Anal–oral sex
Encyclopedia
Anilingus
Anilingus (from anus + lingus (Latin Lingere: to lick), also spelled analingus, also referred to or described as anal–oral contact or anal–oral sex, is a form of oral sex
involving contact between the anus
or perineum
of one person and the mouth
(lip
s) or tongue
of another. Slang terms frequently used are rimming or rim-job. It can be performed by people of all sexual orientation
s and, depending upon the context in which it is performed, it may be used for personal pleasure or as a form of erotic humiliation
.
, hepatitis B, hepatitis C
, intestinal parasite
s, chlamydia infection, poliomyelitis
, human papillomavirus
(HPV), gonorrhea
, Herpes simplex virus
, conjunctivitis
, and other sexually transmitted disease
s. Applying the mouth to the genitals immediately after applying it to the anus can inadvertently introduce the bacterium Escherichia coli
("E. coli") into the urethra, leading to a urinary tract infection
.
HIV
/AIDS
is not believed to be easily transmitted through anilingus.
Frequent anilingus with casual partners increases the health risks associated with the practice. Generally, people carrying infections that may be passed on during analingus will appear healthy. Parasites
may be in the feces if poorly cooked meat was consumed. Hepatitis A
traces in feces apply only if the infected person has eaten contaminated food.
If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on their genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in their mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STD transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods such as potato chips relatively soon before or after performing anilingus also increases the risk of transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches on the inside of the lips, cheeks and palate. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STD
s that can be transmitted orally under these conditions.
Another recent study suggests a correlation
between oral sex
and throat cancer
. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV because this virus has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancer
s. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity. Those with more than five oral-sex partners had a 250% increased risk.
s when performing or receiving analingus. A makeshift dental dam can be made out of a condom
. Using a real dental dam is preferable, as real dental dams are larger, and the makeshift version may be accidentally damaged during the cutting procedure. Plastic wrap
may also be used, but this is less preferable because it is not designed to prevent the passage of bacteria through its material. Also, the thickness of plastic wrap can reduce sensation. Some choose to perform analingus after giving the receiving party an enema
, which washes out most, if not all, feces from the rectum. However, a person who receives an enema may still have harmful microbes in his/her anus after the procedure is finished, as enemas are not designed to remove bacteria.
Anilingus (from anus + lingus (Latin Lingere: to lick), also spelled analingus, also referred to or described as anal–oral contact or anal–oral sex, is a form of oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
involving contact between the anus
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
or perineum
Perineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
of one person and the mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
(lip
Lip
Lips are a visible body part at the mouth of humans and many animals. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech...
s) or tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
of another. Slang terms frequently used are rimming or rim-job. It can be performed by people of all sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
s and, depending upon the context in which it is performed, it may be used for personal pleasure or as a form of erotic humiliation
Erotic humiliation
Erotic humiliation is the consensual use of psychological humiliation in a sexual context, whereby one person gains arousal or erotic excitement from the powerful emotions of being humiliated and demeaned, or of humiliating another; often in conjunction with sexual stimulation of one or both...
.
Technique
Anilingus involves a variety of techniques to stimulate the anus including kissing, licking, and sliding the tongue up and down the insides of the cheeks and crack of the buttocks, and in and out of the anus itself. Pleasure for the giver is usually based more on the principle of the act. Mutual anilingus can also be done in the position called 69.Health risks and prevention
There are many health problems that can result from practicing anilingus, because of the presence of bacteria, viruses or parasites on or in the anus or rectum. These include hepatitis AHepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus , an RNA virus, usually spread the fecal-oral route; transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person...
, hepatitis B, hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
, intestinal parasite
Intestinal parasite
Intestinal parasites are parasites that populate the gastro-intestinal tract in humans and other animals. They can live throughout the body, but most prefer the intestinal wall. Means of exposure include: ingestion of undercooked meat, drinking infected water, and skin absorption...
s, chlamydia infection, poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
, human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus is a member of the papillomavirus family of viruses that is capable of infecting humans. Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs establish productive infections only in keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes...
(HPV), gonorrhea
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The usual symptoms in men are burning with urination and penile discharge. Women, on the other hand, are asymptomatic half the time or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain...
, Herpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 , also known as Human herpes virus 1 and 2 , are two members of the herpes virus family, Herpesviridae, that infect humans. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are ubiquitous and contagious...
, conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the conjunctiva...
, and other sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s. Applying the mouth to the genitals immediately after applying it to the anus can inadvertently introduce the bacterium Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
("E. coli") into the urethra, leading to a urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infection
A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. Symptoms include frequent feeling and/or need to urinate, pain during urination, and cloudy urine. The main causal agent is Escherichia coli...
.
HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
is not believed to be easily transmitted through anilingus.
Frequent anilingus with casual partners increases the health risks associated with the practice. Generally, people carrying infections that may be passed on during analingus will appear healthy. Parasites
Intestinal parasite
Intestinal parasites are parasites that populate the gastro-intestinal tract in humans and other animals. They can live throughout the body, but most prefer the intestinal wall. Means of exposure include: ingestion of undercooked meat, drinking infected water, and skin absorption...
may be in the feces if poorly cooked meat was consumed. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus , an RNA virus, usually spread the fecal-oral route; transmitted person-to-person by ingestion of contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infectious person...
traces in feces apply only if the infected person has eaten contaminated food.
If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on their genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in their mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STD transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, or eating crunchy foods such as potato chips relatively soon before or after performing anilingus also increases the risk of transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches on the inside of the lips, cheeks and palate. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STD
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s that can be transmitted orally under these conditions.
Another recent study suggests a correlation
Correlation
In statistics, dependence refers to any statistical relationship between two random variables or two sets of data. Correlation refers to any of a broad class of statistical relationships involving dependence....
between oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
and throat cancer
Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers that start in the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity , nasal cavity , paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas , originating from the mucosal lining...
. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV because this virus has been implicated in the majority of cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
s. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity. Those with more than five oral-sex partners had a 250% increased risk.
Prevention
Owing to disease risks, many medical professionals advise the use of dental damDental dam
A dental dam or rubber dam is a rectangular sheet of latex used in dentistry, in particular endodontic therapy, to reduce contamination, and where dental composite are being placed, due to the need for the area to remain dry during filling placement...
s when performing or receiving analingus. A makeshift dental dam can be made out of a condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
. Using a real dental dam is preferable, as real dental dams are larger, and the makeshift version may be accidentally damaged during the cutting procedure. Plastic wrap
Plastic wrap
Plastic wrap, cling film , cling wrap or food wrap, is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time...
may also be used, but this is less preferable because it is not designed to prevent the passage of bacteria through its material. Also, the thickness of plastic wrap can reduce sensation. Some choose to perform analingus after giving the receiving party an enema
Enema
An enema is the procedure of introducing liquids into the rectum and colon via the anus. The increasing volume of the liquid causes rapid expansion of the lower intestinal tract, often resulting in very uncomfortable bloating, cramping, powerful peristalsis, a feeling of extreme urgency and...
, which washes out most, if not all, feces from the rectum. However, a person who receives an enema may still have harmful microbes in his/her anus after the procedure is finished, as enemas are not designed to remove bacteria.