When it comes to anal sex, there are a LOT of myths out there. To help debunk some of the myths around anal, we rounded up a bunch of experts. The truth: Of course, with anal, the elephant in the room is usually about poop. The truth: Not true! Orgasming is much more than just being penetrated in fact, hi, a majority of those with vaginas need external clitoral stimulation to orgasm rather than just penetration , and many pegging toys have built-in vibrators or pockets for vibrators you can use. The truth: It's not normal for pleasurable anal sex to hurt.

As more couples explore this type of sex, understanding the risks, rewards, and proper strategy is important. According to the Centers for Disease Control CDC , anal sex is primarily growing in popularity with couples under age You might think of anal sex as anal penetration with a penis, but you have a few more options. Anal sex can also be performed with fingers or the tongue. Sex toys , like vibrators , dildos , and butt plugs , are used too. It just requires more planning, prep, and communication than some other forms of sexual activity.

Plus the one precaution you should always take. While research suggests anal isn't quite as prevalent as pop culture might suggest—a study found that just To find out more, we spoke with ob-gyn Lauren F. There are a few risks involved with anal that women need to know, she says. Streicher points out.

When it comes to the negative side effects of anal sex , it's hard to get a straight answer. Because the act of anal sex is still relatively taboo, knowledge of the effects it has on the body aren't always as consistent as one would hope. For people who like it and who use lots of lube , there are some benefits of anal sex , like the possibility of anal orgasms and feeling closer to your partner. But there are also dangers of anal sex that doctors want you to know about before getting into it.