FAQs

Is anal sex safe without using any condoms? If not, what infections could get from it? Should I clean the anus before sex?

Answer

You are right to be concerned about infections from anal sex without condoms. It is a good idea to wash around the outside of the anus before anal sex with a mild soap and water, or if you have sensitive skin, you could use sorbolene cream and water. Don't try and wash inside the anus since this can cause irritation and even ulceration.

Safe sex is always important - but perhaps even more so when we are talking anal sex because the skin there is a little more likely to develop small splits or tears during sex and this can increase your chances of picking up a sexually transmissible infection.

The sorts of infections you could pick up (or give to a partner) during anal sex include gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital warts, and herpes, Chlamydia, HIV and Hepatitis B. If there is blood around, even small amounts, it might also be possible to pick up Hepatitis C through anal sex.

Also, if you put your fingers in your mouth after touching the anal area or after handling a condom or sex toy, or if you have oral/anal sex without protection you could also catch Hepatitis A, or other gastro infections. If you have not already had them, you could consider having vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B. There is no vaccine for Hep C).

So the message is SAFE SEX every time when it comes to anal sex.

The female condom is an alternative to the male condom for penetrative anal (putting something in the anus) sex. These are made of polyurethane (plastic) and are stronger than rubber condoms. This is especially useful for anal penetration. They allow heat to pass through better than rubber does, so are better sensation-wise.

You need to take out the little removable ring from inside the female condom before using it for anal sex. Then you can put the condom on the penis just like a male condom. It is a looser fit though and many men find it more comfortable than a male condom.

For more information, please contact Family Planning NSW Healthline 1300 658 886

If your partner is a woman you should know that going straight from anal sex to vaginal sex increases the chances of your partner developing a vaginal infection from the bowel bugs carried to the vagina on the penis. So after anal sex, you need to wash any body parts that have touched around the anus before you do anything else with any other part of the body. You will also need to start again with fresh condoms, dams, and of course lube.

In fact lube, and plenty of it, is recommended for anal sex because unlike the vagina or mouth, the anus does not make much of its own lubrication. So anal sex can be more uncomfortable without lube, and a condom is also more likely to break because of friction. There are lots of water-based lubricants specially designed for sex, as you probably know - Sylk, KY gel, Wet Stuff etc. Vaseline or vegetable oils or any thing else other than water-based lube are NOT okay to use with rubber products such as male condoms or dental dams because they cause them to disintegrate. Also some lubes are advertised as having local anaesthetic in them to make anal sex 'less painful' - NOT a good idea.

Pain is the body's warning system, and needs to be listened to in order to prevent injury. If there is pain during anal sex for you or your partner, you need to slow down, talk to your partner, and maybe even stop. Many couples enjoy anal sex. - It's really just a question of doing it safely, to protect both you and your partner from any problems.