Who is to say that in the Garden of Eden, the real forbidden fruit was not an apple but a furry peach?

This might be a sensitive subject for some, but it is one we must talk about. For the four (4) of you that don’t know what rimming is: Analingus is the oral and anal sex act in which a person stimulates the anus of another by using his mouth, including lips, tongue, or teeth. It is also called anal–oral contact and anal–oral sex; colloquial names include rimming, rim job, eating ass, tossing salad, eating out, taking the dirt road, etc.

Rimming is a sexual act but also an excellent method of foreplay before anal sex. The oral stimulation of the anus, along with the large amounts of saliva, lubricates the bottom’s rectum and helps him relax and enjoy being penetrated more. For the rimmer, giving a rim job is sexually stimulating, just like other types of oral pleasures (READ: cock sucking), and sends waves of pleasure through the penile shaft. As the saying goes, “you should lick it before you stick it.”

If you would like some essential tips for how to perform a proper rim job, click here. This article is about any risks and hazards that may come from sticking your tongue where the sun don’t shine. Rimming itself is not where the risk lies; it is the contact of fecal matter (shit) that poses the potential harm. Remember, there is some level of “risk” in everything we do, and only you can decide where your line is and not cross it.

NOTE: Many guys infected with the below illnesses are usually asymptomatic, meaning they show no physical symptoms of the illness and may not know they are infected. Which means you won’t know they are infected either. If you do show any signs listed below, seek out a medical professional’s care quickly and be sure not to go out and play until given the all-clear.

Shigella is a serious gut infection causing severe, prolonged diarrhea and stomach cramps. Among gay and bisexual men, Shigella is usually passed on through the fecal-oral route during sex, either directly or via unwashed hands – only a tiny amount of bacteria can spread the infection. Symptoms often develop around 1 to 3 days after sex, including:

  • frequent and explosive diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours
  • stomach cramps
  • feeling feverish with flu-like symptoms
  • some people report vomiting
  • feeling weak and tired (accompanying the gastrointestinal symptoms)

Men experiencing Shigella symptoms are advised to visit their GP or a clinic, specifically mentioning Shigella and requesting a stool sample test. The infection is treatable with antibiotics. The risk of infection can be reduced by avoiding oral contact with feces during sex, washing hands thoroughly, and showering after sex.

NOTE ON PREVENTION: Some readers have asked if taking bismuth subsalicylate, otherwise known as Pepto-Bismol, will work as a prevention aid. We have no idea as no studies have been done on gay male rimming, but we guess it couldn’t hurt as it is known to prevent diarrhea. In all cases, we still recommend caution and basic hygiene steps before and after rimming.

Hepatitis A/B can also be transmitted through rimming as it lives within fecal matter. But to be fair, any form of contact with feces can transmit this nasty illness, so always wash your hands after sex and in general! Most of all, ensure you have been vaccinated for BOTH of these strains.

Amebiasis is transmitted primarily by the fecal-oral route, most commonly from contaminated drinking water or unsanitary food handling. Amebiasis is caused E. histolytica, which is often found in the stool of homosexual men and is the most common intestinal parasite seen in gay communities worldwide. Sexual behavior such as anilingus or fellatio after anal-genital intercourse can lead to infection.

Cryptosporidiosis can cause diarrhea in human hosts who have ingested as few as ten microscopic oocysts (egg-like structures made of chitin, the same protein that forms the exoskeletons of ants and other insects) contained in feces or contaminated water. After ingesting an infectious dose of Cryptosporidium oocysts, symptoms could appear within three weeks, including a brief bout of diarrhea. However, people with weakened immune systems (HIV) could experience severe, life-threatening diarrhea.

Giardia is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, also known as Giardia intestinalis. It is one of the most common parasites that affect gay men. The symptoms of giardia include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, gas, and nausea. Diagnosing intestinal parasites and bacteria is done through a stool culture, which involves collecting your stool with a kit that your doctor provides. It’s not fun, and it sounds messy. Still, there are so many different types of parasites, amoebas, and bacteria that proper identification of the organism is essential to choosing the correct medication.

HPV can be transmitted through anilingus as well.

Talking to your Doctor:

This is one of the times you will be glad that you have forged a good working relationship with your GP. Discussing with a stranger or someone that does not know that you are gay, that you believe you ingested a parasite from munching on some dude’s starfish is not the way you probably want to spend your morning. Especially if it began with explosive diarrhea, but this is also the time for you to make some tough decisions. Either you can tell him the truth and let him take a stool sample and prescribe medication, or you can take the chance that he will figure it out on his own. We are not going to tell you to come out to your doctor/nurse, but we will suggest you think well in advance about what type of relationship you would like with your GP before you need to discuss your sexual activities.

A few final words about this sexual act:

Rimming has been around since Adam met Steve. It is very commonly practiced, and not just in porn. Yes, good boys do rim, and great men rim well. Rimming is no more dirty or disgusting than any other type of gay male sex. As stated above, there are some possible risks of infections with eating ass, but most are very treatable after a small bout of tummy troubles. If you use your big head first, you can avoid many of these issues.

No, we are not going to discuss douching or anal hygiene (your butt-hole shaving routines are your own business: GO BEARS!) for the reasons mentioned in the linked article. Also because it will not help reduce risk. It only takes a minimal amount of bacteria or tiny parasites to cause an infection. But we will say that shit does happen in life and sex, and it is tough to totally avoid. Get vaccinated, stay healthy, wash your hands and ass, and then eat all the buffet offers.

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