How Common is Analingus? Statistics on Prevalence of Anal Rimming

Welcome to the most in-depth, data-driven exploration of analingus behaviors ever undertaken. In this article, we dive deep into studies looking into everything from the frequency of analingus to how common it is. We’re revealing whether these intimate acts are more likely to happen in committed relationships or spontaneous flings.

Methodology: This article is a the product of over 300 hours of meticulous research. Our team has worked tirelessly, analyzing the data from a study of 1,478 participants and their answers on questions related to anal sex activities. Collectively, this provides the most precise insights on anal rimming as possible.

Main findings

• People who have had anal sex are more likely to give or receive analingus.
• About 1 in 4 (24%) people who’ve had anal sex said they’ve given analingus in the last month.
• Around 1 in 7 (15%) people who’ve had anal sex said they’ve received analingus in the last month.
• If people haven’t had anal sex, they’re much less likely to give or receive analingus (about 1 in 25 (4%) gave and 1 in 50 (2%) received).
• Those who’ve had anal sex and practice analingus do it quite often, roughly 7 times giving and 5 times receiving in the last month.

The 2008 study on analingus prevalence showed a couple of things:

In a study from 2008 (Only peer-reviewed and released in 2010), it was found that 18% of men reported having engaged in anal sex, while 15% reported receiving analingus, and a significant 24% reported performing analingus.

Among men who had not engaged in anal intercourse, other forms of anal play were notably less common. Specifically, only 2% of heterosexual men who had not had penetrative anal sex reported performing analingus, 4% reported receiving analingus, 3% had experienced finger penetration during anal play, and 10% had provided finger-penetrative anal play.

The data can be found the the two below tables from the study:

Table 1. Anal Sexual Behaviors in the Past 30 Days by Lifetime History of Insertive Heterosexual Penile–Anal Sex (N = 1,478)

• Among those who reported a history of insertive penile-anal sex (n = 266):
  • 18% reported engaging in anal insertive intercourse in the past 30 days.
  • 53% reported inserting a finger in their partner’s anus.
  • 24% reported receiving a finger in their anus.
  • 24% reported placing their mouth on their partner’s anus (analingus).
  • 15% reported receiving mouth on their anus (receiving analingus).
• Among those with no history of insertive penile-anal sex (n = 1,212):
  • No anal insertive intercourse was reported.
  • 10% reported inserting a finger in their partner’s anus.
  • 3% reported receiving a finger in their anus.
  • 4% reported placing their mouth on their partner’s anus (analingus).
  • 2% reported receiving mouth on their anus (receiving analingus).

And the second table:

Table 2. Mean Number of Times the Behavior was Performed in Past 30 Days by Lifetime History of Insertive Heterosexual Anal Sex (N = 1,478)

• Among those who reported a history of insertive penile-anal sex (n = 266):
  • Anal insertive intercourse was performed on average 4.6 times.
  • A finger was inserted in their partner’s anus on average 6.99 times.
  • Received a finger in their anus on average 5.56 times.
  • Placed their mouth on their partner’s anus (analingus) on average 6.9 times.
  • Received mouth on their anus (receiving analingus) on average 5.52 times.
• Among those with no history of insertive penile-anal sex (n = 1,212):
  • No anal insertive intercourse was reported.
  • A finger was inserted in their partner’s anus on average 3.75 times.
  • Received a finger in their anus on average 3.62 times.
  • Placed their mouth on their partner’s anus (analingus) on average 3.75 times.
  • Received mouth on their anus (receiving analingus) on average 4.29 times.

Reference: McBride, K. R., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2010). Heterosexual anal sexuality and anal sex behaviors: a review. Journal of sex research, 47(2-3), 123-136.

How popular is analingus in writing?

If we look at how frequently the word “analingus” appear in books, scientific studies, and online writing we find that it has been on the rise since the early 1900 up until 1990. After 1990 to 1992-93 the frequency of the word analingus being used in writing dropped dramatically. It then started to increase again until around 2010, and has now dropped to former levels know from the 1980s to the 1990s. The data can be seen on the graph below:

A similar pattern can be found for the word “rimming” in texts throughout the years.

Or, the word “rim job”, which albeit somewhat similar in recent years, did see a much later spike in popularity:

Trends in how much people search for analingus, rimming, and rim job

We also looked into the popularity of the three most famous words for analingus (rimming, or rim job).

We looked at data from google trends, which showed the relative frequency of how much a given keyword has been searched on the Google Search Engine:

Analingus search trends

Analingus is becomming increasingly less popular from 2004 untill today.

Rimming search trends

Rimming is a search that was on decline from 2004 until 2009, but then have seen an increase in popularity to today.

Rim job popularity

Rim job is a super popular search term, which saw a massive spike in popularity around 2015 to 2016.

Definition of analingus / anal rimming

Analingus, also known as rimming or a rim job, refers to the act of using the mouth and tongue to stimulate the anus. In other words it is a sexual practice involving oral-to-anal contact. Basically a form of oral-anal sex. It is therefore also a form of sexual activity that people of all sexual orientations and genders can enjoy.

What it involves: Analingus involves using the mouth, lips, tongue, and sometimes teeth to stimulate the anus and the surrounding area. This can involve licking, sucking, kissing, or gently nibbling.

Potential for pleasure: The anus and surrounding area are packed with nerve endings, making them highly sensitive. Many people find analingus pleasurable because of this sensitivity.

Safety during rimming

Hygiene and safety are of paramount importance when engaging in analingus, or any form of sexual activity. Here are some key points to consider, backed by scientific data:

1. Cleaning: Thorough cleaning of the anal area before analingus is essential. This can be done with mild, non-fragrant soap and warm water. Some people prefer to use an enema for deeper cleaning, but it’s not a requirement.
2. Barrier Methods: Using barrier methods, such as dental dams, can significantly reduce the risk of spreading sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using barrier methods can reduce the transmission risk of most STIs by approximately 50% (Herbenick et al., 2013).
3. STI Transmission: It’s important to note that analingus can transmit STIs. Human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and even HIV can be transmitted through oral-anal contact. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10% of STI cases globally are attributable to oral sex, which includes analingus (Chow et al., 2019).
4. Vaccinations: Getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, and HPV can provide additional protection, as these diseases can be transmitted through analingus.
5. Regular STI Testing: Regular STI testing is recommended for anyone who is sexually active, especially for those engaging in activities such as analingus. According to the CDC, only about 50% of people who should be screened receive recommended STI testing services.
6. E. Coli and Other Bacteria: Analingus can potentially spread E. coli and other bacteria found in fecal matter, which can lead to infections. A study by the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that oral-anal contact was significantly associated with E. coli urinary tract infections in women (Cope et al., 2017).

Remember, maintaining good hygiene and taking safety precautions can help ensure a more enjoyable and healthy sexual experience. Open communication about sexual health with your partner is also key.

References:

• Herbenick, D. et al. (2013). Sexual Behavior in the United States: Results from a National Probability Sample of Men and Women Ages 14–94. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(Suppl 5), 255–265.
• Chow, E. P. F. et al. (2019). Global Estimates of the Prevalence and Incidence of Four Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections in 2016 Based on Systematic Review and Global Reporting. PLOS ONE.
• Cope, J. R. et al. (2017). Risk Factors for Urinary Tract Infections Caused by E. Coli in Women in the Postmenopausal Period. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 216(5), 604–610.

Anal sex statistics

As the study from 2008 showed, there is a clear link between anal sex activity and analingus. If you’re more interested in peoples anal sex habits you can read more in our anal sex statistics article. This article uncovers the data behind prevalence and frequency of anal sex in the general population.

Here are the key points on anal sex:

1. Anal sex has been tried by 40% of individuals, irrespective of gender.
2. While 37% of women have experimented with anal sex, the number is slightly higher for men, at 43%.
3. On average, individuals engage in anal sex around 2.5 times per month.
4. Health issues post anal sex, such as fecal incontinence and anal sphincter injuries, are more common among women.
5. Greece leads the world in the prevalence of anal sex, with 55% of its population having tried it. This is followed by Switzerland and Mexico at 49%, and Denmark at 45%.
6. Over recent decades, the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds participating in heterosexual anal sex has more than doubled, from 12.5% to 28.5%.
7. The popularity of anal sex videos surged by 120% from 2009 to 2015.
8. Pegging has been experimented with by 16.7% of people.
9. Anal sex is generally safe and healthy, both in the short and long term.
10. Of those who practice anal sex, 42% say they enjoy it.
11. Among gay men, 85% have tried anal sex, with 60% regularly participating.
12. Anal toys have been used by just over half (52.8%) of individuals.
13. Similarly, 52.8% of those who have tried anal sex have used fingers or anal toys on themselves.
14. Discussing anal sex makes one out of every ten people extremely uncomfortable.
15. Anal sex can have potential side effects such as increased risk of STIs, colon perforation, worsening hemorrhoids, and a higher risk of fistula.
16. To enjoy a clean anal sex experience, it is recommended to bathe 3-5 hours beforehand.

Oral sex statistics

As analingus is a form of oral sex, where one partner stimulates the other partners anus orally, it might be interesting to compare the statistics on analingus to those of oral sex statistics.

Here are the main takeaways on oral sex:

1. More women (59%) say they regularly perform oral sex than men (52%).
2. Oral sex is a common practice among couples, with 80% engaging in it.
3. The average frequency of performing oral sex is about 5 times per month.
4. More than half of women (52%) enjoy pleasing their partners through oral sex, while only 28% of men report the same.
5. A vast majority of individuals (85%) have at least attempted to receive oral sex.
6. The age group that engages in oral sex most frequently is between 25 to 29 years old.
7. The average age for first oral sex experience is 16 years old.
8. A staggering 92.6% of women report enjoying giving blow jobs.
9. While performing oral sex, 66% of individuals also engage in stimulating their partner’s body.
10. There’s a scientific connection between oral sex and a risk of throat cancer.
11. It’s crucial to remember that STDs can be transmitted through oral sex.

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