![Édouard-Henri Avril anal sex detail](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/%C3%89douard-Henri_Avril_anal_sex_detail.jpg)
Gay sexual practices are
sexual activities involving
men who have sex with men
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are male persons who engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex. The term was created in the 1990s by epidemiologists to study the spread of disease among all men who have sex with men, regardless of ...
(MSM), regardless of their
sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. These attractions are generall ...
or
sexual identity. These practices can include
anal sex,
non-penetrative sex
Non-penetrative sex or outercourse is sexual activity that usually does not include sexual penetration. It generally excludes the penetrative aspects of vaginal, anal, or oral sexual activity, but includes various forms of sexual and non-sex ...
, and
oral sex
Oral sex, sometimes referred to as oral intercourse, is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a person by another person using the mouth (including the lips, tongue, or teeth) and the throat. Cunnilingus is oral sex p ...
. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys.
Behaviors
Various
sex position
A sex position is a position of the body that people use for sexual intercourse or other sexual activities. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants adopt in order to perform those acts. Though sexual intercourse ge ...
s may be performed during sexual activity between men. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys due to
social desirability bias
In social science research, social-desirability bias is a type of response bias that is the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others. It can take the form of over-reporting "good behavi ...
.
Anal sex
![Wiki-anal missionary](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Wiki-anal_missionary.png)
Historically, anal sex has been popularly associated with
male homosexuality
Human male sexuality encompasses a wide variety of feelings and behaviors. Men's feelings of attraction may be caused by various physical and social traits of their potential partner. Men's sexual behavior can be affected by many factors, incl ...
and MSM. Many MSM, however, do not engage in anal sex, and may engage in oral sex,
frottage or
frot
Frot or frotting (slang for frottage; ) is a non-penetrative form of male-to-male sexual activity that usually involves direct penis-to-penis contact. The term was popularized by gay men activists who disparaged the practice of anal sex, but ...
, or
mutual masturbation
Non-penetrative sex or outercourse is sexual activity that usually does not include sexual penetration. It generally excludes the penetrative aspects of vaginal, anal, or oral sexual activity, but includes various forms of sexual and non-sex ...
instead.
Among men who have anal sex with other men, the insertive partner may be referred to as the ''
top
A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect.
Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few ...
'', the one being penetrated may be referred to as the ''
bottom
Bottom may refer to:
Anatomy and sex
* Bottom (BDSM), the partner in a BDSM who takes the passive, receiving, or obedient role, to that of the top or dominant
* Bottom (sex), a term used by gay couples and BDSM
* Buttocks or bottom, part of th ...
'', and those who enjoy either role may be referred to as ''
versatile''.
When MSM engage in anal sex without using a condom, this is referred to as
bareback sex. Pleasure, pain, or both may accompany anal sex. While the
nerve endings in the
anus can provide pleasurable feelings, an
orgasm
Orgasm (from Greek , ; "excitement, swelling") or sexual climax is the sudden discharge of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, resulting in rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions in the pelvic region chara ...
may be achieved through receptive anal penetration by indirect stimulation of the
prostate
The prostate is both an accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found only in some mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemically, and phys ...
.
A study by the
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior
The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior is a decade-long nationally representative study of human sexual behavior. The research has been conducted in the United States by researchers from the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in the Scho ...
(NSSHB) indicated that men who self-report taking a receptive position during anal sex in their last encounter were at least as likely to have reached orgasm as men who adopted an insertive role. A study sampling single people in the U.S. indicated that orgasm rates are similar among men across sexual orientations.
With regard to pain or being uncomfortable during anal sex,
some research indicates that, for 24% to 61% of gay or
bisexual men, painful receptive anal sex (known as anodyspareunia) is a frequent lifetime sexual difficulty.
Reports pertaining to
the prevalence of anal sex among MSM have varied over time, with some percentages higher than others.
A large percentage of gay and
bisexual men self-report lifetime participation in anal sex.
Studies among gay men have indicated that percentages are similar when comparing men who prefer to penetrate their partners to those who prefer to be the receptive partner.
Some men who have sex with men, however, believe that being a receptive partner during anal sex questions their
masculinity.
Non-penetrative sex and sex toys
![Wiki-frot1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Wiki-frot1.png)
There are a variety of non-penetrative sex practices.
Frot
Frot or frotting (slang for frottage; ) is a non-penetrative form of male-to-male sexual activity that usually involves direct penis-to-penis contact. The term was popularized by gay men activists who disparaged the practice of anal sex, but ...
is a form of male-male sexual activity that usually involves direct
penis
A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males d ...
-to-penis contact.
It is a form of frottage. Frot can be enjoyable because it mutually and simultaneously stimulates the genitals of both partners as it tends to produce pleasurable friction against the
frenulum
A frenulum (or frenum, plural: frenula or frena, from the Latin ''frēnulum'', "little bridle", the diminutive of ''frēnum'') is a small fold of tissue that secures the motion of a mobile organ in the body.
In human anatomy
Frenula on the h ...
nerve bundle on the underside of each man's penile shaft, just below the
urinary opening (meatus) of the penis
head (glans penis).
Intercrural sex
Intercrural sex, which is also known as coitus interfemoris, thigh sex (or thighing) and interfemoral sex, is a type of non-penetrative sex in which the penis is placed between the receiving partner's thighs and friction is generated via thrus ...
is another form of non-penetrative sex that can be practiced between MSM.
Docking (the insertion of one man's penis into another man's
foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce, is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus. The foreskin is attached to the ...
) is also practiced.
MSM may use
sex toys
A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate human sexual pleasure, such as a dildo, artificial vagina or vibrator. Many popular sex toys are designed to resemble human genitals, and may be vibrating or non-vibratin ...
. According to an online survey of 25,294 men who self-reported a
homosexual or bisexual orientation, 49.8% have used
vibrators. Most men who had used a vibrator in the past reported use during masturbation (86.2%). When used during partnered interactions, vibrators were incorporated into foreplay (65.9%) and intercourse (59.4%).
Oral sex
![Wiki-sixtynine-male](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Wiki-sixtynine-male.jpg)
MSM may engage in different forms of oral sex, such as
fellatio
Fellatio (also known as fellation, and in slang as blowjob, BJ, giving head, or sucking off) is an oral sex act involving a person stimulating the penis of another person by using the mouth, throat, or both. Oral stimulation of the scrotu ...
,
tea bagging, and
anilingus. Wellings et al. reported that "the equation of 'homosexual' with 'anal' sex among men is common among lay and health professionals alike," whereas an
online survey With the application of probability sampling in the 1930s, surveys became a standard tool for empirical research in social sciences, marketing, and official statistics.
The methods involved in survey data collection are any of a number of ways in ...
of 18,000 MSM in Europe "showed that oral sex was most commonly practised, followed by mutual masturbation, with anal intercourse in third place."
A 2011 survey by ''
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
''The Journal of Sexual Medicine'' (''JSM'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal published on behalf of the International Society for Sexual Medicine. Besides the latter society, it is also an official journal for the International Society for the ...
'' found similar results for U.S. gay and bisexual men. Kissing a partner on the mouth (74.5%), oral sex (72.7%), and partnered masturbation (68.4%) were the three most common behaviors, with 63.2% of the sample self-reporting five to nine different sexual behaviors during their last encounter.
Health risks
A variety of
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can result from sexual activity. A 2007 study reported that two large population surveys found "the majority of gay men had similar numbers of unprotected sexual partners annually as straight men and women."
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human
immune system
The immune system is a network of biological processes that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms, as well as cancer cells and objects such as wood splint ...
caused by the
human immunodeficiency virus
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immun ...
(HIV).
Worldwide, an estimated 5–10% of HIV infections are the result of men having sex with men.
However, in North America and Western and Central Europe, more HIV infections are transmitted by men having sex with men than by any other transmission route in 2009.
In the United States, gay and bisexual men accounted for 70% of 38,739 new HIV diagnoses in 2017. Of the 5,164 people diagnosed with HIV in the UK in 2016, 54% were gay or bisexual men. This statistic is decreasing in London as reported by Public Health England in 2017. The relevance of HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men may be partially explained by
gender norms
A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person's sex. Gender roles are usually cent ...
that prioritize male strength and stoicism, which delay men from seeking care.
HIV prevention services coverage is still low for gay men and other men who have sex with men, including in many high-income countries.
Syphilis is passed from person to person through direct contact with a syphilis sore; mainly on the external genitals, the vagina, or anus.
In 2006, 64% of the reported cases in the United States were among men who have sex with men.
A rise in the incidence of syphilis among MSM has been seen in other developed nations. Contracting syphilis increases the rates of HIV contamination and vice versa, and accordingly a survey in the US has indeed found that half MSM with syphilis also possess HIV. Some studies utilizing convenience samples have concluded that such rise can be attributed to increased rates of sex without a condom among MSM, though at least one study using a nationally representative sample has found that condom use rates among MSM have increased, not decreased, in the last decade, and there has been a steep decline in the frequency of anal sex in the last sexual encounter of active MSM.
According to a US survey, HIV, syphilis, and anal warts are all significantly more common among men who recently had sex with men (MSM) than among men who recently had sex only with women (MSW). On the other hand,
genital herpes
Genital herpes is an infection by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) of the genitals. Most people either have no or mild symptoms and thus do not know they are infected. When symptoms do occur, they typically include small blisters that break open ...
is less common among MSM than among MSW.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium '' Chlamydia trachomatis''. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may occur only several we ...
,
human papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is caused by a DNA virus from the ''Papillomaviridae'' family. Many HPV infections cause no symptoms and 90% resolve spontaneously within two years. In some cases, an HPV infection persists and res ...
,
gonorrhea
Gonorrhea, colloquially known as the clap, is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium ''Neisseria gonorrhoeae''. Infection may involve the genitals, mouth, or rectum. Infected men may experience pain or burning with u ...
, and
lice saw no significant difference across the two groups.
Legality
Some or all sexual acts between men are currently or were formerly
classified as crimes in jurisdictions of some countries. In its December 2020 report,
ILGA Ilga or ILGA may refer to:
* Ilga (river), a river in Russia, tributary of the Lena
* International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, or ILGA
* Illinois General Assembly, in the United States
* Ilga, a Latvian feminine given na ...
found that certain sexual acts between men are criminalized in 67 of 193
UN member states
The United Nations member states are the sovereign states that are members of the United Nations (UN) and have equal representation in the UN General Assembly. The UN is the world's largest intergovernmental organization.
The criteria ...
and one non-independent jurisdiction, the
Cook Islands
)
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, capital = Avarua
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Avarua
, official_languages =
, lan ...
, while two UN member states, Iraq and Egypt, criminalize it ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' but not in legislation.
In Egypt, there is no law against homosexuality but gay and bisexual men are prosecuted under other laws, most famously the
Cairo 52.
In at least six UN member states—Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria (only
northern Nigeria
Northern Nigeria was an autonomous division within Nigeria, distinctly different from the southern part of the country, with independent customs, foreign relations and security structures. In 1962 it acquired the territory of the British Nort ...
), Saudi Arabia and Yemen—it is
punishable by death
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the state-sanctioned practice of deliberately killing a person as a punishment for an actual or supposed crime, usually following an authorized, rule-governed process to conclude that t ...
.
[ In 2007, five countries executed someone as a penalty for homosexual acts.][ In 2020, ILGA named Iran and Saudi Arabia as the only countries in which executions for same-sex activity have reportedly taken place.][ In other countries, such as Yemen, Iraq, and Libya, extrajudicial executions are carried out by militias such as ]Islamic State
An Islamic state is a state that has a form of government based on Islamic law (sharia). As a term, it has been used to describe various historical polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world. As a translation of the Arabic term ...
or Al-Qaeda.[ Many other countries had such laws in the past, but they were repealed, especially since 1945.] Such laws are inherently difficult to enforce; more often than not, they are not commonly enforced.[
]
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Male homosexuality
Sexual acts