books have emerged in recent years, including Bend Over Boyfriend , produced by Fatale Media, Inc., and directed by Shar Rednour, SIR Video co-founder. As an accomplished author of numerous sex guides and informational books on various sexual taboos, Violet Blue wrote and released The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex in 2007. ^[55]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), with information published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), states that, "There are little published data on how many heterosexual men would like their anus to be sexually stimulated in a heterosexual relationship," but that, "Anecdotally, it is a substantial number. What data we do have almost all relate to penetrative sexual acts, and the superficial contact of the anal ring with fingers or the tongue is even less well documented but may be assumed to be a common sexual activity for men of all sexual orientations. ^[56]

[ edit ] Homosexual

[ edit ] Male to male

19th-century erotic interpretation of Hadrian and Antinous , by Paul Avril

Historically, anal sex has been commonly associated with male homosexuality . However, many gay men, or men who have sex with men in general, do not engage in anal sex. ^{[1] [22] [57] [58]} Among men who have anal sex with other men, the insertive partner is called the top and the one being penetrated is called the bottom . Those who enjoy either role are referred to as versatile . ^{[58] [59] [60]} Gay men who prefer anal sex may view it as "[their] version of intercourse" ^[23] and as "the natural apex of sex, a wonderful expression of intimacy, and a great source of pleasure..." ^[57] Psychologist Walt Odets said, "I think that anal sex has for gay men the same emotional significance that vaginal sex has for heterosexuals." ^[61]

Some men who have sex with men prefer to engage in frot or other forms of mutual masturbation because they find it more pleasurable and/or more affectionate, to preserve technical virginity , or as safe sex alternatives to anal sex, ^{[57] [58] [61] [62] [63] [64]} while other frot advocates denounce anal sex as degrading to the receptive partner and unnecessarily risky. ^{[61] [62] [65] [66]}

Prevalence

The prevalence of anal sex among homosexual couples in the West has varied over time. Magnus Hirschfeld, in his 1914 work, The Homosexuality of Men and Women , reported the rate of anal sex among homosexual men surveyed to be 8%, the least favored of all the practices documented. ^[67] Likewise, some scholars state that oral sex and mutual masturbation are more common than anal stimulation among gay men in long-term relationships, ^{[22] [57]} and that, in general, anal intercourse is more popular among homosexual male couples than among heterosexual couples, but that "it ranks behind oral sex and mutual masturbation" among both sexual orientations in prevalence. ^[68]

By the 1950s in the United Kingdom, it was thought that about fifteen percent of male homosexuals had anal sex. ^{[69] [ Full citation needed ]} More recent studies, The Gay Urban Men's Study (P.I. Stall, UCSF) and the Young Men's Study (YMS, PI Osmond/Catania, UCSF), indicate that 50% of the surveyed men who have sex with men engage in anal sex. ^{[70] [ Full citation needed ] [71] [ Full citation needed ]} The 1994 Laumann study suggests that 80% of gay men practice it and 20% never engage in it at all. ^[72]

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), with information published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), states that two thirds of gay men have anal sex. ^[56] Other sources suggest that roughly three-fourths of gay men have anal sex at one time or another in their lives, with an equal percentage participating as tops and bottoms. ^[58] A survey in The Advocate in 1994 indicated that 46% of gay men preferred to penetrate their partners, while 43% preferred to be the receptive partner. ^[58] A survey conducted from 1994 to 1997 in San Francisco by the Stop AIDS Project indicated that over the course of the study, among men who have sex with men, the proportion engaging in anal sex increased from 57.6% to 61.2%. ^[73]

Pain

Pain during receptive anal sex is formally known as anodyspareunia. ^[6] One study found that about 12% of gay men find it too painful to pursue, and concluded that the perception of anal sex as painful is just as likely to be psychologically or emotionally based as it is to be physically based. ^[74] Another study that examined pain during insertive and receptive anal sex in gay men found that 3% of tops (insertive partners) and 16% of bottoms (receptive partners) reported significant pain. ^[75] Factors predictive of pain during anal sex include inadequate lubrication , feeling tense or anxious, lack of stimulation, as well as lack of social ease with being gay and being closeted. Research has found that psychological factors can in fact be the primary contributors to the experience of pain during anal intercourse and that adequate communication between sexual partners can prevent it, countering the notion that pain is always inevitable during anal sex. ^{[6] [74] [75] [76]}

Female to female

A woman performing anal–oral sex on another woman.

There is less research on anal sexuality in the lesbian community, and among women who have sex with women in general, as compared to couples of other sexual orientations, but stimulating the anus for sexual pleasure is stated to be a part of many lesbians' sex lives; the anus can be rimmed — the tongue moved around its edge — stroked or penetrated with the fingers or a dildo . ^[77] There are lesbians who like anal sex and others "who cannot bear the thought of it." ^[78] In 1987, a non-scientific study (Munson) was conducted of more than 100 members of a lesbian social organization in Colorado. When asked what techniques they used in their last 10 lovemaking sessions, 100% were for kissing, sucking on breasts, and manual stimulation of the clitoris; more than 90% reported French kissing, oral sex, and fingers inserted into the vagina; and 80% reported tribadism . Lesbians in their 30s were twice as likely as other age groups to engage in anal stimulation (with a finger or dildo). ^[4]

Author Tom Boellstorff, when particularly examining anal sex among gay and lesbian individuals in Indonesia , stated, "I have not heard of oral-anal contact or anal penetration as recognized forms of lesbi[an] sexuality but assume they take place." ^[24] Daniel Villarreal of Queerty.com suggests that lesbians are better equipped to "teach heterosexual women" about anal sex than gay men are. "Firstly, they're women and anal sex feels different for women. Women lack that Giggity-spot called the prostate, so anal-loving [lesbians] know much more how anal sex feels as a woman than gay men ever could," he stated. "Most importantly though, women respond better to women. Ladies can approach the issue by discussing trust, communication, sobriety, HPV -prevention, and knowing your own body." ^[79]

Health risks

General

Anal sex exposes participants to two principal dangers: infections, due to the high number of infectious microorganisms not found elsewhere on the body, and physical damage to the anus and the rectum due to their vulnerability. It is generally understood that penetration can be painful. ^[1] Frequent anal sex is associated with hemorrhoids, anal prolapse, leakage, ano-rectal pain and ulcers and fissures. ^{[5] [9] [80]}

Experts say that as social mores ease, more young heterosexuals are engaging in anal sex, a behavior once rarely mentioned in polite circles. And the experimentation, they worry, may be linked to the current increase in sexually transmitted diseases. ^[81]

Anal sex carries with it a much greater risk of passing on sexually transmitted diseases than vaginal sex, as the anal sphincter is delicate tissue and the chances of a small tear occurring are much higher, which also provides more opportunity for diseases. ^{[23] [25]} Condoms offer protection, but condoms are more likely to break or come off during anal sex, so this form of sex is riskier unless both parties are absolutely disease free. ^{[82] [83]} Judy Kuriansky, a Columbia University professor and author, stated, "It really is shocking how many myths young people have about anal sex. They don't think you can get a disease from it because you're not having [vaginal] intercourse." ^[84] Anal sex without the use of a condom is often referred to as barebacking . ^[85]

[ edit ] HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases

Mucous membranes of the rectum .

Among the diseases with which anal sex is associated are HIV, ^[86] human papilloma virus (HPV) (which can increase risk for anal cancer ), ^[87] or typhoid fever. ^[88] Among these are: amoebiasis ; chlamydia ; cryptosporidiosis ; E. coli infections ; giardiasis ; gonorrhea ; hepatitis A ; hepatitis B ; hepatitis C ; herpes simplex ; human papillomavirus ; Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8); ^[89] lymphogranuloma venereum ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Mycoplasma genitalium ; pubic lice ; salmonellosis ; shigella ; syphilis ; tuberculosis ; and Ureaplasma urealyticum . ^{[9] [90] [91] [92]}

The high concentration of white blood cells around the rectum, together with the risk of cuts to the rectum and that one of the functions of the rectum is to absorb fluid, increases the risk of HIV transmission because the HIV retrovirus reproduces within the immune system's T-cells /CD4 cells. Use of condoms and other precautions are a medically recommended way to lessen risk of infections. Unprotected receptive anal sex is the most risky sexual behavior in terms of HIV transmission. ^{[93] [94] [95]}

Increased risk of anal cancer

Anal cancer is relatively rare, accounting for about 1 percent of gastrointestinal malignancies, but as many as 4,000 new cases can be diagnosed within a year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society . ^{[96] [97]} Most cases of anal cancer are related to infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). ^{[96] [97]} Anal sex alone does not cause anal cancer; the risk of anal cancer through anal sex is attributed to HPV infection, which is often contracted through unprotected anal sex. The incidence of the disease has jumped 160% in men and 78% in women in the last thirty years, according to a 2004 American study. The increase is attributed to changing trends in sexual behavior (such as a history of multiple sex partners, fifteen or more, or receptive anal sex) and smoking . If a current smoker, there is a fourfold increase in risk, though independent of other behavioral risk factors, such as sexual activity. Receptive anal sex increases the incidence sevenfold. ^[97] Among the female control group studied, 21.5 percent had reported practicing anal sex, a significant increase from a previous case-control study by epidemiologist Janet Daling (Ph.D., member of Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences Division ) and her colleagues, published in 1987, in which 11 percent of female controls had reported ever having anal sex. This and other studies also indicate that gay or bisexual sex among men is on the rise, which may account for the increase in anal cancer. ^[97] "The sharpest increase was among African American men, whose incidence of anal cancer has more than doubled in the past three decades. Black men also had a lower survival rate from the disease." The study reported that the five-year survival rate for black men with early stage disease was 62 percent as compared to 79 percent for white men with localized cancer. However, the survey also reported that black men were more likely than white men to report having had intercourse with another male in the last year. Regarding all the increases, whether or not sexual practices have changed, Daling, concluded, "[I]t also could be that people are just more likely to discuss their sexual behavior these days." ^[97]

Physical damage

Physical damage to the rectum and anus can manifest as generalized ano-rectal trauma, anal fissures , ^[9] rectal prolapse , and exacerbating (but not causing) hemorrhoids . ^[80] An insufficient amount of lubricant can make it especially painful or injurious. ^[98] Damage is more likely to occur if intercourse is forcible or aggressive or if alcohol or other drugs have dulled sensitivity.

Loss of control over the bowels, though rare according to some, is thought to be a valid concern ^{[99] [ Full citation needed ]} and is reported to be caused by repeated injury, or by the insertion of large objects, ^[100] or simply by regular anal sex, which "leads to internal sphincter dilation and soiling." ^[101]

A 1993 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that fourteen out of a sample of forty men receiving anal intercourse experienced episodes of frequent anal incontinence. ^[102] However, a 1997 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found no difference in levels of incontinence between homosexual men who engaged in anal sex and heterosexual men who did not, and criticized the earlier study for its inclusion of flatulence in its definition of incontinence. ^[103]

Dr. Jack Morin recommended kegel exercises to prevent loss of muscle tone from anal fisting or insertion of large objects in a presentation of clinical aspects of anal sexuality, delivered at the 1998 joint conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the American Association of Sex Educators. He added, however, that he had never personally observed "loosening" in any of his patients. ^[104]

Cultural issues

A shunga print depicting an older and a younger man

Historically, a number of cultures have recorded the practice of anal intercourse between men.

Ancient and non-Western cultures

The term " Greek love " has long been used to refer to the practice, and in modern times, "doing it the Greek way" is sometimes used as slang for anal sex. However, homosexual anal sex was far from a universally accepted practice in Ancient Greece . It was the target of jokes in surviving comedies; Aristophanes mockingly alludes to the practice, claiming that "Most citizens are europroktoi (wide-arsed) now." ^[105] While pedagogic pederasty was an essential element in the education of male youths, these relationships, at least in Athens and Sparta, were expected to steer clear of penetrative sex of any kind. There are very few works of pottery or other art that display anal sex between older men and boys, let alone with adult men. Most such works depict fondling or intercrural sex , which was not condemned for violating and feminizing the boys. Other sources make it clear that the practice was criticized as shameful, ^[106] and seen as a form of hubris . ^{[107] [ Full citation needed ]}

In later Roman-era Greek poetry , anal sex became a common topos, represented as taking place with "eligible" youths: those who had attained the proper age but had not yet become adults. Seducing children into the practice was considered very shameful for the adult, and having such relations with a male who was no longer adolescent was considered more shameful for the young male than for the one mounting him. Greek courtesans, or hetaerae , are said to have frequently practiced heterosexual anal intercourse as a means of preventing pregnancy. ^[108] The acceptability of anal sex thus varied with the time-period and the location, as Ancient Greece spanned a long time and stretched over three continents and two major seas.

For a male citizen to take the passive (or receptive) role in anal intercourse was condemned in Rome as an act of impudicitia (immodesty or unchastity). Free men, however, frequently took the active role with a young slave, known as a catamite or puer delicatus. In fact the Romans thought of anal sex as something specifically "Greek," although Roman men often availed themselves of their own slaves or others in this way. ^{[109] [ Full citation needed ]}

In Japan, records (including detailed shunga ) show that at least some men in relationships with other men did engage in penetrative anal intercourse.

Man and woman having anal sex. Ceramic, Moche Culture. 300 C.E. Larco Museum Collection

Evidence suggestive of widespread heterosexual anal intercourse in a pre-modern culture can be found in the erotic vases, or stirrup-spout pots, made by the Moche people of Peru; in a survey ^[110] of a collection of these pots, it was found that 31 percent of them depicted heterosexual anal intercourse, more by far than any other sex act. Moche pottery of this type belonged to the world of the dead, which was believed to be a reversal of life. Thus the reverse of common practices was often portrayed. The Larco Museum houses an Erotic Gallery in which this pottery is showcased.

The 19th century anthropologist Richard Francis Burton has theorized that there is a geographical Sotadic zone wherein penetrative intercourse between men is particularly prevalent and accepted; moreover he was one of the first writers to advance the premise that such an orientation is biologically determined. ^[111]

Western cultures

In many Western countries, anal sex has generally been taboo since the Middle Ages ^[112] when heretical movements were sometimes attacked by accusations that their members practised anal sex among themselves. ^{[ citation needed ]} At that time the mainstream Christian clergy was not celibate, but the highest orders of some heretical sects were, leading to rumours that their celibacy was a sign of their attraction to members of the same sex. ^{[ citation needed ]} The term buggery originated in medieval Europe as an insult used to describe the rumoured same-sex sexual practices of the heretics from a sect originating in Bulgaria , where its followers were called bogomils ^{[ citation needed ]} ; when they spread out of the country they were called buggres (from the ethnonym Bulgars ). ^{[ citation needed ]} Another term for the practice, more archaic, is "pedicate" from the Latin pedicare, with the same meaning. ^[113]

The Renaissance poet Pietro Aretino advocated the practice in his Sonetti Lussuriosi (Lust Sonnets). ^[114]

While men who engaged in homosexual relationships were generally suspected of engaging in anal sex, many such individuals did not. Among these, in recent times, have been André Gide , who found it repulsive; ^{[115] [ Full citation needed ]} and Noel Coward , who had a horror of disease, and asserted when young that "I'd never do anything – well the disgusting thing they do – because I know I could get something wrong with me." ^{[116] [ Full citation needed ]}