Anything bad about anal?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Anything bad about anal?
8
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:18pm
Anything bad about anal sex? Any repercussions or long-term problems I should know about? How often is too often? I'm worried about my body. I need to know because I'm a health-nut.
Avatar for sugarbeat
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:35pm
we recently had a similar thread: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-rlletstalkab&msg=15157.1

yes, there are long term ramifications for some. dr. drew on lovelines mentions them every now and then. it seems the worst of it doesn't appear until you are older.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:49pm
Thanks. I read the thread, but there's really not much in it. I want hard facts of what can really happen? Has anyone got any concrete stuff to ease these fears of mine? Post some links please. This is the sex board ain't it?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 2:52pm
Aaaccckkk! I think there should be an "Anal Sex" board. LOL This topic is brought up every single day. Quitecontarymary - if you look at some of the threads on this board and the other sex boards, you will find out all you will ever need to know about anal sex. Some people have even posted websites about it, so look through the threads.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 3:04pm
I have lurked here and there and none of those threads have been about the repercussions of it(other than immediate pain if its done incorrectly), only the benefits of it. I want to be very informed about all of it before I make the leap. Most of my friends have no clue about what it does to their bodies, they do it often too. Thanks anyhow, but hopefully someone will have some concrete news.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 3:11pm
Over on Taboo Board, there is a thread entitle "Risks with Anal Sex".
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 3:48pm
Thanks again. However, again, most of the posters only responded with the repercussions of having(presently) anal sex, not any long-term(which was asked by the original poster)problems. Scary. I thought there'd be more studies, and info available, particularly from those who engage in it. I certainly won't take the risks until I know what they are. So, please if anyone has any further info about the long-term side-affects, please respond.


Edited 7/30/2004 3:50 pm ET ET by quitecontarymary
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 3:56pm
The only thing I am aware of, is that if you cause a tear(fissure) in the anus it can have trouble healing, and eventually may need surgery to repair. Other than that, I have not heard of any long term risks. You might want to check out the book Anal Pleasure and Health, as well as some of the many books out there on Anal sex, health, and risks. Many adult shops carry a good assortment of books.

Leticia

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2004
Fri, 07-30-2004 - 5:34pm
Thanks. I would think that if there are tears, then there's scar tissue, which may have some long-term effects on the continence factor(my biggest fear). lol Everything I read said that the sphincter and anus are extemely delicate and can even be damaged(stretched) by constipation(who would of thought), which is the #1 cause of incontinence. Imagine if a stool could do so much damage, imagine what a penis can do(in theory).

If anyone cares to read about the most common causes of incontenence(notice there's no mention of anal sex anywhere - luckily).

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/fecalincontinence/

"Fecal incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, you may not be able to hold it until you can get to a toilet. Or stool may leak from the rectum unexpectedly.

More than 5.5 million Americans have fecal incontinence. It affects people of all ages--children as well as adults. Fecal incontinence is more common in women than in men and more common in older adults than in younger ones. It is not, however, a normal part of aging.

Loss of bowel control can be devastating. People who have fecal incontinence may feel ashamed, embarrassed, or humiliated. Some don't want to leave the house out of fear they might have an accident in public. Most try to hide the problem as long as possible, so they withdraw from friends and family. The social isolation is unfortunate but may be reduced because treatment can improve bowel control and make incontinence easier to manage.



Causes

Fecal incontinence can have several causes:

Constipation


damage to the anal sphincter muscles


damage to the nerves of the anal sphincter muscles or the rectum


loss of storage capacity in the rectum


diarrhea


pelvic floor dysfunction

Constipation

Constipation is one of the most common causes of fecal incontinence. Constipation causes large, hard stools to become lodged in the rectum. Watery stool can then leak out around the hardened stool. Constipation also causes the muscles of the rectum to stretch, which weakens the muscles so they can't hold stool in the rectum long enough for a person to reach a bathroom.

Muscle Damage

Fecal incontinence can be caused by injury to one or both of the ring-like muscles at the end of the rectum called the anal internal and/or external sphincters. The sphincters keep stool inside. When damaged, the muscles aren't strong enough to do their job, and stool can leak out. In women, the damage often happens when giving birth. The risk of injury is greatest if the doctor uses forceps to help deliver the baby or does an episiotomy, which is a cut in the vaginal area to prevent it from tearing during birth. Hemorrhoid surgery can damage the sphincters as well.

Nerve Damage

Fecal incontinence can also be caused by damage to the nerves that control the anal sphincters or to the nerves that sense stool in the rectum. If the nerves that control the sphincters are injured, the muscle doesn't work properly and incontinence can occur. If the sensory nerves are damaged, they don't sense that stool is in the rectum. You then won't feel the need to use the bathroom until stool has leaked out. Nerve damage can be caused by childbirth, a long-term habit of straining to pass stool, stroke, and diseases that affect the nerves, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Loss of Storage Capacity

Normally, the rectum stretches to hold stool until you can get to a bathroom. But rectal surgery, radiation treatment, and inflammatory bowel disease can cause scarring that makes the walls of the rectum stiff and less elastic. The rectum then can't stretch as much and can't hold stool, and fecal incontinence results. Inflammatory bowel disease also can make rectal walls very irritated and thereby unable to contain stool.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea, or loose stool, is more difficult to control than solid stool that is formed. Even people who don't have fecal incontinence can have an accident when they have diarrhea.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Abnormalities of the pelvic floor can lead to fecal incontinence. Examples of some abnormalities are decreased perception of rectal sensation, decreased anal canal pressures, decreased squeeze pressure of the anal canal, impaired anal sensation, a dropping down of the rectum (rectal prolapse), protrusion of the rectum through the vagina (rectocele), and/or generalized weakness and sagging of the pelvic floor. Often the cause of pelvic floor dysfunction is childbirth, and incontinence doesn't show up until the midforties or later.