Anilingus

Depiction of a woman performing anilingus on another woman.

Anilingus (from anus + lingus (Latin Lingere: to lick), also spelled analingus,^[1][2] also called anal–oral contact and anal–oral sex, is a form of oral sex involving contact between the anus or perineum of one person and the mouth (lips) or tongue of another. Slang terms frequently used are tossing the salad, rimming and rim-job. Anilingus can be performed by people of all sexual orientations and, depending upon the context in which it is performed, it may be used for personal pleasure or as a form of erotic humiliation.

Technique

Anilingus involves a variety of techniques to stimulate the anus including kissing, licking, and sliding the tongue up and down the insides of the cheeks and crack of the buttocks, and in and out of the anus itself. Pleasure for the giver is usually based more on the principle of the act.^[3][4] Mutual anilingus can also be done in the position called 69.^[5]

Health risks and prevention

There are many health problems that can result from practicing anilingus if the bacteria, viruses, or parasites that cause them are on or in the anus or rectum. These include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, intestinal parasites, chlamydia infection, poliomyelitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, Herpes simplex virus, conjunctivitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases.^[6] Applying the mouth to the genitals immediately after applying it to the anus can inadvertently introduce the bacterium Escherichia coli ("E. coli") into the urethra, leading to a urinary tract infection. HIV/AIDS is not believed to be easily transmitted through anilingus.^[7]

Frequent anilingus with casual partners increases the health risks associated with the practice. Generally, people carrying infections that may be passed on during analingus appear healthy. Parasites may be in the faeces if poorly cooked meat was consumed. The faeces contain traces of Hepatitis A only if the infected person has eaten contaminated food.

If the receiving partner has wounds or open sores on the genitals, or if the giving partner has wounds or open sores on or in the mouth, or bleeding gums, this poses an increased risk of STD transmission. Brushing the teeth, flossing, undergoing dental work, and eating crunchy foods (such as potato chips) relatively soon before or after performing anilingus also increases the risk of transmission, because all of these activities can cause small scratches on the inside of the lips, cheeks, and palate. These wounds, even when they are microscopic, increase the chances of contracting STDs that can be transmitted orally under these conditions.

Another recent study suggests a correlation between oral sex and throat cancer. It is believed that this is due to the transmission of HPV because this virus has been implicated in most cervical cancers. The study concludes that people who had one to five oral-sex partners in their lifetime had approximately a doubled risk of throat cancer compared with those who never engaged in this activity. Those with more than five oral-sex partners had a 250% increased risk compared with those who never engaged in this activity.^[8]

Prevention

Because of disease risks, many medical professionals recommend the use of dental dams in anilingus. Some persons perform anilingus after the receiver has had an enema, which washes out feces from the rectum. However, a person who receives an enema may still have harmful microbes in the anus after the procedure.

See also

Sexuality portal

• Anal sex
• Cunnilingus
• Felching
• Fellatio

References

External links

• Article on health risks of anilingus