It also offers advice on ways to avoid infection or injury if engaging in anal sex after recovery.
There are many situations where it may be perfectly fine to have anal sex.
However, there are others when it can pose serious health risks.
Illustration by Joules Garcia for Verywell Health
This is because there is only a thin membrane separating the rectum from the abdominal and pelvic organs.
Anal sex can press on this membrane and cause damage to internal incisions.
It can place undue stress on external incisions.
Even surgeries involving the thorax (chest cavity) may require the temporary avoidance of sex.
Your surgeon will also advise against having anal sex following rectal, colon, or anal surgery.
This includeshemorrhoid surgeryandprostate surgery.
They are also less likely to be irritating.
Avoid flavored or scented lubricants as well as those containing the spermicidenonoxynol-9which can be irritating to anal tissues.
Can Anal Sex Lead to Surgery?
It is possible to get injured during anal sex.
In some cases, a foreign body can become lodged in the rectum and require surgery to be removed.
These include sex toys and non-sexual objects used for sexual pleasure.
In other cases, vigorous anal sex with a toy or a penis can lead to rectal perforation.
This is a serious condition in which a hole is punctured in the wall of the rectum.
Certain people are at greater risk of rectal perforation, including those withrectal canceror who have undergone anal radiation.
People withdiverticular disease(which causes weakened pockets in the colon) are also at risk.
Sexual assault and rape can also cause anal injury, sometimes severe.
Condoms should also be used to avoid infection.
Injuries can sometimes occur as the result of anal sex.
Surgery may be needed if a foreign object is accidentally lodged in the rectum.
Surgery may also be needed to repair the perforation of the rectum or colon during vigorous anal sex.
