Anal Fisting: An Educated Look at Performing a Famous Porn Move

Let’s give “high five” a whole new meaning!

Anal fisting is the art of receiving the entirety of someone’s hand inside your ass. All five fingers, knuckles, palm—the whole mitt. The thought of such an act is probably causing some of you to clench and squirm in your seat, but let it be known that, when done properly, anal fisting is an incredibly pleasurable experience that can produce mind-blowing orgasms unlike any you’ve ever enjoyed.

If you're a fan of ass-related porn, you've probably come across some pretty wild anal fisting scenes. You know how circus folk talk about the trapeze and the greatest of ease? That's what porn makes anal fisting look like. Whether performers are doing it to themselves or others, porn gives the impression that a whole hand can get gobbled by a hungry bum in seconds.

But it ain’t really that easy—for either the giver or the receiver. Okay, much more so for the receiver.

Can a hand fit inside an asshole? Absolutely. Is it easy to get a hand in there? Not so much.

Anal fisting requires patience and dedication...and a lot of honest consideration of sexual limitations and desire. Are you ready to try? Check out these tips to help your anal fisting experience.

Read: 11 Tips for Safe Fisting Fun

Constant Communication

Throughout your anal fisting adventure, be sure to always communicate your needs, desires, fears, discomfort, and pleasure. Anal fisting really starts with the conversations that broach the subject. Because it is a specialized activity, it is rarely a passive act, tried in the heat of the moment.

Instead, it is discussed every step of the way. Open communication becomes critical during the actual act. Being able to tell your partner to slow down, stop, pause, proceed, and also describing physical sensations will increase your understanding of the whole process. It will also enhance the experience.

Read: Sex Communication 101

Yet just as important as stating needs is the fister’s ability to listen and react. There is very little room for improvisation in anal fisting. In fact, it is far better to announce and share everything you’re going to do before you do it. Unexpected surprises can make the whole scene bottom out (no pun intended) really fast.

Recognizing Challenges

Anal fisting definitely falls on the more extreme end of the sexual spectrum. It definitely is not for everyone. You need to be prepared to accept that you might not be able to accomplish this act. Anal fisting requires a significant amount of patience and body awareness from both partners.

Sometimes we’re told to push through the pain, do whatever it takes. Well, when it comes to slipping a hand into a rectum, you really don’t want to follow that doctrine. Sure, it might eventually work, but you might also suffer significant pain and potential tearing and bleeding. And, given we’re talking about the ass, and considering what comes out of there, you want to minimize that to avoid infection.

So, if you’re considering anal fisting, take a good long look at that hand you’re fantasizing about and have a good long think about whether that hamhock will really fit up there.

Breaking Stigma and Myths

There is a lot of stigma and a lot of myths surrounding the idea of anal fisting. Let’s dispel some of these ideas so you can get back to thinking about the activity...at hand.

Is your ass going to get stretched out if you love anal fisting? No.

Is your ass going to become loose? No.

The anus is a muscle like many others in the body. It is remarkably durable and elastic. If you’ve seen anal fisting in porn, you might get the impression of looseness by seeing an anal gape. When one person takes their hand out of the other’s ass, their asshole might remain “open” afterwards. Don’t worry, this is temporary. When the anus has time to relax and rest, it will tighten back up to that cute little pucker you know and love.

Read: The Ultimate Guide to Having Anal Sex

Getting Ready

Prepping yourself for anal fisting happens before and during sex. If you’d really like to get your hand-bang on soon, you can help the situation by avoiding foods that cause gastro-intestinal challenges. Lay off the spicy foods, the greasy foods, etc. Take note of your bowel movements and decide whether you’re feeling good down there before you opt in. It is always okay to say, “Hmmmm, no anal fisting today!” if you think it might get uncomfortable or messy.

However, if you think your butt is giving you the thumbs up, one of the best ways to start a hot fisting session is with a nice, hot shower. Whether together or on your own, get in there for a luxurious soak and steam. It will loosen up your muscles, relax your body and afford you some time to clean from top to bottom.

Read: Here's What You Need to Know About Anal Sex

Safer Sex Options

Before we push on, let’s remember to consider safer sex options. Even if you and your partner are fluid-bonded, condoms and gloves can still play a role in anal fisting. From a safety sense, wearing gloves will protect both partners if the fister has small, unnoticeable cuts or abrasions on their hand. Gloves, or squeezing your hand into a condom also offer some practical benefits. Latex and nitrile are both nice and smooth and work better than skin with lube. They can smooth out some of the contours of the fingers and knuckles to make it easier to slide in.

Gloves can also lessen the impact of fingernails (which should be nicely trimmed and filed beforehand!). If the fister has longer fingernails, cotton balls can be stuffed into the ends of the fingers of the glove to protect the receiver from an unintentional poke!

Lube, Lube, and More Lube

This cannot be stressed enough: use lots and lots of lube during anal fisting! Even when you’re just starting out with one finger knocking on that back door, make sure the lube is a-flowing. Keep that lube bottle close by to add more when it is needed.

Now, what type of lube you choose if a matter of personal taste. Whether you prefer water-based, silicone, oil-based, or a hybrid is something you will learn through trial. Read up on different lubes and what they offer in terms of viscosity, durability, and ingredients.

Read: The Best Kind of Lube for Every Sexual Scenario

Take Your Time

If you’re planning an anal fisting session, make sure you’re not watching the clock. If the kids have to be picked up by a certain time or you’ve got something in the oven, anal fisting probably isn’t a great idea. Anal fisting takes time and patience and it is extremely important that neither participant is in a rush to “make it happen.”

Definitely don’t take porn as a guide here. Sure, those folks might be able to pop a hand in the poop chute quick as can be, but that’s because they’ve done their prep before, they’re professionals, and, well, we don’t know what has been edited out. Remember, we need to warm our bodies up to any activity. Rushing anal fisting will potentially result in pain, possible injury, and a distinct desire to never try it again. Always remember, the person who being fisted is the one who sets the pace. Always. Full stop.

Into Position!

There are two main positions that work best for anal fisting: doggie style and missionary with the legs held up. Again, you’re going to have to try both to determine what works best for you. Doggie style offers a more open and direct path for your partner’s fingers and hand to travel into your body. However, it may not be as intimate as some people would like. Conversely, being on your back, able to make eye contact, will help with connection and communication, but considering how long anal fisting can take, leg fatigue, from being spread, is a distinct possibility.

With either position, consider some assistive devices. In doggie style, pile pillows up in a nice wedge to rest your body on. This will help you relax and concentrate on opening your body, instead of propping yourself up. In missionary, straps, harnesses, or a spreader bar that hold the legs up and pulled back will greatly reduce muscle strain and help keep your body in an accommodating position. If at all possible, look into trying anal fisting in a sex swing

Getting in There

Anal fisting is much like vaginal fisting: both require significant foreplay and use a similar hand position. There are all kinds of ways to help prepare your partner’s body for anal stimulation. Massaging, fingering, and rimming are all great ways to turn your partner on and relax them at the same time. Slowly slip one, then two, and then more fingers into your partner’s butt to acclimate them to the sensation of increasing girth.

When they are ready to proceed with more, squeeze your fingers together in a cone shape. If your partner is really into the sensation, it probably won’t be too challenging—until you get to the knuckles. At this point, patience and communication really come into play. Don’t push too hard.

If possible, the person being fisted can work their ass against the knuckles. Let them be in charge of dealing with this most challenging obstacle. To be honest, a lot of folks never make it past the knuckles. It's still awesome because you’re still experiencing amazing sensations. However, if it is possible, that next step where the whole hand is engulfed is an unbelievable experience for both people.

Read: The Beginner's Guide to Anal Stretching

And That Other Hand?

As you receive a hand into your body, you will feel an incredible amount of stimulation, including some sensations you’ve never felt before. For some, this experience will be enough stimulation to cause some serious mind blowage. Remember, if you have a prostate, it is going to be getting a lot of attention. Other folks, however, will enjoy other types of soothing and/or sexual touch at the same time. Gentle rubbing and massage can soothe the potential discomfort of stretching as you get used to new sensations. Genital play can heighten the sexual awesomeness that is at the core of anal fisting.

Okay, hands up! Who's ready to try anal fisting now?