"The Truth About Gay Sex..."

How To Be Better At Bottoming

October 15, 2014

The last post was dedicated to becoming better at topping, you can read it here just in case you missed it. But with that out of the way, sex still remains a two way street, so here’s part two on to become better at bottoming.

Have you ever looked at gay porn and thought, “How can they make bottoming look so easy?” A hung top sticks it in like a glute inject and the bottom doesn’t even flinch. Bottoming isn’t just about the physical sensation of being penetrated, it’s the emotional high of accepting someone else’s presence in your body. It’s the psychological thrill of being momentarily “owned,” of submitting yourself to the strength of another man.

This is the single biggest emotional stumbling block gay men have about bottoming—being labeled less than a man. For many of us, bottoming isn’t an opportunity to enjoy a pleasurable sexual experience but an act that threatens our sense of masculinity and the respect that goes with it. Many gay men believe that if they bottom they will become “a bottom.” They fear that bottoming will create a new unwanted identity for them. It just may be that you haven’t been able to bottom (or been able to enjoy it) because you have so many emotional issues around the act. If you can get away from the falsehood of bottoming as an identity and see it for what it is—an erotic activity—the more relaxed and receptive you will be.

We label men “tops” or “bottoms” in part because we’re living out antiquity’s fear of the feminine. In heterosexual thinking, the penetrator (man) is more valuable than the penetrated (women). We’ve adapted that consciousness in our own community, where the penetrator (top) is more valuable than the penetrated (bottom). Clearly, labels like “top” and “bottom” can be useful shorthand for sexual likes and dislikes. But instead of stating what we prefer— “I like to bottom”— we turned that preference into an identity —“I’m a bottom.”

Masculinity isn’t about what you put into your body.
It’s about what you put out in the world.

“Anticipatory pain” is a psychological term for the expectation of pain. It speaks to the emotional and physical consequences of this expectation. This expectation of pain contributes greatly to your inability to relax. With the right conditioning your anal muscles can relax enough to easily accommodate a penis without any pain. The two words you’ve probably heard from partners who tried to top you.. “Relax! Relax!”

Deep, slow breathing operates on a feedback loop: Relaxation causes deep, slow breaths which causes more relaxation which causes more deep, slow breaths. You can get muscles to relax more by first increasing the tension. When you release the tension there’s a more dramatic experience of relaxation.

Getting Clean

Improve your diet, specifically incorporate more fiber and drink enough water. By “bulking up” waste matter and shaping it for easier transit, fiber ensures that feces leave the rectum and anal canal virtually intact. Examples of soluble fiber include bananas, apples, brown rice and white beans.

Enemas are harmful. Pushing water or a mixture of water and chemicals up your bum creates a powerful peristalsis (accompanied by bloating and cramping) that “evacuates” everything in your lower intestinal tract. Douching could have some serious negative effects as well. Firstly, frequent douching (even if it’s just plain water) may compromise the natural protective fluids and lining in your anus. An intact mucus layer protects your rectal tissues from abrasions, tears or cuts that could endanger your health. Here is the best way to get clean – using an ear syringe.

Ear syringes hold about one ounce of water—enough to get the job done but far too little to remove rectal mucus or cause peristalsis and its consequent “douche dependency.” Here’s how to use it:

1. Fill the ear syringe with warm water.
2. Apply lubrication to the tip (always use a soft-tipped syringe).
3. Insert into your anus gently.
4. Squirt gently.
5. Retain for a moment. Release.
6. Repeat until clean

Getting Into It

After you or your partner has safely put on a latex condom, the best position for first timers is squatting over your partner which straightens out the S curve better than any single position. Squatting loosens the puborectal sling, allowing the rectum to straighten out so that it comes close to being vertical. With entry in other positions, you—not your partner—must guide your partner’s penis in so that it slides along the rectal wall rather than poke at it. Only you intuitively know what path the penis should take. All things being even the best angle of entry is about 15 degrees away from your navel. Remember to use lots of lube, way more than you probably are using now, add lube every five minutes or so to your partner’s penis as well as your anus. Try having your partner use a circular rather than a thrusting motion. Some guys initially don’t like the straight in-and-out business (it can happen if you partner’s penis is unusually stiff, straight or longer than average).

Experiment with different positions. If missionary isn’t working, try resting one leg over his shoulder and the other one on the bed. Or try laying on your side, facing away from your partner as if you were spooning. Because it’s a common sleeping position, it helps the body relax faster and deeper. Don’t be afraid to try things that seem a little odd. If it feels good it’s because your S curve straightened out and your partner’s penis stimulates the prostate in a more effective way.

Stop when it feels uncomfortable or if you need a break. This is your maiden flight. Do not push yourself, pace yourself.

Final tips

• Don’t worry if you lose your erection or only get a partial one. While it may be a reflection of your emotional discomfort, it’s just as often the case that your erotic attention shifted away from your
• penis to your anus.
• Try to avoid doggie style at first. This position allows the maximum insertion of the penis into the rectum, which may be uncomfortable the first few times you bottom.
• ALWAYS be safe. Use a latex condom and get tested regularly.

******

I debated whether or not to repost this article, but in the end, I realized that I thought a lot of the advice offered was very good.

With that being said, I thought I'd share some of my own advice/experiences. I'm sure most readers of this blog realize that I believe in love, so in my mind, love and sex are inextricably linked... In my world, you can't have one without the other (I know that's not what a lot of men think). Also, I think monogamy in a loving committed relationship gives one the best chance of sexual and emotional happiness.

On the issue of cleanliness, I was most encouraged by the author's advice to avoid douching and enemas. From what I've read, aggressive douching and enemas can be harmful for just the reasons the author points out. In my experience, a diet with moderate amounts of fiber (which prevents loose stools) is about all you need to do.  I've never encountered a cleanliness problem without ever engaging in internal cleaning. The fact of the matter is the anus is a self cleaning organ. The anus is ordinarily free of fecal matter, it is only when one fills the need for a bowel movement and then shortly thereafter that there will be any trace of feces present. As a general rule, I'd add the tip of avoiding sex for 1-2 hours following a bowel movement, and of course after a heavy or high fat meal.

As far as using artificial lubricants are concerned, I think they are okay but are often unnecessary, I never use them for lovemaking (I know, you're going whoa, what'd he just say!")  When intercourse is the culmination of lovemaking and is preceded by lots of foreplay and enough time to build your arousal and thus your body's natural response, in my own personal experience, your own body will produce more than enough natural lubrication in the form of pre-coital fluid (pre-cum). And like artificial water-based lubricants, your own lubricant gets slicker when it encounters the natural moisture found in the anal canal.  So with that said, to answer the question in your mind, "Does he use condoms?"  No, I don't... Using your own lubrication in most cases precludes the ability to also use a condom (which absolutely should be used with lots of lubrication).

My decision to not use condoms was not one I made lightly... I realized early on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV that are inherent in all barrier free sex acts.  But I've always minimized my risks by avoiding casual sex acts; testing and knowing my status and that of my partners; and by limiting my sexual encounters to my mutually monogamous partner, which in my case is now my husband.

I know my own beliefs about love and sex are not shared by all, so I do encourage the use of condoms for sex if you and your partner(s) are not in a status-known, mutually agreed, long-term, monogamous relationship.  Sex without condoms is a risky act whether you're gay or not and that's why I think love is so essential... If you really love someone, it's very hard to intentionally put them at risk... So it goes without saying, the ability to have frank, honest and open discussions about sex with your partner is essential to protecting yourself and the one you love and to have a fulfilling and enriching sex life.

So there it is...

"Fear Eats the Soul"