When it comes to sex, one of the most misunderstood types is anal sex. As a result there are a lot of myths about this perfectly normal behavior.
Here are five:
- Myth. Only gay men have anal sex.
Fact. Anyone with an anus can enjoy anal sex, whether they are gay or straight.
- Myth. All gay men have anal sex.
Fact. Nope! While a lot of gay men enjoy anal sex, plenty of gay men just aren't into it.
- Myth. Anal sex hurts.
Fact. Not if you do it right. Sure any sex act can hurt or be uncomfortable if you don't use lube, go to fast and push your body to do things it isn't ready for. But anal, like anything else, can be be very pleasurable and pain free.
- Myth. Anal sex is messy.
Fact. In general, sex isn't a tidy package, but anal sex gets a particularly bad rap. If you are worried about mess, here are some good rules of thumb for anal: don't do it if you feel like you have to go to the bathroom, make sure to practice basic hygiene and maintain a fiber rich diet to keep your insides working well.
- Myth. Anal sex will give you HIV.
Fact. A person can only get HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, if a partner has it. In that case, unprotected anal sex can definitely transmit the virus. However, using a condom is an excellent way to protect yourself from HIV and other STDs during anal sex.
