Anal sex is one sexual activity that should be left to those who are patient enough to start from the bottom, literally. It requires tact, skill and experience for things not to go wrong. 

One way to make sure everything go down well during anal sex is by preparing the anus for some steamy activity. Anal stretching is one effective way of preparing the anus for anal penetration. 

If at this point, you are curious about what anal stretching is all about, that’s expected. Read this article to the end to satisfy your curiosity.

Before your anal stretching session, there are some activities you need to do to get set. Check them out:

• Douche: Although not compulsory, it is advisable to douche before any form of anal play. This is because anal play can get messy. To save yourself the mess and stress of ruining your fun mid-way, you should douche some moments before anal stretching. But there’s only so far you can go if you douche. If you intend stretching deeper, an enema is recommended to flush out residual poop from your rectum. Here is a portable anal douche. 
• Warming up: When you are relaxed, your sphincters will be at ease and easier to stretch. You may engage in foreplay with your partner or any other activity that helps you relax.
• Lube: The importance of lube in any sexual activity can never be overstated. Even with small anal toys, lube is still essential to prevent tears. We recommend water-based lube for any form of anal play. And yeah, use a lot of it. 
• No to Numbing Agents: Beginners who are worried they would feel a lot of pain might be tempted to use numbing agents. This should be totally avoided. This is because they make you unable to feel anything and this could be risky if you are stretching too far or having tears. This way, you would not be able to stop immediately to avoid further complications and that’s not a nice situation to be in. 

Anal stretching takes some level of expertise. You do not want to dive into it without learning some basic tips. Here are some tips on how to safely do anal stretching:

• Start small: Enjoy the process of the nerve-endings around your anus being stimulated till you reach your goal of a properly stretched anus. To do this, it is best to start with smaller anal stretchers and then move on to the larger ones as you get comfortable. Check out the best anal stretchers to suit your needs here
• Do not rush: Anal stretching is a process that should never be rushed. You might need more time than usual and that’s okay. Take as much time as you need on one anal stretcher before proceeding to the next.
• Practice frequently: You would need a lot of practice to properly stretch your anus. It just doesn’t happen once. You may decide to use at least a plug per day, even if it is for just a few minutes. Also, incorporating anal stretching in your couple play helps you see it as less of a chore.
• Comfortable position: Ensure you are in a comfortable position while you stretch your anus. An ideal position is lying in bed on your side with your knees bent towards your chest. If you are with a partner, you can either lay on your stomach or get in the doggy-style position.
• After care: A bit of after-care after stretching your anus is needed. Clean all toys thoroughly. Check for any form of bleeding by wiping your anus gently. If there is a slight bleeding due to a tear, take a bath with Epsom salt. You should wait a few days before anal stretching again if there is a tear.

The first issue to settle here is that you definitely do not want your anus to stretch permanently. Among the many functions of the anus is pooping. You do not want your anus stretching so much that you become unable to control your body functions. 

There’s no need to worry about your butthole stretching permanently. The butthole is made of muscle which is elastic, even after sessions of extreme anal stretching, if there is no activity for a while, it returns back to normal. 

Here is what Alana Brown had to say about this on Quora. 

“Yes, the anus is a muscle and while it can be stretched (as can any muscle) and made more elastic so that it has a larger range of motion, its natural resting state is closed. Even after many years of frequent anal sex, if I go a few days without anal penetration, everything quickly returns to being closed and tight.

Personally, I wear a butt plug most of the time when I’m not having sex so that my ass stays relaxed and open and ready for sex, to counteract the fact that it wants to close back up.”

Here is another person’s explanation on reddit thread

Beardwatcher:

“It's a muscle, and you relax it when you get his dick in you. It doesn't stretch out. If you're not actually damaging the muscle by forcing it over things that are obviously too big, too soon, it will always get back to its original, factory standard seal.

What you can do is learn to relax it further. Sphincters are amazingly elastic , they can accommodate a huge range of sizes without damaging themselves, if you take the time to let them properly relax.”

You should only use appropriate anal stretchers to stretch your anus. Take a look at some of the ideal accessories that can be used to stretch your anus:

Anal stretching is a process that can take time. Allow yourself enough time to be comfortable and explore. If you are anal stretching during your couple play, communicate your feelings with a partner and use the appropriate anal stretchers to spread your butthole. Enjoy and stay safe!