Can I Use Anal Sex as Birth Control?
“Hi Steph. My boyfriend says that anal sex is a good way to not get pregnant. Is he right? Can we use it as birth control?”
Good question! There are a lot of misconceptions about anal sex and you’re doing the right thing by asking questions and looking for accurate information.
Are you planning to use some form of birth control (like the pill, nuvaring, Depo, etc) and also use a barrier method, such as a male or female condom? Do you know how to use these methods correctly? If the answer to both those questions is yes, then the risk of pregnancy as a result of anal sex is almost minimal. See these refreshers on how to use a male condom and female condom. Here‘s a refresher on how to use different methods of birth control correctly.
Unprotected anal sex (ie anal sex without a condom and/or a form of birth control) can result in pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections. For pregnancy to happen, a sperm (carried in semen) has to get to an egg. During unprotected anal sex, your boyfriend’s penis would release semen into your anus. Your anus is not internally connected to your vagina or uterus, but pregnancy can occur if any sperm, pre-cum, or pre-ejaculate get into or around your vagina or vulva. The semen can also travel from the outside of your anus and into your vagina if you don’t use some type of barrier method, like a condom.
I know this can be confusing. The bottom line is that pregnancy may be possible depending on what kind of birth control and barrier methods you use during anal sex. For more information and risk assessment, check out Scarleteen.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering anal sex is risk for STIs (sexually transmitted infections). Because the anus does not have the natural lubrication or thick lining that the vagina has, anal sex may result in tears around the anus. This makes it easier for bacteria and thus STIs to get into your system. An easy way to avoid that is to use a barrier method, such as condoms, and lots of lube. Another thing to remember is that with each act of sex, whether it be oral, anal, or vaginal, you should use a new condom. Double dipping can cause irritation and infections.
For more anal sex tips about pleasure and safety, check out Babeland.
1freewomyn
wrote on 5 January 2010 at 20:35
Great post, Steph. I like the phrase “double dipping.”
I never would have thought that taking it up the butt could be a risk for pregnancy. Guess those sperm are better swimmers than I thought!
2Diita
wrote on 31 July 2010 at 16:56
Whoa, you say take the pill, use a condom, AND do it in the ass, and the chance for pregnancy is “minimal”?
I’d say put fresh hay in the manger and buy up stocks in myrrh and francincense!