heterosexual anal sex

[matt_mcl]

I'm amazed and quite frankly very suspicious about the first of the two quoted statistics about incontinence subsequent to anal sex.

I'm convinced that if this really happened (especially in anything approaching the proportions reported - I mean come on, 13 cases out of 40? And that's a pretty small sample size, too) I would have heard about it, because believe me, gay men talk about everything else. I mean please, there is no movement of fiftyish gay guys buying mass quantities of Depends. Don't be ridiculous.

And yet I never have, and on the few occasions the subject comes up, it's been to affirm that unless you're really going insane, such risks are highly exaggerated.

Add to that that such factoids are a staple of the Fred Phelps crowd, and you can see why I'm very skeptical.

[control-z]

The best advice I've heard is that "too much lube is almost enough."

[Skald the Rhymer]

The casual slam against Gilmore girls has left me en-fucking-raged. I don't swear revenge anymore, sadly, but that doesn't matter; not loving Lorelai and Rory is its own punishment.

[Irishman]

I'd like to love Lorelai and Rory - in a full-on three way.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

[Irishman]

One question to consider is the type of activity involved. Specifically, are we talking just penetration, or the process called "gaping"? What about applying outward pressure, such as to void semen for display? Those activities can lead to prolapses, i.e. the colon pushing out through the sphincter. That can weaken the anus and lead to incontinence.

[LawMonkey]

I'll be in Brazil.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by Irishman

I'd like to love Lorelai and Rory - in a full-on three way.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

First of all, that could never, ever happen. Even if Lorelai were capable of overlooking the ookie incest issue, which she is not, rarely has the Earth seen a lass more hetero than she.

A better option would be a three-way with Rory & Paris. That would be easier to arrange, but far more apt to end ugly, as it would take about 2 minutes for Paris to entirely forget about the guy and concentrate all her attention on Rory, but much longer for Rory to decide how she felt about that.

[Bricker]

What exactly is anal resting pressure?

[JR Brown]

Originally Posted by Bricker

What exactly is anal resting pressure?

The degree of tension of the anal sphincter when the owner isn't thinking about it, basically. Apparently it's quite variable over time, so a single measurement may not mean much. The study Cecil seems to be referring to is this one.

[Stink Fish Pot]

wow. And to think there was a big brew-ha-ha over language in the pit.

What a pathetic lot, we.

I saw a movie where a guy shoved his entire foot up the ass of his partner. Now, how she had any bowel control after that is a mystery to me. I still want to know how the subject was broached.

"honey, I like anal sex, but I just can't feel you down there anymore. Can we try your foot?"
"Ok... better get the camera too."

[davidw]

Another possible complication of anal sex that Cecil didn't mention is epididymitis.

[Chronos]

Entire foot? As in, past the heel?

[JillGat]

Originally Posted by Irishman

One question to consider is the type of activity involved. Specifically, are we talking just penetration, or the process called "gaping"? What about applying outward pressure, such as to void semen for display? Those activities can lead to prolapses, i.e. the colon pushing out through the sphincter. That can weaken the anus and lead to incontinence.

I hate it when that happens.

[dropzone]

Y'know, topics like this is why I removed "Supply explanations to an online forum," from my resume. I can contribute how-tos with the best of them, but I prefer to leave out the butt sex. Just old-fashioned that way.

[herownself]

Originally Posted by JR Brown

The degree of tension of the anal sphincter when the owner isn't thinking about it, basically. Apparently it's quite variable over time, so a single measurement may not mean much. The study Cecil seems to be referring to is this one.

What I am really dying to know is what those guys thought the electrosensitivity of the anal mucosa had to do with anything, how and when they measured it, and whether the correct terminology (Santorum) was used.

After that I want to go to the session on perineal descent and rectal session.

Then it's time to hit the bar for some early brews, because I personally plan to miss absolutely everything having to do with stoll consistency.

[bienville]

Originally Posted by Cecil in the linked column

A California study of female participants in heterosexual anal sex showed 74 percent never used condoms; a survey of midwestern college students showed condoms were about half as likely to be used during anal sex as vaginal.

Eeew! Pulled out of anal once to discover an unpleasantly messy condom. Would never consider sending Mr. John Thomas that route without proper foul weather gear.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Entire foot? As in, past the heel?

If memory serves, yes. But you may have a shocked viewer's memory telling you this.

I wonder how I could find this video again? I remember it was sent to me by a co-worker during the early days of the internet, before they were tracking things like file sizes.

If I were to track it down, (and anyone wanted to see this disturbing thing), is there a place I could post it on-line for free? It's definitely NSF, well, anything.

[SeanArenas]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

If memory serves, yes. But you may have a shocked viewer's memory telling you this.

I wonder how I could find this video again? I remember it was sent to me by a co-worker during the early days of the internet, before they were tracking things like file sizes.

If I were to track it down, (and anyone wanted to see this disturbing thing), is there a place I could post it on-line for free? It's definitely NSF, well, anything.

First, if it was in the early days of the Internet, it's probably very small my today's standards. Most people today could probably download it in moments, even if it took hours back then.

Second, with the amount of material on the Internet, I would be more surprised if someone could NOT find something like that, if they had access to the right kinds of ehm ... search engines. Google may not work for that kind of thing.

And third, that does sound kind of NSF

[Nametag]

Oh, please. Google "anal foot" and see how long it takes. Almost all the links are sex videos, and I think the Xvideos link is exactly what was described.

[SeanArenas]

holy crap. It was even easier than I thought it would be.

[AskNott]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

I saw a movie where a guy shoved his entire foot up the ass of his partner. ...

Oh, my. A gal's likely to get athlete's ass that way.

[AskNott]

Originally Posted by davidw

Another possible complication of anal sex that Cecil didn't mention is epididymitis.

I always wondered where P. Diddy came up with that name.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by herownself

What I am really dying to know is what those guys thought the electrosensitivity of the anal mucosa had to do with anything

Not the stuff I usually like to comment on, but since no one else has offered the explanation....

Cecil mentions that the sensitivity could not be linked to incontinence, which leads me to believe that that assumed link was the purpose of the experiment. In other words, anal sex might cause later anal leakage.

[Trans Fat Og]

Originally Posted by Irishman

One question to consider is the type of activity involved. Specifically, are we talking just penetration, or the process called "gaping"? ...

Just what is gaping, and does it apply to what you follow up with in the rest of your post?

...What about applying outward pressure, such as to void semen for display? Those activities can lead to prolapses, i.e. the colon pushing out through the sphincter. That can weaken the anus and lead to incontinence.

- Jack

[Chronos]

Just what is gaping

About what it sounds like: holding an orifice wide open.

[BRing]

The article about the risks of anal sex made me recall an item I heard on the
news late last year about how gay men should get pap smears:

http://aids.about.com/cs/conditions/a/analpaps.htm

I suppose a mongamous, heterosexual woman who engages in anal sex would have the same risk.

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

Just what is gaping

Originally Posted by Chronos

About what it sounds like: holding an orifice wide open.

ths post has been gaped by the gapist.

[Skald the Rhymer]

I feel obliged to make one observation about the article that prompted this thread:

While there's no denying anal sex has a certain kinky charm, the rectum was designed as an exit, not an entrance.

What, are we creationists now, Cecil? The rectum wasn't designed at all. It evolved.

[AskNott]

Originally Posted by BigT

... In other words, anal sex might cause later anal leakage.

My sources tell me that first-time anal sex sometimes causes anal eekage!

[Chronos]

ths post has been gaped by the gapist.

You should have put a bunch of carriage returns between the two quotes.

[mswas]

Well that takes away all the charm of fucking a girl in the ass.

[TexasP]

I dated a Brazilian woman for almost two years in New York. We mostly used the good ol' Catholic Birth Control because she didn't like the Pill and I didn't like condoms. We were genuinely monogamous and experienced, and suffered no ill effects. By "experienced" I mean that we were older and knew how to keep ourselves clean and that it's not going to lubricate itself, mister.

That said, we also knew two crucial things: 1) porno movies are highly dubious, 2) human medical research projects are also highly dubious.

My advice is to take both lightly and use your own common sense.

[Roderick Femm]

Originally Posted by davidw

Another possible complication of anal sex that Cecil didn't mention is epididymitis.

Also Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU, symptoms very similar to gonorrhea) can apparently be caused by fecal matter entering into the man's urethra. At least so I was told by a doctor once.

On the issue of condom use, perhaps men are able to persuade women that they aren't needed to prevent pregnancy when delivering in the rear, and I suspect that most straight men would rather perform sans culotte whenever they can.

Cecil seems to be mainly concerned with consequences to the ladies, and not at all with the men's risks. Also, he doesn't touch on the reverse, i.e. men penetrated by a lady with a strap-on. Significant gaps in his otherwise voluminous answer.


Roddy

[Irishman]

True Blue Jack said:

Just what is gaping, and does it apply to what you follow up with in the rest of your post?

Opening the hole up wide.

The other comment had to do with prolapses. A prolapse is when part of the rectum protrudes out the anus. Gaping can contribute to this result. What happens is the rectum separates from the internal wall so it can be pushed out. It can also happen because of straining, either for a bowel movement (persistent constipation) or trying to squeeze out a small quantity of liquid (i.e. semen). A small quantity of liquid is not very squeezable, so you end up pushing the rectum out.

Advice for the kiddies - anal prolapses aren't fun. They do lead to anal leakage. And that is a serious impediment to all sorts of normal daily activities.

Cecil said:

While there's no denying anal sex has a certain kinky charm, the rectum was designed as an exit, not an entrance.

Of course it was. Why else would God make it compatible in size and place it right next to the other entry?

Skald the Rhymer said:

What, are we creationists now, Cecil? The rectum wasn't designed at all. It evolved.

If evolution is a process of adaptation over time, then the result might reasonably be considered designed by evolution. But that is perhaps confusing.

[Skald the Rhymer]

Originally Posted by Irishman

[Skald the Rhymer said:


If evolution is a process of adaptation over time, then the result might reasonably be considered designed by evolution.

"Design" implies a consciousness behind the process, which is absent in this circumstance. If I were designing a humanoid organism, there's tons of things I could do to prevent it from enjoying anal sex if that were my desire. As there is no designer in evolution, those things are not present, even though anal sex is not an unmixed blessing.

[AskNott]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Entire foot? As in, past the heel?

There's a part of the US where macho men are fond of threatening to "put a boot in your ass." Coincidentally, folklore says the men of that place "don't know sh!t from Shinola." Now, I know a little more about those guys.

[Attack from the 3rd dimension]

Originally Posted by Skald the Rhymer

"Design" implies a consciousness behind the process, which is absent in this circumstance. If I were designing a humanoid organism, there's tons of things I could do to prevent it from enjoying anal sex if that were my desire. As there is no designer in evolution, those things are not present, even though anal sex is not an unmixed blessing.

This argument is a thing of beauty. A ID proponent would have to concede either that God didn't design the rectum intelligently, since it will admit the penis, or else concede that God is not against anal sex. Plus the fact that we'd have to have a serious discussion about buttholes and buttsex during the ID discussion - how perfect.

[Alex_Dubinsky]

Originally Posted by control-z

The best advice I've heard is that "too much lube is almost enough."

Oh no. Like with anything else, there is such a thing as too much: http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/en...ot_ensue.phtml

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by Nametag

Oh, please. Google "anal foot" and see how long it takes. Almost all the links are sex videos, and I think the Xvideos link is exactly what was described.

Doing my part to fight ignorance, I did exactly this. Thank god I had the volume down. The Xvideos link is the EXACT FREAKIN' FILM I was referring to.

Google frightens me. But, on further review, it does NOT appear to be complete heel penetration, although it comes close enough for me.

How about that... I can now send that link to the sick bastard that sent it to me those many years ago.

[Snarky_Kong]

You know the goatse guy? There are more photos than just that one. I don't think he'd even notice a foot unless it belonged to an elephant.

[Siam Sam]

There is one brothel here -- brothel, not a bar -- in which you are required to take two girls minimum (no maximum limit), the girls are all guaranteed bisexual, and there is a yellow line along the wall downstairs, the ones on the left of which do anal. It's called the Eden Club and is owned by Mark, the legendary Frenchman. I've always wondered about the girls who specialize in anal and how it affects them over time. Never been an ass bandit myself, and I've never asked Mark about it; met him a time or two.

Back in West Texas, I knew a cop who was married to a nurse. He told me of some odd things pulled out of there that his wife had related, the weirdest one being a clock radio.

[control-z]

Originally Posted by Alex_Dubinsky

Oh no. Like with anything else, there is such a thing as too much: http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/en...ot_ensue.phtml

Ugh, that's a very TMI story!

But really, that wasn't my experience at all. I'm a clean freak, and my experiences with anal have been with a clean freak girl, she washes herself out with soap and water so there was no bad stuff back there. I guess that still wouldn't preclude a drunken bout of diarrhea though. Ugh.

[/momo]

Not to question Cecil but I would probably have answered that the risks of heterosexual anal sex were the same as with male homosexual anal sex. Chances and probabilities are different but that only comes into play if your partner is random.

Originally Posted by Attack from the 3rd dimension

This argument is a thing of beauty. A ID proponent would have to concede either that God didn't design the rectum intelligently, since it will admit the penis, or else concede that God is not against anal sex. Plus the fact that we'd have to have a serious discussion about buttholes and buttsex during the ID discussion - how perfect.

Now this I love. I take issue with Cecil's claim that the butthole is exit only. I've heard this argument before and it's too weak.
First of all there are a bunch of nerves around the anus that project right up in pleasure center of the brain. This of course only argues for digital and/or oral manipulation during sex, either as foreplay or during intercourse. That is a very good idea if you are going to stick your dick in someone though. Unless your partner frequently enjoys anal and is turned on, he/she is going to be tightening up involuntarily without a bit of pre-plunge stimulation.
Let's talk insertion. The rectum is a temporary hold for shit until you can get yourself to a loo and defecate. Afterwards any leftover shit is supposed to be moved up into the colon for additional processing/storage. I will readily admit that this function isn't always terribly efficient. But to be honest I think that's more likely to be due to modern dietary habits than intentional design/evolution. Luckily modernity has also given us stuff like 60 ml syringes and lukewarm water that can take care of that quite quickly (60ml at a time as too much water can give you unpleasant surprises later). Soap like control-z talked about should really stay on the outside of the body since it can strip the canal of its protective mucosal layer a lot faster than water can. Now how does this fit with a penis? Well the rectum (aka the naturally shit-free zone) is about 20 cm long +/-. That's about 7 inches 10/12ths unless my math is completely wrong (just give up on those damn imperial measurements for the sake of Jeebus). In action it's more since it's pliable, stretchy material. That should fit most guys.

Hmm. I'm not sure if there was more.

Closing remarks: I have no clue whether we are adapted as a species to taking it up the butt, but I don't think there's any evidence that we aren't.

Oh and about the anal leakage. There are some HIV drugs that can give you like violent, sudden diarrhea. I think that's a more likely cause than anal. Though the whole foot in the butt might do it if overdone. Same goes for clock radios naturally.

Anyone have anymore questions?

[mr. jp]

I have several times wondered about anal sex and evolution.

On the one hand there is a large desire for it. Which must have evolved, or at least not be evolved against.

On the other hand, there is the risk of infection if you go from anal to vaginal sex. And that I would think should be a pretty big evolutionary factor.

So what am I missing here. What is the evolutionary incentive for anal sex to make up for the infection risk?

[Chronos]

On the other hand, there is the risk of infection if you go from anal to vaginal sex. And that I would think should be a pretty big evolutionary factor.

There's also the risk that, if the participants enjoy it just as much as vaginal sex, that they'll do it instead of vaginal (which would have a negative impact on reproduction). I've wondered about that, too.

[Alex_Dubinsky]

Originally Posted by mr. jp

On the one hand there is a large desire for it. Which must have evolved, or at least not be evolved against.

Do animals have a similar anus-pleasure-center relationship as humans do? I know I've seen elephants' prostates getting stimulated on the daily show, but I'm not sure if that's the same thing. Anyway, I don't think animals go around having anal, so I doubt it evolved specifically for that. It could just be tied to the defacation functions (a counterbalance to the sensitivity that has its own purpose or to the psychological aversion to feces). I know my dog gets quite happy after he's pooped.

[Valteron]

Warning! Explicit sexual references! Reader discretion is advised.

I would never accuse Uncle Cecil of homophobia and if the studies exist, they exist, for whatever they are worth. But if people who practise anal sex are in such danger of turning into human manure spreaders in old age, why is this not showing up in my own spouse and circle of friends?

I have been with my spouse 35 years. During that time, I have penetrated him anally about 2000 times. That averages out to less than once a week (not all of our sex is anal). Because of personal choice by both of us, I am always the "top" and no, I am not "tiny". I am somewhere between average and generous.

My spouse's doctor, who is gay and therefore fully aware of what my spouse does, has never noted the slightest anomaly in his rectal area. And, as an earlier poster noted, gay men talk about everything. None of our middle-aged friends has reported anything of the kind after years of anal sex. And now that the gay baby boomers are reaching middle age, why are there not dozens of ads for adult diapers in gay publications?

However, our gay doctor friend HAS told us that some people (not necessarily gay men) who are into extreme anal penetration (fisting, huge dildos, etc.) can eventually suffer something like the problems cited in Cecil's response.

[Irishman]

/momo said:

Let's talk insertion. The rectum is a temporary hold for shit until you can get yourself to a loo and defecate. Afterwards any leftover shit is supposed to be moved up into the colon for additional processing/storage.

Gotta cite for that? Because I'm having a hard time believing that feces are normally transported back up the colon.

[Valteron]

Leaving aside for a second the alleged and surprising conversion of Cecil to Intelligent Design and perhaps Creationism, there are a few facts to be considered about the "design" or "non-design" of the holes in our bodies..

Most orifices in the body are BOTH an entrance and an exit, or at least serve more than one function.

The mouth is mainly an entrance but is used for the expulsion of mucus during colds and flus, and for vomiting, which, disgusting as it seems, can actually save your life in cases of food poisoning. In addition to being an entrance for food and water, the mouth can be used as an entrance for the penis, which is a wonderful way to reward that special someone in your life, ladies and gentlemen.

The nose takes in AND expels air. Also, it traps incoming dust particles which are later expelled or removed in dried (snot) or liquid mucus.

The eyes (if you want to consider them orifices) do their obvious work of accepting light images for processing by the brain, but they also excrete tears containing feel-bad chemicals, which is the reason we feel better after a "good cry". Tear excretion also helps remove foreign objects that could damage the eye and signal our emotions of extreme sadness to our fellow social humans.

Nothing much goes into the piss-slit on the penis, I guess, but it IS noteworthy that the penis serves a triple function, as a conduit for urine, as a pleasure organ and semen conveyor.

The vagina/uterus system is DEFINITELY an exit as well as an entrance. I myself came out of one. You too I suspect. And unless your name is Jesus, I am pretty sure something went in there nine months earlier.

Which finally brings us to the anus which, we are sometimes told, cannot reasonably be considered anything but an exit, and cannot possibly have more than one function. This, in spite of the fact that the rectum on any healthy person is empty 90% of the time, and that millions of people can and do derive enormous pleasure from being anally penetrated.

[Smeghead]

Originally Posted by SeanArenas

holy crap.

Indeed.