Anal stretching

Anal stretching is a practice used by some to train relaxation of the muscles of the anus, in order to allow them to more easily perform various forms of receptive anal sex. Users of these techniques include those involved in graphic pornography. The most common method is the use of butt plugs.

The practice became well known on the internet thanks to the shock site Goatse.cx, which had a picture of a man stretching his anus, before the shock site's domain name was closed by the Christmas Island Internet Authority in January 2004.

Care should be taken if attempting anal stretching because increasing the circumference of the sphincter muscle while decreasing its elasticity can lead to fecal incontinence. To minimize this risk, one must preserve the elasticity of the sphincter muscle. This is accomplished by proceeding very gradually - i.e. by inserting very small objects at first, and then over a period of months (or even years), very gradually increasing the size of objects that are inserted. Objects should also not be left in the anus for long periods of time as this will also decrease the elasticity of the sphincter. Any pain is a sign that one is proceeding incorrectly and should proceed more gradually.