If anyone can find me a link that gives information on how anal sex strengthens the anal muscles, I would love to read it. I have searched and searched with no luck. The only thing I’m finding is how kegel exercises help strengthen a weakened anal sphincter. less

Hi Rin,
yes, I think you are correct. I think the issue is that the plug keeps it open for so long. I believe this practice is mostly for the Dom/Sub type relationship. IDK for sure. But that is what my research has shown so far.

The main reason I'm curious is for my review. I thought of adding some information on safety with anal plugs, then I though no; better not most people already know it. Then I though well let’s find out. So I started this pole to find out if the information would be useful and so far it seems it will be useful for some people. less

Hi Rin,
yes, I think you are correct. I think the issue is that the plug keeps it open for so long. I believe this practice is mostly for the Dom/Sub type relationship. IDK for sure. But that is what my research has shown so far.

The main reason I'm curious is for my review. I thought of adding some information on safety with anal plugs, then I though no; better not most people already know it. Then I though well let’s find out. So I started this pole to find out if the information would be useful and so far it seems it will be useful for some people. less

According to the Mayo Clinic Kegel exercises can strengthen the sphincter muscles in case with bowel incontinence.

On the other hand, with plugs the sphincter can be damaged or trained to not close all the way due to wearing plugs for too long of a time. i.e., wearing a plug for longer than one hour at a time without taking a break to let the sphincter close all the way.

I have not found anything that states this size is safe and therefore there is no need to worry. What all I have read leads me to believe that any size if worn for too long of a period can dame this muscle. less

If anyone can find me a link that gives information on how anal sex strengthens the anal muscles, I would love to read it. I have searched and searched with no luck. The only thing I’m finding is how kegel exercises help strengthen a weakened anal sphincter. less

Honestly I have not heard this before, but I do question it. I have been playing with anal toys for over two years, some plugs and some dils/vibes. My biggest is just shy of 3", that one takes me about an hour to an hour and a half to get in, this is with using other toys to warm up with. Before starting I use a syringe to shoot lube up there, like a lot. After I am done I can feel the lube wanting to come out and I have no problems keeping it in because the sphincters have closed. We are talking about two hours straight of my anus being stretched to 2 7/8", certainly not a small neck diameter like most plugs have.

I can see this being a problem if someone wore one every day, all day long with no other anal activity being done, but I am not sure how many folks do that. less

In my opinion, you don't strengthen the anal sphincter muscles, you only weaken them. For anal play to work, you relax the muscles to incert the toy, therby weaking them. So as you continue the practice with larger and larger anal toys, be prepared to loose anal sphincter muscle tone!

As you get older, I can send you a box of Depends! You will need it!! less

In my opinion, you don't strengthen the anal sphincter muscles, you only weaken them. For anal play to work, you relax the muscles to incert the toy, therby weaking them. So as you continue the practice with larger and larger anal toys, be prepared to loose anal sphincter muscle tone!

As you get older, I can send you a box of Depends! You will need it!! less

So true. Not me I won’t need them. I do participate in anal play but it is only for short periods of time. Mostly exploration. My hubby probably wishes i could handle him, but I’m not going to push it.

I never want to wear depends.. seriously.

I'm surprised to see all the results of this pole. I am defiantly thinking I need to add information about safety in anal play. less

It really is a possibility according to the doctors. Now to be frank I don't believe everything the docs tell me. I did more research and even the mayo clinic says that this is the cause in many of the bowl inconstancy cases that they have been encountering lately. Again I truly don't know. I just go with the research if it is valid.

Also, I know a few people on EF wear them as long as their master wants them to. And i even recieved a message from a member who has been wearing her large plug for 10 hours a day every day for a week trying to train her bumn to be fisted. So I think discussing the possible issues is valid.

what do you honestly think? I truly value your opion. less

Don't get me wrong, I agree that this is a valid discussion. I have done some searching and found the claims to be true. But according to what I have found there is no concrete evidence, just theories. I found this link

Behar says, "Unfortunately, I do not have the answer to this question. There are no good research studies that evaluate the short- or long-term effects of using butt plugs.Therefore, I am compelled to extrapolate what we do know, and deduce what we would expect to be true.

"The usual physiologic condition of the internal and external [anal] sphincter [muscles] is to remain tightly closed, except for momentary defecation, anal stimulation during sex or medical examinations, when a cascade of nerve stimulation allows momentary relaxation.

"So what if a person uses a butt plug? Momentary and short-term use probably is not much different than bowel movements, anal sex, or medical procedures. Long-term use, however, probably is.

"Imagine how your body habituates to the sensation of a mosquito walking on your arm. Initially, the tickle sensation is quite annoying.This probably is also related to your realizing that there is a bloodsucking insect on your body! In other words, there may be a cognitive component that overcomes the reflex scratch or swatting that comes almost automatically. After considerable time, this bug-crawling sensation loses the severity of its annoyance and is easier to tolerate. It may not even be noticed! You are habituating to the bug’s walking on your skin.Imagine also what happens to anyone who does not operate a set of muscles regularly, say, from an injury to an arm or leg. After the acute injury heals, the previously injured muscle will be very weak, and may require some time to get back to normal function.

"Let’s now return to long-term use of the butt plug.The anus is left in a constantly open position, instead of being tightly closed. Does this contribute to a habituation of the nerve-muscle reflex associated with voluntary sphincter control?Will this contribute to irreversible damage or bowel incontinence?Possibly, but we don’t know. But if we know anything about how the body responds to chronic stimulation, then I think I would read between the lines. Anything for short periods of time will probably be fine. But long-term use is probably not a great idea, and may contribute to chronic and irreversible changes in how the nerves and muscles ‘down there’ work effectively." less

I am working on a review of a Butt Plug. Like I do for so many of my reviews, I have researched extensively on the subject of Anal Play and also talked to my doctor about health concerns.

In my research I have found that Butt Plugs are harmful to wear for extended periods of time since there is the possibility of weakening the sphincter muscle.

So that leads me to thinking... How many people know about this health concern and how many choose to participate in the practice of wearing them for hours. less

Don't get me wrong, I agree that this is a valid discussion. I have done some searching and found the claims to be true. But according to what I have found there is no concrete evidence, just theories. I found this link

Behar says, "Unfortunately, I do not have the answer to this question. There are no good research studies that evaluate the short- or long-term effects of using butt plugs.Therefore, I am compelled to extrapolate what we do know, and deduce what we would expect to be true.

"The usual physiologic condition of the internal and external [anal] sphincter [muscles] is to remain tightly closed, except for momentary defecation, anal stimulation during sex or medical examinations, when a cascade of nerve stimulation allows momentary relaxation.

"So what if a person uses a butt plug? Momentary and short-term use probably is not much different than bowel movements, anal sex, or medical procedures. Long-term use, however, probably is.

"Imagine how your body habituates to the sensation of a mosquito walking on your arm. Initially, the tickle sensation is quite annoying.This probably is also related to your realizing that there is a bloodsucking insect on your body! In other words, there may be a cognitive component that overcomes the reflex scratch or swatting that comes almost automatically. After considerable time, this bug-crawling sensation loses the severity of its annoyance and is easier to tolerate. It may not even be noticed! You are habituating to the bug’s walking on your skin.Imagine also what happens to anyone who does not operate a set of muscles regularly, say, from an injury to an arm or leg. After the acute injury heals, the previously injured muscle will be very weak, and may require some time to get back to normal function.

"Let’s now return to long-term use of the butt plug.The anus is left in a constantly open position, instead of being tightly closed. Does this contribute to a habituation of the nerve-muscle reflex associated with voluntary sphincter control?Will this contribute to irreversible damage or bowel incontinence?Possibly, but we don’t know. But if we know anything about how the body responds to chronic stimulation, then I think I would read between the lines. Anything for short periods of time will probably be fine. But long-term use is probably not a great idea, and may contribute to chronic and irreversible changes in how the nerves and muscles ‘down there’ work effectively." less

No matter what you do to prevent it, there's always a chance that you'll end up needing incontinence products. Uterine or bladder prolapse can occur even if you do your kegels. Cancer. Alzheimer's.

I think being safe and maintaining your pelvic floor is a great start, but there are things that are beyond our control.

Not trying to be a "glass-half-empty" person, but I saw my 52 year old mother go from being independent to bedridden in 6 weeks. You just never know. less