Life

Are Millennials Over This Bedroom Move?

by Kristine Fellizar

Just recently, I was discussing the benefits of anal play with one of my friends. She mentioned that would never do it. When I asked why, she said, “I don’t like things going out of there, what makes you think I’d want anything going in?” Fair enough. Just like casual sex or BDSM, butt play isn’t for everyone. While I’m sure many have been curious about it at one point, recent Pornhub trends have found interest in anal sex may actually be waning, especially for millennials.

The team over at Pornhub analyzed data on anal searches from 2009 to 2015 to see how anal play fares in the world of porn. Young millennials, or users aged 18 to 24, were 33 percent less likely to show interest in anal play over any other age group. Interestingly enough, that same age group was found to be 290 percent more likely to search for My Little Pony porn, as discovered by another Pornhub report earlier this year. Anal content is most popular for those aged 35 to 44-years-old. They were found to be 30 percent more likely to search for butt stuff than any other age group.

While millennials don’t seem to show as much interest in anal play in porn, there has still been a 120 percent growth in popularity of anal searches in the U.S., and 78 percent growth worldwide over the past six years. So, the fascination is most definitely still there. Because of that, here are five reasons to give butt play a try:

1. More People Are Trying It Than Ever Before

A 2010 study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that about 46 percent of the women surveyed said they have engaged in anal sex at least once in their lifetime. So, if you feel like you’re “weird” or different because you want to try it, don’t. A lot of people have and are doing it — you're not alone!

2. Smart And Successful Women Do It

Worried that enjoying anal sex or anal stimulation says something about you? Don't be! Butt play isn’t gross, unnatural, or something that you only see in porn. In fact, a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that anal sex is common among women with higher levels of income and education. So, you’re in pretty good company.

3. You Can Still Do It While You’re On Your Period

First and foremost, let me be clear. Period sex is totally normal and not something to be grossed out about. While some women hate it, others find it gives the libido a major boost. But if you don’t want to travel down the sometimes messy road of period sex, there’s another avenue just around the corner.

4. Orgasms Can Be Much More Intense

A study of 2,000 people earlier this year conducted by the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior found that 100 percent of men and 94 percent of women said they experienced orgasms when they engaged in anal sex. Anal orgasms are real. Many men and women experience them.

As adult film actress, Jillian Janson told Bustle earlier this year, "It usually is an extremely intense feeling. For me it happens to be better and I'll come faster if it's intense in my bladder and I have to urinate, but that also can be what makes me squirt. So it's really amazing having anal sex, since there's multiple ways you can get pleased!”

5. You Form A Different Kind Of Connection With Your Partner

When you're trying something new in bed that you both feel comfortable doing, you're in it together. As several women told Bustle, having anal sex made them feel closer to their partners.

That being said, you should definitely not have anal sex just because you think your partner will like you more or they pressured you. That goes for all things in bed — experimenting can be great but not if it makes you uncomfortable.

Oh, and remember, lube is your best friend.

An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that a report by Slate found that orgasms increase women’s willingness to try anal sex, which in turn, causes more orgasms.

Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Watch people try to guess what these sex toys are for.

Images: JeShoots/Pexels; Giphy(8)