Why Anal Sex “Taboos” Endanger the “Women’s Generation”: Doctors

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Why Anal Sex "Taboos" Endanger the "Women's Generation": Doctors

Anal sex is no longer a taboo sex act it used to be — especially among straight women.

In fact, the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than a third — 35% — of women ages 15 to 49 have attempted anal sex with a male partner.

Those numbers, taken from a survey of more than 5,500 women between 2015 and 2019, are going up — maybe many times over, depending on who you ask. A similar survey of 880 “sexually active adults” conducted by physician-run butt health brand Future Method showed that 70% of women have attempted anal sex at least once.

In the spirit of a new age of sexual exploration and health awareness, a duo of surgical researchers published an editorial in the BMJ this week urging more clinicians to talk to women about the potential risks of anal sex — especially for those who feel uncomfortable about it from their partners urged to.

“Clinicians may shy away from these discussions, which are influenced by society’s taboos,” wrote Tabitha Gana and Lesley Hunt, colorectal and consultant surgeons, respectively, with the UK National Health System. “By avoiding these discussions, we may be failing a generation of young women who are unaware of the risks.”

Physicians and health care workers, particularly in primary care and family medicine, “have a duty to recognize the societal changes surrounding anal sex among young women and to address these changes with open, neutral and non-judgmental conversations to ensure all women do so Information they need to make informed decisions about sex,” the colleagues wrote.

Silence on the issue, albeit a sensitive one, they continued, “exposes women to missed diagnoses, wasted treatment, and further harm that results from a lack of medical advice.”

Gana and Hunt referenced a nationwide survey of British women that listed the top reasons they have tried anal sex, including curiosity and personal pleasure. Unfortunately, for about a quarter of women, pressure from their male partners has played a significant role. Similar trends are expected for the USA.

“The pain and bleeding women report after anal sex is indicative of trauma, and risks may be increased when anal sex is forced,” they wrote.

Anal sex can be safe and enjoyable for many, but the authors warn that there are anatomical features for women that pose different risks compared to men due to their “less robust” sphincter and weaker anal canal muscles, such as: B. Incontinence. That’s one of the reasons women who engage in the act have increased rates of fecal incontinence and anal injury.

The surgeons point out that much of the medical literature for patients on anal sex focuses on sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, herpes, and HPV — which can lead to certain types of cancer — but overlooks the aforementioned physiological risks, as well as the emotional toll of Obligation.

In the absence of clinical guidance, women are looking to a “plethora of non-medical or pseudo-medical websites to fill the health information gap,” some of which “may increase societal pressure to try anal sex,” rather than helping women “to inform decisions,” according to the authors.

“Hit TV shows like ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Fleabag’ can unwittingly increase the pressure because they appear to normalize anal sex in heterosexual relationships or make it seem racy and daring,” they added.

Shame or stigma aside, doctors are urging clinicians to overcome fears of coming across as “judgmental” or even “homophobic” by addressing these concerns with patients — and insisting there are resources to help them can learn how to approach the subject conscientiously.

“With better information, women who want anal sex could protect themselves more effectively from potential harm, and those who are reluctant to consent to anal sex to meet society’s expectations or to please their partners may feel more empowered to say no.” , so Gana and Hunt conclude.

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