21 First-Time Anal Sex Tips: A Guide on How to Do Anal

glamour.com:

do anal—how do you prepare, relax, and enjoy the intimate moment with your partner? And is anal sex safe?These questions are becoming more common.

According to research from the Kinsey Institute, more young women than ever—45%—are exploring . So to answer your first-time anal sex questions, we called in the experts.

And while they all shared different tips for first timers, their advice had one common thread: The key to enjoying anal sex is preparation—and consent.“Sometimes you’re not in the mood for anal, and sometimes your butthole isn’t in the mood even if you are,” explains Luna Matatas, ​​sex educator and the host of the anal sex podcast . “In addition to hygiene, prep, and communication, anal sex, like other kinds of sex, is hotter with more arousal in the whole body and erotic mind.”That's why it's important to come prepared, and educating yourself is one of the best ways to do so.

Anal sex can be overwhelming for those new to it, but luckily, there are many ways to familiarize yourself before trying it out IRL.“Look up educational resources, research different toys, and consider the questions you may have for yourself and your partner,” suggests , PsyD, certified sex therapist and the founder of . “Take your time to communicate your needs, fears, and hopes and make a plan that is intentional.”For a mantra to guide you through your first anal sex experience, staff sexologist Carol Queen, PhD, suggests the following: “Relaxation, lubrication, communication.” The advice, below, are all essentially variations of that trio.