Anal Masturbation Tips, According to a Sexologist

If you’re feeling called by the pleasure gods to explore something fun and kinky, allow me to put you on to one of the most satisfying ways to reach orgasm: anal masturbation.

Though any type of anal sex may have a reputation for being taboo, it’s way more common than you might think. A study published in the National Library of Medicine says that anal sex is not an “uncommon behavior,” and adds that 36 percent of women and 44 percent of men ages 25–44 have tried anal sex at least once in their life.

In addition to anal sex being popular and fun to try, it can also be extremely pleasurable. But if you don’t have a partner to explore anal sex with, engaging in anal masturbation may be your best bet in honoring your booty’s needs and wants. This way, you can possibly even achieve an anal orgasm without even having to leave your bedroom.

According to a sex expert, here’s everything to know about anal masturbation and what it entails.

Experts Featured in This Article

Marla Renee Stewart is a sex expert for Lovers and co-author of “The Ultimate Guide to Seduction and Foreplay.”

What Is Anal Masturbation?

Just as the name implies, anal masturbation is when you stimulate your anus and rectum for pleasure. Most often, this can be done with your hands, but it can also be achieved with sex toys like dildos, butt plugs, anal beads, and more.

But anal masturbation doesn’t mean you can only stimulate that area. Just like your normal masturbation technique, you can also touch your clitoris or other erogenous zones with your anal play.

While the benefits of anal masturbation will depend on your preferences and whether or not you like the sensation, anal masturbation allows you to discover more about your body and its pleasure spots. “You have a better awareness about your body and your capacity of what you like,” sexologist Marla Renee Stewart says.

This is great not only for your own personal pleasure, but it also makes it so you’ll be able to better inform a partner of what you like and what you don’t. Solo exploration like this allows you to “figure out which lube and toys would be great for your body, and then communicate that with future lovers,” Stewart says.

How to Prepare For Anal Masturbation

If you’re nervous about butt play because of poop, don’t be. But you can start by making sure your bowels are empty (i.e. you’ve gone to the bathroom and don’t feel the need to poop). To remove anything residual, Stewart recommends inserting your finger in your rectum an inch or two while in the shower and doing a quick sweep, or using a bidet to rinse that area, which is the “easiest way to clean out anything,” Stewart says.

That said, understand that poop is a normal bodily function. No matter what you do to prepare for anal masturbation, there’s always a risk that poop may show up in one form or another. Laugh and shake it off if it does. Truly, it’s NBD.

Once you feel ready to go, you should make sure you have plenty of lube on hand since your anal glands do not self-lubricate, Stewart says. You can use a silicone-based lube if you’re using your hands, and a water-based lube if you’re using toys (since silicone-based lube can break down the material of sex toys).

How to Anal Masturbate

Start by laying down (or standing up, whatever you prefer) in a comfortable space like your shower, bed, or couch. Then, pour some lube on your finger. Using one finger, “circle around the anus, press around it,” Stewart says. “Then, if you’re ready for penetration, take your time and focus on the tip of your finger while pressing in. If that feels OK for you, then you can stick it in further to note the feeling.”

From there, you can go deeper with one finger, add more pressure with two fingers, or start to introduce beginner-friendly sex toys. Just keep in mind that if you want to venture into the world of sex toys for anal play, you should only be using toys that have a flared base, since this will prevent the toy from becoming unretrievable in your anal canal.

Anal Masturbation Tips

Use lube — and then a little more. Not to sound like a broken record here, but using more lube than you think you need is the key. Regardless of if you’re doing it manually with your fingers or with a sex toy, lube will help make everything feel better and more comfortable.

Tap into your imagination. Stewart recommends using your mind to enhance the experience. “Go to your happy places! Think about things, behaviors, and people that turn you on, as this helps your body adjust and feel like you are actually there,” she adds. Reading erotica or watching porn may help you get in the right head space, too.

Limit anal-to-vaginal traffic. As a general safety note, while it’s OK to go from vaginal stimulation to anal stimulation, it’s not advised to move toys and fingers from the anus to the vagina without washing hands and toys first. Doing so could cause some not-so-fun bacterial infections, which no one wants.

Take your time. Most importantly, don’t rush yourself or the butt play in general. Part of the fun in anally masturbating is exploring your body, so take the time to worship it without putting pressure on yourself to orgasm or “finish” in a certain amount of time.

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.