How to Have an Anal Orgasm: Prep and What to Expect

Anal pleasure is limitless. You can explore it solo or share it with a partner. Simply put, if you have a butt and enjoy having it touched, anal play is for you.

Many people take pleasure in anal stimulation, whether or not it leads to an anal orgasm. If it feels good, anything goes — from touching and licking to fingering, penetration, and more. Here’s what to know to begin.

Is an anal orgasm the same as a prostate orgasm?

Sometimes. Cisgender men and people assigned male at birth have a prostate, so in those cases, an orgasm can come from prostate stimulation.

You can stimulate the P-spot externally through the perineum — the strip of skin between the testicles and the anus.

If you prefer direct contact, go in through the anus about 2 inches to reach it.

Does an anal orgasm involve your A-spot?

For cisgender women and people assigned female at birth, this is often how anal orgasms happen. Anal penetration can indirectly stimulate the A-spot inside the vagina.

The A-spot, or anterior fornix, is deep within the vagina — roughly 5 to 6 inches in.

It’s an area rich in erotically sensitive nerve endings that can produce rapid and intense lubrication.

What does an anal orgasm feel like?

For many, an anal orgasm comes as powerful waves of pleasure originating deep inside and spreading outward. Everyone’s experience varies, and no two orgasms are identical.

One constant: anal stimulation and orgasm should not cause severe or ongoing pain. Some discomfort is normal with penetration, but it should ease fairly quickly.

How to get started

Spontaneous sex can be fun, but for anal play, a bit of preparation can improve the experience for both receiver and giver.

If you’re the receiving partner

Being relaxed and turned on matters, especially if you’re new to butt play.

Try these ideas and tips to begin:

• Enjoy something erotic: The more aroused you are, the easier and more pleasurable anal play will be. Watch porn, listen to erotic storytelling, or close your eyes and fantasize.
• Take a warm bath: A hot bath helps loosen muscles and increase circulation to your intimate areas. Use bath time to caress your erogenous zones and give your anus gentle care while you clean up.
• Practice with a butt plug: Sex toys let you get comfortable with anal sensations before involving a partner. Go slowly and savor the feeling of the toy teasing your butt before you insert it.
• Stock up on lube: You can’t have too much lube for anal play. It’s not only about the smooth glide but also essential for safe anal sex.

If you’re the giving partner

As the giver, preparation helps you provide a better experience. A little attention to detail goes a long way:

• Groom your hands: Trim and file nails to avoid cutting delicate skin. Short nails also reduce places for dirt and bacteria to hide. Wash your hands thoroughly before starting and consider wearing latex gloves.
• Use a condom: You can put condoms on toys, fingers, and penises. For oral play, you can slit a condom and use it like a dental dam. This prevents STIs and reduces the “ick” factor for nervous partners.
• Get your partner in the mood: Foreplay eases entry. Kissing, touching, and licking the buttocks and area around the anus helps set the stage.

Techniques to try

You’ll likely experiment to find what works, and exploration is part of the fun. Here are techniques to try with your tongue, fingers, penis, toys, or combinations of them.

With your tongue

While your tongue can’t directly reach the P-spot or A-spot, it’s excellent for teasing the perianal area and other sensitive regions.

Start with the tip of your tongue on the cheeks, then move between them. Circle the anus, then slip the tip into the opening, flicking it in and out.

With your fingers

• Come hither: Gently insert a lubed finger into the anus and curl it upward in a “come hither” motion. Increase depth and speed slowly — you may add a second finger if desired. Once a pleasurable rhythm is found, keep it going and let the sensation build.
• Doorbell: From inside or out, locate the spot that elicits an “oooh” and press the pad of your finger as though ringing a doorbell. Begin lightly and raise pressure and speed gradually.
• Circling: Move the finger pad in circular motions over the A-spot or P-spot. Start slowly and increase tempo as requested or guided by your partner’s reactions. Experiment with pressure and pace to discover the ideal combination.
• Simulated vibration: If you accelerate a move enough, it can feel like vibration — though it’s taxing on your wrist. Reserve this for when they’re nearing climax to avoid strain.

With your penis, a strap-on, or other sex toy

• Pressure: Varying pressure helps locate the sweet spot.
• Depth: Every body is different, so test depth to find where it feels best. Proceed slowly and gently unless given permission to go deeper.
• Vibrations: Vibrating massagers offer various tones and pulses. Experiment to find the best settings and increase vibration as orgasm approaches to push things over the edge.
• Internal/external: Some toys include external stimulators that hit the perineum or clitoris during penetration. Dual vibrators can stimulate the anus and vagina simultaneously.

How to combine other stimulation with anal play

An anal orgasm can be the aim, but don’t ignore other erogenous spots. Combining stimulation can produce blended orgasms.

• Clitoral: Stimulate the clitoris during anal play using your hand, fingers, or a toy to stroke the clit and hood.
• Vaginal: A finger or toy can enter the vagina while the butt is stimulated. Try the “come hither” motion to possibly hit the G-spot as well.
• Penile: A classic hand job complements anal play. Grip and stroke the penis along the shaft, increasing speed as climax nears.
• Erogenous zones: The body has many potential pleasure spots. Use hands or toys to explore, lingering where it feels best. Try familiar areas like the neck, breasts, and scrotum, or less usual spots like the backs of the knees, lower back, and inner arms.

Sex positions to try

Many common sex positions adapt well to anal play. Here’s how to modify several.

Facedown

Solo:

1. Lie facedown.
2. Reach an arm behind and rest it on your back.
3. Find your perineum or anus with your finger.
4. Take your time teasing and inserting as you like.

With a partner:

1. Lie facedown with arms at your sides and legs slightly apart.
2. Have them sit beside you on the most comfortable side.
3. Let them gently massage your anus.

On your side, one leg to your chest

Solo:

1. Lie on your side.
2. Bring your outer leg toward your chest.
3. Reach around to your anus.
4. Explore and stimulate at your own pace.

With a partner:

1. Lie on your side.
2. Bring your outer leg toward your chest.
3. Have them sit behind you so they can reach your anus.

Doggy

Solo:

1. Get on all fours.
2. Reach between your legs or around your back to access your anus.
3. Massage and penetrate as slowly or as vigorously as you prefer.

With a partner:

1. Get on all fours.
2. Have them kneel behind you to reach your anus.

Cow

Solo:

1. Secure a dildo, vibrator, or other penetrative toy on a chair seat or flat surface.
2. Straddle the chair or kneel so your butt hovers above the toy.
3. Lower yourself slowly and insert the toy until you find the depth that works best.

With a partner:

1. Have them lie on their back.
2. Straddle them — or their well-placed toy — with knees beside their hips and hands on the bed or floor.
3. Lower your butt and use your hips and hands to control depth.

Other things to consider about solo and partnered anal play

Before you head to B-town, keep these additional points in mind.

Your anus doesn’t self-lubricate

It simply doesn’t lubricate the way your vagina does.

The anus is the end of the rectum, part of the digestive tract. The mucous membrane lining the rectum has glands that produce mucus to protect the digestive tract.

The anus may release mucus during bowel movements or stimulation, but that amount — if any — isn’t sufficient to facilitate penetration.

Lube is a must

We can’t emphasize this enough: if you engage in anal play, use lube.

Without lubrication, insertion will not only be painful but can also be dangerous. Abrasive entry can cause skin tears and increase the risk of STIs and other infections.

Silicone- or water-based lubes are appropriate and safe to use with condoms and most sex toys.

Pregnancy isn’t possible, but STIs are

Anorectal STIs are becoming more common, and the risk is higher for receptive partners.

Tiny tears in the delicate skin around the anus increase STI transmission risk, including:

• chlamydia
• gonorrhea
• HIV
• human papillomavirus (HPV)

Other bacteria can transmit, too

Anal play exposes you to more than STIs.

Bacteria like Shigella, E. coli, and Campylobacter spread through fecal matter, and contact with stool is possible even when it isn’t visible.

You may also face higher risks of contracting:

• hepatitis A, B, and C
• parasites such as Giardia
• intestinal amoebas

Never go from back to front without cleaning and a fresh condom

This again involves fecal bacteria. Microbes from stool can harm the urinary tract, so if you switch to oral sex or vagina-penetrating sex, wash up and put on a new condom.

The bottom line

The bottom can be a great source of pleasure, and an anal orgasm is worth exploring. Even if you don’t achieve one, you’ll likely experience other types of climax. Be prepared, move slowly, and enjoy the full range of pleasures the butt can offer.