Anal sex newbies have questions about poop, infections, and bleeding butt holes. It’s important to have an open and honest conversation about anal sex before getting started, Glickman says.
Anal sex carries the highest risk of HIV transmission, especially without condoms. The risk of infection with STIs is also high.
Semen
The anal area is rich in semen, which can carry bacteria and parasites that can cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Unprotected anal sex can lead to HIV infection, as well as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and other STDs.
The risk of infection by HIV from anal sex is highest for the insertive (“top”) partner in condomless sex. This is because the rectal tissue is delicate and can be damaged during anal sex, giving the virus direct access to the bloodstream. It is also possible to transmit HIV through the urethra and tissues that line the head of the penis.
However, the risk of HIV transmission from anal sex is lower than for vaginal sex. Using condoms is the best way to protect yourself from HIV, and oral lubricants can also help reduce the risk of infection.
Many men like to stimulate the prostate, which is located between the bladder and the penis. This can be done with a finger or sex toy. The prostate has lots of blood vessels and can bruise if handled roughly, so it is important to use plenty of lubricant during anal sex.
Heterosexual anal sex is not as common as vaginal sex, but it does occur. It is important to change condoms often and to use a water-based lubricant to reduce the risk of tissue tears. Also, urinating and having a bowel movement after anal sex can help to expel any bacteria that may have been introduced into the body.
Pre-ejaculate fluids
Like vaginal sex, anal sex can transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Oral anal sex can pass bacteria and viruses like herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis. It can also transmit HIV. Infections passed through oral anal sex are usually not diagnosed immediately because it takes at least three months before antibodies for some of these infections appear in the body.
The risk of infection is higher for the insertive partner than for the receptive partner when anal sex is performed without condoms. The risk of HIV transmission is also increased by the presence of HIV in semen and pre-ejaculate fluids (“pre-cum”).
Pre-ejaculate is a clear liquid produced by glands in the penis that send precum during sexual arousal but before ejaculation occurs. It serves two purposes: to neutralize the acidity of urine and to prepare the urethra for ejaculation.
Pre-ejaculate can contain sperm, and sniffing “poppers,” or nitrite-based inhalants, increases the flow of this liquid. The inhalants relax the anal sphincter muscles, making intercourse easier and intensifying pleasure. A 2013 study found that 41% of pre-cum samples contained sperm. However, it is not known why some pre-cum samples contain sperm while others do not. This suggests that different factors affect the likelihood of sperm being present in pre-cum, and more research is needed to understand this. Nevertheless, it is important to note that anal intercourse is the most efficient method for transmission of HIV and should not be ignored in prevention efforts.
Blood
The rectum is a delicate area with lots of blood vessels. If you or your partner have cuts, scrapes, or open sores in this region, HIV can enter the body through these tissues during unprotected anal sex. This type of sexual activity can also put you or your partner at risk for other STIs like herpes, hepatitis, and HPV.
It’s possible for either partner to get HIV through anal sex, but it’s much more likely that the HIV-positive person will transmit their virus. This is because the rectum’s lining has a higher chance of being injured during anal sex than vaginal sex, which makes it more likely that HIV from semen or pre-cum will make its way into the body.
Unlike the rest of the skin on our bodies, the tissue inside the anus doesn’t have layers of dead skin to protect it from infection. If you or your partner aren’t careful when having anal sex, this may lead to tears or other infections such as herpes and hepatitis.
To avoid this, you should use condoms before and during anal sex. You should also wash your anus after anal sex to remove any faeces. If you do have anal sex without protection, it’s important to see a doctor straight away and take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours to prevent HIV infection. You can also buy lubricant to help with anal sex and you can find sex toys that are designed to reduce the risk of tearing or infection.
Rectal fluid
Receptive anal sex poses the highest risk for HIV transmission because of the thin lining of the rectum. Both partners (the insertive and the receptive) can get infected during this type of sex, but it’s more likely that the HIV-positive partner will transmit the virus to the HIV-negative one.
The risk of HIV transmission from anal sex drops significantly when both partners use condoms and have a suppressed viral load. However, this does not mean that it is safe to engage in this behavior, especially when the HIV-positive partner’s viral load is detectable.
In addition to the semen and pre-seminal fluids, the receptive partner can also become infected with HIV from rectal secretions, which contain high levels of the virus. The virus can be introduced to the urethra and penis when the tissue in these areas is damaged, which is often the case when anal sex is unprotected.
Sniffing poppers, a popular drug among gay men, can increase the risk of HIV transmission during anal sex because it relaxes the muscles that control the anal sphincter. This can allow the sperm to travel down the urethra and into the anus without being stopped by the sphincter. In addition, the nitrite in anal poppers can cause damage to the mucosa of the rectum and increase the risk of HIV infection.
