Anilingus: How Safe is it Compared to Traditional and Oral Sex?

Anal sex is, like seemingly every other alternative sexual act, on the rise, even as the practice continues to be looked at as a taboo by many people. There is more to anal sex than just being penetrated in your backside though. Anilingus – colloquially known as rimming or a rim job – is a form of oral-anal contact that does not usually involve penetration in the anus, yet provides immense pleasure for those who engage in it.

Like the word itself implies, anilingus consists mainly of one partner licking and sucking the rim of the other’s anus. While other kinds of oral stimulation are quite popular nowadays, rimming is still considered inappropriate, and for good reason. On one hand, there is the stigma that is still associated with anal sex. On the other, there are a number of well-justified safety concerns.

Contrary to oral sex – both fellatio and cunnilingus – most people are instinctively wary of anal sex, because they know feces not only come out of the anus, but are usually lodged there or very close-by until they do come out. That makes oral-anal stimulation quite controversial. The truth is the rectum is usually loaded with bacteria which can cause infections that may or may not be related to the genitals themselves, but can also be transmitted through them.

So people who are dubious about anal sex in general and rimming in particular have a point, because such activities are in fact associated with a higher risk of catching any kind of STI as well as intestinal infections and parasites. This happens because, even if you tend to maintain oral and anal hygiene by taking hygienic procedures right before the act, the bacteria still linger, especially in the anus.

The only way to make the act safe is to use a latex barrier, either on the mouth or the anus, whether it is a dental dam, an adapted condom or latex glove. Unfortunately, even then, anilingus is only relatively safe because condoms can’t give 100% safety no matter what kind of sex you are engaged in – traditional vaginal, oral, or anal. It is also important to avoid stimulating the anus and the genitals at the same time or consecutively, in order not to spread bacteria from one to the other.

Although it is undeniable that anilingus may bring additional health risks, it can also be a way to add a new and exciting element to your sex life, as many men and women who have tried this form of sexual act admit that they enjoy this stimulation.