The Science of Anal Pleasure: Study Names Three Key Techniques for Women’s Enjoyment

When people talk about anal sex, the focus is often on pain, fear, or medical risks. A large new study of over 3000 women in the United States takes a very different approach. Instead of looking only at problems, it explores how women actually experience pleasure anal touch, and which techniques feel good to them.

This kind of research is rare, and it helps shift the conversation from stigma and silence to informed, body-aware choices.

Why This Study Matters

Most sexual health discussions around the anus focus on:

1. Risk of infection
2. Pain or discomfort
3. Social taboos and shame

In contrast, this study looks at anal touch as part of normal sexual pleasure for women of many ages, from 18 to 93. It asks:

• How many women enjoy anal touch?
• What specific types of touch feel good?
• How do women discover what works for them?

By focusing on techniques and experiences, the research helps give women language and confidence to talk about what they like.

Three Main Techniques of Anal Pleasure

The study identifies three common ways women find anal touch pleasurable. These are described in simple, everyday language so that people can actually use them in real life.

1. Anal Surfacing

Anal surfacing refers to touch on the outside of the anus, without penetration.

• Many women report this as pleasurable using:
  • Fingers
  • Sex toys
  • Gentle rubbing or circling
• Around 40 percent of participants found this type of external touch pleasurable.

This shows that anal pleasure does not have to mean deep or even internal penetration. For many, staying on the surface is comfortable and enjoyable.

2. Anal Shallowing

Anal shallowing is penetration just inside the anal opening, but not deeply.

• The focus is on:
  • Light, shallow entry
  • Gentle movements near the entrance
• About 35 percent of women in the study enjoyed this type of touch.

This challenges the common belief that anal sex is always “all or nothing.” For many women, a small amount of penetration feels good, while deeper penetration may not be necessary or desired.

3. Anal Pairing

Anal pairing means combining anal touch with other kinds of sexual stimulation.

For example:

• Anal touch plus:
  • Clitoral stimulation
  • Vaginal penetration
  • Other forms of arousal happening at the same time

Around 40 percent of women said that adding anal touch to other stimulation increased their overall pleasure.

This suggests that anal touch often works best as part of a bigger sexual experience, not as a standalone activity.

How Many Women Enjoy Anal Touch?

The study gives some numbers:

1. Any Anal Pleasure
   • About 43.5 percent of women said they had experienced pleasure from some form of anal touch.
2. Never Tried Anal Touch
   • Around 25.8 percent had never tried anal touch at all.
3. Specific Techniques with Partners
   • 28.3 percent enjoyed anal penetration with a partner’s finger.
   • 25.7 percent found penetration with a penis pleasurable.

These figures show that anal pleasure is common but not universal. Many women enjoy it, some are curious, and others are not interested or have never experimented. All of these positions are valid.

How Women Discover Anal Pleasure

The path to enjoying anal touch is often gradual and emotional as much as physical. The study highlights some key factors:

1. Gentle, Respectful Partner Behavior
   • About 44.6 percent of women said a partner’s gentle, careful approach helped them enjoy anal touch for the first time.
   • Patience and respect were crucial.
2. Emotional Connection
   • Feeling safe, respected, and emotionally close to a partner made it easier for women to explore this kind of touch.
3. Warm Up and Lubrication
   • Adequate warm up
   • Enough lubrication
   • Gradual increase in intensity

These were repeatedly mentioned as important for comfort and pleasure.

This reinforces what many sex educators say: anal touch should never be rushed, forced, or done without care.

Why Having Names for Techniques Matters

One of the most powerful contributions of this research is that it gives simple names to different forms of anal touch:

• Anal surfacing
• Anal shallowing
• Anal pairing

This kind of language helps women:

1. Understand Their Own Bodies
   • “I like touch around the anus, but not inside.”
   • “I enjoy shallow penetration, but not deep.”
2. Communicate with Partners
   • It is easier to say what you like when you know how to describe it.
   • These terms reduce confusion and make consent clearer.
3. Reduce Shame and Confusion
   • Naming something normalizes it.
   • It shows that many others have similar experiences.

By turning vague, awkward topics into clear, shared language, the study empowers people to have better, more honest sexual conversations.

What This Means for Sexual Health and Education

The findings push sexual health beyond a narrow focus on risk. They suggest several important shifts:

1. Pleasure is a Valid Topic in Science
   • Research on pleasure, not just problems, leads to more complete understanding of sexual health.
2. Women’s Experiences Need Center Stage
   • Much past research ignored women’s detailed experiences of touch.
   • This study helps correct that imbalance.
3. Better Sex Education
   • Including information on:
     • External anal touch
     • Shallow penetration
     • Pairing with other forms of stimulation
   • Can help people make informed, safer, and more enjoyable choices.

Limitations and What We Still Do Not Know

The study is detailed, but it is not complete. It notes some important gaps:

1. Missing Male Perspectives
   • The research focuses on women and does not explore how men experience or negotiate anal touch in these contexts.
2. No Focus on Oral Anal Activities
   • Behaviors like oral anal contact are not directly covered.
3. Need for More Context
   • Future research could look deeper into:
     • Relationship types
     • Communication styles
     • Differences in satisfaction depending on personality, culture, and sexual history

These open questions point toward a broader research agenda around anal sexuality, consent, and pleasure.

Key Takeaways for the General Public and Science Enthusiasts

1. Anal pleasure is common among women, but not universal.
2. Three main techniques are especially important:
   • Anal surfacing
   • Anal shallowing
   • Anal pairing
3. Gentle, respectful partners, emotional safety, warm up, and lubrication are central to positive experiences.
4. Giving clear names to different kinds of anal touch helps women understand their bodies and improves communication with partners.
5. Research that centers pleasure, not just risk, creates a more realistic and humane picture of women’s sexual lives.

This study highlights that sexual health is not only about avoiding harm. It is also about understanding how bodies can feel good, how people can talk honestly about what they want, and how science can support more fulfilling and respectful sexual relationships.

The research was published in PLOS ONE on June 29, 2022.