Well, it's here again: Anal Pleasure Month! In 2013, sex toy retailer Good Vibrations, basically said, "enough is enough." For far too long anal pleasure was either discussed in a hushed whisper or not at all. So, to remedy that, Good Vibrations decided it was high-time to declare August Anal Pleasure Month. When it comes to anal play, there's so much experimentation and exploration to conquer that we definitely need a full month — or ideally, several months — to really get in there and discover what gets us off.
"One of the great things about anal play is that folks of any gender and orientation can enjoy it, not just gay men (obviously)," Alicia Sinclair, Founder and CEO of b-Vibe, tells Bustle. "The sensations and experiences that feel good to you have nothing to do with your sexual orientation or gender. It’s kind of like how the food that you enjoy is a totally different question than who you want to have dinner with."
While, for some, the biggest fear when it comes to anal is pain, you can put those fears to bed — literally and metaphorically. "Pleasurable anal sex is 90 percent preparation, and that includes getting mentally prepared," says Sinclair. "That’s even truer if you’ve had uncomfortable or painful experiences in the past because your body will expect the same thing again, which makes the anus tightens up."
So, if you're new to anal play and want to explore, grab the lube and give these nine toys a try.