Biological basis for anal sex

[analcomeonly]

Several facts make me speculate whether there is a biological/evolutionary basis for anal sex in humans.

First are the obvious similarities between the anal and vaginal openings: The location, size, and orientation of the two cavities are so similar in humans that the same penis shape and sex positions work almost interchangeably. By contrast, in many animals the shape of the anal and vaginal cavities are different enough that anal sex is inconvenient or impossible (example a pig's corkscrew penis). The fact that anal sex is so easy and convenient for humans leads to the question of whether some evolutionary pressure made it so, or is it coincidence.

Second is the fact that records of anal sex go as far back as the earliest recorded history. Sodomy is mentioned in the Bible's Old Testament as a common and well-developed practice in certain communities. And then we have Ancient Greece, where anal sex was common at least between young men and older male mentors (the extent of heterosexual anal sex in Ancient Greece is less well-understood). Moreover anal sex appears to have been discovered independently by many cultures; for example the ceramic artworks from the Moche culture in Peru show anal sex was practiced in the New World by 100-800 AD. The fact that anal sex was widespread in the ancient world points to a much earlier and possibly biological origin, likely before the start of recorded history.

Third is the fact that many women (and men) get pleasure from having their bottoms penetrated. It seems unlikely that a pleasure response like this would spontaneously appear without some biological driver.

My conjecture for the evolutionary rationale for anal sex is that it allowed women to provide sex to men – and get benefits in return like resources and protection – while nearly eliminating the risk of pregnancy and STIs. Imagine you're a woman living in a time before money; how would you barter to get food and services you need? Sex is always wanted by men, but as a woman you want to save your vagina for the best men: Those with good genetics or those who might stick with you longer term to support children. For more casual sexual interactions, anal or fellatio are better.

As with most things evolutionary there doesn't need to be an explicit intent behind it. One imagines that some woman happened to be especially receptive to anal sex, and she was able to get more resources and raise healthier children than her non-receptive counterparts. So she succeeded and her genes passed down preferentially.

I'd love to hear what others think.

[Colt1911]

Makes perfect sense to me. Spot on logic. In the ongoing study of genes, someday they’ll discover the anal preference gene. I’m thankful I’m married to a woman who inherited that gene!

[AnalEngineer]

Eastern Europe was practicing anal prior to the Roman empire. That's how the term buggering came to be. Bulgarian pagans often engaged in anal prior to the introduction of catholicism.

[semi-normal]

Intriguing theory indeed. It is true that ancient people knew very well what caused pregnancy and taking precautions was important for many reasons including those you mention. In Egypt for example, there are texts describing women using crocodile dung as birth control; yes, anal and oral being the obvious options otherwise. Perhaps it is more natural than most people realize.

[Rimmer]

Sodomy was really the act of having sex with (or trying to rape) angels if one reads the story properly (though it is often not preached properly). In Leviticus, where it says "man must not lie with man as he lies with woman", men would have to be having anal sex with women for this to make any sense at all, otherwise they would not be laying with them in the same way. And this rule was directed at the priests, the Levites, hence the name of the book. There was, as I understand it, a pagan rite where people would have same sex orgies, even if they were not gay, they had to do this to please another god - God did not want his priests worshiping other gods one evening and then serving at his temple the next, makes sense. And apostle Paul, some believe, when he made reference to the act, was in fact referring to a practise where young boys were taken advantage of by older men - we would these days call if safeguarding. Personally I can only conclude that the first time Adam gave Eve a backrub, with maybe some coconut oil, he would have thought, "I wonder if I can just slip this in there." There was no sin at that time in Eden, so he would have been doing nothing wrong at all. Unless Eve wasn't relaxed, then he may have got a slap

[AnalEngineer]

@Rimmer the anti Sodomy thing was just to maintain populations to outnumber the philistines.

[LuvMyWifesAss]

In Leviticus, where it says "man must not lie with man as he lies with woman", men would have to be having anal sex with women for this to make any sense at all, otherwise they would not be laying with them in the same way.

I've brought this up before. I interpret it the same way (how else could you), that it means men are not to have anal sex with other men, as they do with women. Meaning there was an expectation that men would be having anal sex with women. The Song of Solomon makes it clear that sex is not just for procreation, but also pleasure. As anal sex provides more pleasure than vaginal sex, why would anyone think we weren't intended to have anal sex?

[LuvMyWifesAss]

My conjecture for the evolutionary rationale for anal sex is that it allowed women to provide sex to men – and get benefits in return like resources and protection – while nearly eliminating the risk of pregnancy and STIs. Imagine you're a woman living in a time before money; how would you barter to get food and services you need? Sex is always wanted by men, but as a woman you want to save your vagina for the best men: Those with good genetics or those who might stick with you longer term to support children. For more casual sexual interactions, anal or fellatio are better.

This is a great point. Throughout history woman have used their bodies to barter for needs. It makes perfect sense that, if this is the case, anal sex would be preferable to vaginal, as it eliminates the risk of pregnancy. Not only that, but I feel anal sex it more desired by men, making it more valuable in barter than vaginal sex.

As with most things evolutionary there doesn't need to be an explicit intent behind it. One imagines that some woman happened to be especially receptive to anal sex, and she was able to get more resources and raise healthier children than her non-receptive counterparts. So she succeeded and her genes passed down preferentially.

This is my wife. She is full blood Portuguese. The Portuguese people have a long, rich history of anal sex. This influence can even be seen in the once Portuguese colony of Brazil, where anal sex is widely practiced. Some surveys show nearly 50% of sexual encounters involve anal sex. My wife definitely inherited the anal gene. From the first time we tried anal sex, she was hooked. She is even the one that suggested we go anal only. And I can attest to the fact that she can get anything she wants out of me with her talented ass.

[Ozzy]

Brazilian here, and have always lived in Brazil.

I've seen more than once this stereotype that Brazilian women will always do anal sex, spoken by some "gringos". Let me tell you, this is simply NOT TRUE.

There are lots of women here who are outspoken haters of anal. I've met some. The average brazilian woman will tell you it's ok to have anal, but just as a variation for "normal" sex.

Yes, there are anal only women here and anal enthusiasts, just as there are everywhere else. But there's no anal gene, as much as there's no gay gene. And obviously, said gene is not prevalent among Portuguese people, and it's not prevalent in any specific race.

Anal sex has more to do with culture, than with biology. Some cultures are more acceptive of anal sex. Others are less acceptive.

Yes, brazilian culture there's a very big focus on women's butts, and famous and wealthy people will see anal as just a normal sex practice, while the lower classes influenced by their religion and bigotry will have a very negative vision of it.

In these times of globalization, there's been a world wide trend of more acceptance towards this practice, but it's not just in Brazil.

In different generations obviously there's a gap, with most of the younger seeing it as just as natural as vaginal, while most of the older will have a different opinion.

I've had a "girlfriend" who blamed porn for the "normalization" of anal sex, and she hated it. I even had sex with her once, obviously some very boring vaginal sex, she came twice, for me it did nothing. She previously had agreed to do anal with me which she later declined and "played the fool", which made me get very frustrated and I didn't want to see her anymore. But that's another story.

[Backdoorlover]

I’ve encountered that stereotype thing too. My second wife was Russian. Guys spontaniously reacted “ooh, Russian women all love it in the ass”. Now my woman was very into anal, but like everywhere it’s personal.

Where the difference is, lies with Russian men. They see anal as something every woman does, as long as they demand it. So Russian men are very dominant and at a first date think it’s normal to tell their date, before desert “I ‘m going to assfuck you at my place” and assume she’ll be dripping wet just by hearing him telling her she’s going to be his anal cum dump later.

So reallity is quite different. Many Russian women come to Europe to marry a non-Russian man who pays her the respect women deserve. But in that case the Russian women often become dominant and demanding