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If you’re into anal sex, we have some not-so-great news. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Medicine believe that there’s a link between backdoor action and an increased risk of fecal incontinence, Cosmo reports.
To arrive at their findings, researchers poured over data collected during the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2,070 women and 2,100 men, which revealed that 37 percent of women and 5 percent of men said that they have tried anal sex at least once. What researchers found was that women who admitted to trying anal were 51 percent more likely to experience incontinence, which consists of “leakage of mucus, liquid, or stool,” than their counterparts who did not engage in backdoor play. Men, on the other hand, were three times more likely to experience incontinence after engaging in anal play. Out of those who reported experiencing incontinence after anal sex, most said that only suffered “occasional bouts of diarrhea.” However, fecal incontinence can be chronic and is often caused by muscle and nerve damage in around the rectum, according to Medical Express.
Unfortunately, researchers found that even those who only tried anal sex just once have an increased risk of experiencing fecal incontinence, which can have effects that are equally embarrassing and messy.
“The study did not provide data on the frequency of the practice of anal intercourse and the impact of incontinence, but it did show a relationship between the practice of anal intercourse and fecal incontinence — more so among men than women,” said lead study author, Alayne Markland. “What we don’t know is whether someone who has anal intercourse one or two times is at the same increased risk for fecal incontinence as someone who has anal intercourse regularly.”
If you happen to enjoy anal sex, don’t fret. Markland says that engaging in pelvic floor and anal exercises have can be effective in treating fecal incontinence.
