What does research say about the proportion of people who find anal stimulation pleasurable versus uncomfortable?
Executive summary
Scientific surveys and clinical reviews show a wide spectrum: many people report pleasure from some forms of anal stimulation, but significant minorities experience discomfort or pain—estimates vary by study and by type of stimulation, with roughly one-third to 40% of women endorsing pleasurable external/limited anal touch in several large surveys while other studies and qualitative work report pain or displeasure for sizable groups (multiple sources; see [3], [4], p1_s5). Measurement differences, sampling frames, and the range of practices studied make any single “proportion” provisional; the literature repeatedly emphasizes technique, context, and co‑stimulation as decisive factors [1] [2].
1. What the numbers say: a fragmented but consistent picture
Probability‑sample and large surveys find that substantial minorities—often in the 30–40% range—report pleasure from anal touch when defined broadly (external touch, very shallow penetration, or paired stimulation); for example, one U.S. probability study named “anal surfacing,” “shallowing,” and “pairing,” and reported roughly 35–40% of women finding some forms pleasurable [3] [4]. Other analyses report specific findings such as 40% of women liking external anal contact and 35% finding shallow penetration pleasurable [5] [4], and a meta‑analysis found about 28.4% of women described their first heterosexual anal experience as pleasant [6]. At the same time, population studies of pain during receptive anal intercourse (anodyspareunia) have reported prevalence figures in the mid‑teens for men receiving anal sex (14–18% in two studies) and qualitative work shows nearly half of some small samples emphasized discomfort [7] [8].
2. Who is more likely to find anal stimulation pleasurable?
Across several studies men—particularly when prostate stimulation is implicated—are more likely than women to report orgasm from anal penetration alone (reported rates: men roughly 36–39% able to orgasm from receptive anal intercourse alone vs lower proportions for women, and men more likely to endorse orgasm from anal penetration without co‑stimulation) [9] [10]. For women, pleasure from anal touch often occurs as part of a broader pattern of stimulation—paired with clitoral, vaginal, or pelvic floor stimulation—rather than as a sole source of orgasm [3] [11].
3. Why experiences diverge: anatomy, technique, and context
Physiological plausibility exists—nerve pathways (pudendal and pelvic nerves) and proximity to structures like the prostate or deep clitoral legs can transmit pleasurable sensations, and imaging studies show rectal pressure can activate brain regions linked to pleasure—yet whether a given encounter is pleasurable depends heavily on lubrication, slow technique, arousal state, consent and communication, and partner competence [11] [2] [8]. Pornographic and cultural portrayals that normalize unlubricated, performance‑focused anal penetration can increase the chance of painful experiences and skew expectations [7].
4. Limitations of the literature and why headline percentages are slippery
Reviews note a research gap: much sexual‑health research is heteronormative and focused on risk rather than pleasure, study methods vary (population probability samples vs clinic or convenience samples), definitions of “anal sex” differ (penetration vs surface touch), and self‑selection and social desirability can bias reporting [1] [3]. As a result, reported proportions (e.g., 28.4%, 35–40%, or mid‑teens for pain) are context‑dependent and should not be read as immutable population truths [6] [5].
5. What the evidence implies for practice and public discourse
The research converges on an actionable conclusion: anal stimulation is neither uniformly pleasurable nor uniformly painful; technique, communication, context, and education shape outcomes, and naming distinct behaviors (surfacing, shallowing, pairing) helps people identify what they might enjoy and avoid harm [3] [12]. Media narratives and pornography can push a misleading all‑or‑nothing frame; scholarly work calls for more nuanced sex‑positive research and better public education so people can make informed, safer choices [4] [1].