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Does your butt need a break?
By Rebecca Jane Stokes — Written on Oct 19, 2021
Ah, anal sex. Much like Mount Everest, it's something men and women insist on trying, just because it's there.
Sure, the anus was not designed for reproductive sex, but that doesn't make anal play feel not-good, does it? Anal sex can be pleasurable for both men and women, but only if it's done properly and you follow accurate sex tips.
Yes, there is a right way and wrong way to have anal sex. If you're having anal sex that is leaving you sore, bloody, and sick, you're having anal sex the wrong way.
And if you're wondering if you're having too much anal sex, check to see if you match any of symptoms listed below. And, of course, be sure to consult your doctor if any of your symptoms worsen or are causing discomfort.
Anal sex can be the gift that keeps on giving, but too much anal sex is like the gift of week-old custard your Aunt Esther keeps trying to pawn off on you like some kind of delicacy. Remember to always put your health first — it's important!
Here are 5 signs your body is telling you that you're having too much anal sex.
1. You bleed every time you have anal sex.
Frankly, unusual blood of any kind during sex should mean taking a break.
If you're bleeding, it means you've torn skin. Tearing skin in or around your anus can end up with you having a massive infection. These are the dangers of anal sex, as poop carries bacteria, and that bacteria can make you sick.
Avoid bleeding and tears by going slowly, gently, and using lots of lube.
The first time you start exploring anal sex, you might not even get more than the tip of a finger inside of you. That's fine, good even!
Your butt is not a race. Do things the right way, and you won't be caught out having to take a break from pleasure.
2. Your bowels are in distress.
There is a myth that having too much sex will permanently loosen your sphincters. That's not true; that is where the word "myth" comes into play.
Remember, you actually have two sets of sphincter muscles. You've got the ones at the mouth (as it were) of the anus, and then another set further up inside your anus.
While stretching does take place, if you're having anal sex the right way (slowly, carefully, gently, with lube), you don't need to worry about your sphincters never returning to their natural form.
However, if you aren't having anal sex the right way, you may find that you experience some bowel distress. Getting a walloping case of liquid poops and tummy trouble is your body's way of saying you flew too close to the anal sex sun.
3. You have anal fissures.
An anal fissure is another kind of tear that can happen due to anal sex, giving birth, or to passing out a large, dried out stool among other things. Anal fissures are essentially tears in your lower rectum. They are exceptionally painful, especially when you're trying to pass a bowel movement.
Anal fissures will heal on their own and often don't require more medical intervention. If they last more than 8 to 12 weeks, that's when you need to talk to your doctor about them.
For some people, anal fissures are painless. The only symptoms, in this case, could be anal bleeding.
As a general rule of thumb, if your anus is bleeding bright, fresh blood for more than 12 hours, consult a doctor. Anus blood is never a good thing.
4. You have hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are dilated veins either surrounding or inside of the rectum. They can cause a number of symptoms, including pain with defecation and chronic itching of the rectal area. In others, it's an all around foul time if you've got them.
Some doctors think that too much anal sex can irritate these veins, though that is very much disputed.
Regardless of if it's your anal sex life that gave you the hemorrhoids or something else, having anal sex while they are present will worsen your symptoms and make you feel more pain.
If you've been diagnosed with hemorrhoids and you love anal sex, it's time to take a break. When you start back up again, treat your anus like virgin territory.
Start back at the basics — heck, buy yourself a new anal training kit — and this time use more lube than seems normal or right. It's probably still not even close to being enough.
5. You have an anal prolapse.
First of all, if you came to this site and found this article by typing "can I still have anal sex if I've got anal prolapse," let me salute you. You, my friend, are a sex-having warrior.
Secondly, no, don't! If you're experiencing anal prolapse, don't focus on sex. Focus on treating the prolapse. It can be caused by anal sex, age, and a myriad of other factors.
Anal prolapse is when the muscles holding the rectum in place weaken enough that gravity starts to pull the rectum itself downward toward the sun. It usually looks like the tip of a slightly moist pink sock (sorry if I just ruined socks for you).
Prolapse can be serious enough to require surgery. To avoid stuff like prolapse — and other injuries on this list — don't stop doing your kegels!
Seriously, while kegels are often thought of as being strictly vagina tighteners, the truth is that there is so much more that they can do. After all, when you do a kegel, you are working your entire pelvic floor. And your anus? That's part of your pelvic floor!
By and large, the key to keeping your anal sex life on track is to go slowly, use lots of lube, and take breaks when necessary.
Sex isn't like a crazy trend workout; if something hurts or bleeds or worries you, stop and address that concern.
The quicker you are to tend to your body's needs, the more it will reward you in the long run.
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Rebecca Jane Stokes is a freelance writer and the former Senior Editor of Pop Culture at Newsweek with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, and true crime.