Anal pain is a symptom with many possible causes, from hemorrhoids and anal fissures to serious disease such as anal cancer. One thing we know for sure is that anal pain never appears in a vacuum; if you’ve got it, then something is amiss.

Persistent anal pain may be due to a tear or injury to the area, either through straining during bowel movements, or through vigorous activity such as anal sex. Such pain can be avoided with a little preparation: adding fiber and taking stool softeners can help avoid anal fissures, while lubrication can help with anal sex.

But there is another way to minimize pain during anal sex – make sure you’re getting into it:

According to research, it takes at least 20 minutes for a woman to become sufficiently aroused. (Of course, this varies from woman to woman.) With arousal comes not just relaxation but also a higher tolerance for things that might disgust you otherwise. Because of this, concerns over the fact that your partner is about to stick it in your poop-shoot, or your nervousness about any possible pain, is subsided.

Sex is a great anesthetic, as many centuries of violent sexual play have made abundantly clear. This holds for anal sex as well; even though your body doesn’t naturally lubricate down there, the state of being aroused can help your body to relax, reducing friction.

For more tips on anal pain and treatments, contact the Proctology Institute of Beverly Hills, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach.