Today, anal sex among heterosexual women is not the taboo it used to be a couple of years ago. According to statistics by the CDC, about 35% of women between 15 and 49 years have tried anal sex with male sex partners.
The survey involved 5,500 women from 2015 to 2019 and the numbers are going up fast. Different surveys have shown that there might be a lot more women who have tried anal sex. A duo of surgical researchers urged medical practitioners to openly talk to women about anal sex and the risks involved especially those that feel pressured to engage in anal sex by their partners.
According to Tabitha Gana and Lesley Hunt, colorectal and consultant surgeons, respectively, with the UK’s National Health System. “Clinicians may shy away from these discussions, influenced by society’s taboos. By avoiding these discussions, we may be failing a generation of young women, who are unaware of the risks.” They added that silence in this sensitive issue, “exposes women to missed diagnoses, futile treatments, and further harm arising from a lack of medical advice.”
Gana and Hunt highlighted the national survey of British women which mentions the reasons why women try anal sex including personal pleasure and curiosity. Unfortunately, for about 25% of women, engaging in anal sex has been a result of pressure from their male partners. Similar statistics are expected in the US.
According to Gana and Hunt, “The pain and bleeding women report after anal sex is indicative of trauma, and risks may be increased if anal sex is coerced”
It is possible for anal sex to be safe and pleasurable for many women, but the clinicians said that there are anatomical features that may cause different problems such as incontinence due to weaker anal muscles and this explains why there are more women experiencing anal injury and fecal incontinence as a result of anal sex.
The surgeons have also mentioned that most of the literature available on anal sex risks focuses on HIV, herpes, and HPV (which can lead to certain cancers) but does not mention the physiological issues and the emotional problems caused by coercion.
The surgeons said that without proper guidance, women are looking to a “plethora of non-medical or pseudomedical websites to fill the health information void, some of which may increase societal pressure to try anal sex, rather than helping women make informed decisions. Hit television shows such as ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Fleabag’ may unwittingly add to the pressure, as they seem to normalize anal sex in heterosexual relationships or make it appear racy and daring.”
Apart from the stigma or shame, the surgeons encouraged medical practitioners to overcome the fear of appearing judgemental or in some cases homophobic by bringing up the talks with the patient. They mentioned that there are resources to help clinicians in talking about the subject in a conscientious manner. They said, “With better information, women who want anal sex would be able to protect themselves more effectively from possible harm, and those who agree to anal sex reluctantly to meet society’s expectations or please partners, may feel better empowered to say no”.
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