Pegging Facts & Statistics [2024]: How Common Is Pegging?

What’s pegging, you ask? Well, we’ve gathered all the info you need! Let’s find out how common pegging is, why some people enjoy it, and a whole lot more!

Pegging – anal sex with a strap-on – is a growing way for people to enjoy anal sex, generally with female partners. Some love it, some think it’s weird, and some worry that enjoying pegging means they’re gay or bisexual.

Table of Contents

Top Pegging Statistics You Should Know:

16.7% of sexually-active American adults have tried pegging.
One in ten (10%) of women said they’d like to try pegging.
“Enjoying being penetrated just means that you enjoy being penetrated. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation.”
In the UK, pegging is reportedly on the rise as sales of strap-on dildos were up by nearly 200% last year.
Curiosity was the most common reason women said they tried pegging.
A sense of control and power was the most common reason women said they liked pegging.
53.3% of men have fantasized about “being dominated sexually.”
It is possible to experience slight discomfort after anal play, though you shouldn’t experience any pain.

What Is Pegging?

First, let’s define pegging:

In 2001, sex writer Dan Savage posted a question in his Savage Love column: “What term, from this day forward, will be the commonly accepted slang for a woman fucking a man in the ass with a strap-on dildo?”.

The readers voted “peg” with 5,216 votes (43% of the votes).

“The defining feature of pegging is that there’s a strap-on and anal sex, not the gender or assigned sex of the partners doing it,” says Lisa Finn, a sex educator at sex toy boutique Babeland.

Sources: The Stranger (Archived), Healthline

How Many People Have Tried and Willing to Try Pegging?

Here’s what studies have shown about how common pegging is:

Percentage

People Willing To Try Pegging

16.7%

Sexually-active American adults have tried pegging.

10%

Women said they had pegged their partners.

Percentage of people who’ve tried pegging by generation:

Percentage

Generation

16.1%

Gen Z

17.7%

Millennials

14.0%

Gen X

One in ten (10%) of women said they’d like to try pegging.

Sources: Future Method, Marie Claire

Can Pegging Influence a Person’s Sexual Identity?

One of the most common questions about pegging is, “is it gay to want to be pegged?” These studies have shown that pegging and sexual orientation/identity aren’t closely linked:

Percentage of people who have tried pegging by sexual identity:

Sexual Identity

Percentage

Gay/Lesbian

24.1%

Bisexual

31.4%

Straight

10.4%

Men who discover they enjoy anal play may fear that this is an indicator that they are gay or bi. “But this simply isn’t true,” says Cory B., a kink coach, sex educator, and co-host of the podcast Never Have I Ever.

Cory B. stated that “Enjoying being penetrated just means that you enjoy being penetrated. It has nothing to do with sexual orientation.”

Some change their sexual self-identification because of their sexual experiences:

One participant in a study claimed to be bisexual after an experience with a girlfriend that involved her anally penetrating him with a dildo (aka “pegging”).

The anal eroticism piqued his interest in exploring a sexual experience with a man.

Some people learn about their existing sexual identity through sexual experiences like pegging.

Sources: Future Method, Men’s Health, Archives of Sexual Behavior

How Many Times Do People Get Pegged in a Month?

When people enjoy pegging, they tend to do it fairly frequently regardless of their sexual orientation, according to this study:

Monthly frequency of butt play (e.g., pegging) by sexual identity:

Sexual Identity

Frequency

Overall

2.57 times

Men

3.13 times

Women

1.66 times

Straight

1.85 times

Gay/Lesbian

6.91 times

Bisexual

3.05 times

Source: Future Method

How Comfortable Are People Discussing Pegging?

Many people seem to think pegging is a taboo topic, but over half of Americans are either comfortable with it or neutral:

How comfortable are Americans discussing butt play (e.g., pegging):

Comfortability

Percentage

Very Uncomfortable

11.9%

Somewhat Uncomfortable

21.3%

Neutral

22.4%

Somewhat Comfortable

25.3%

Very Comfortable

19%

Source: Future Method

Where Is Pegging by Strap-on Dildo Popular?

Pegging, and sex with strap-ons, in general, seems to be growing both in the United States and globally. Here’s where it’s most popular:

Strap-on dildos (commonly used in pegging, vaginal sex, anal sex, oral sex, etc.) are popular in the states of California, New York, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

In the UK, pegging is reportedly on the rise as sales of strap-on dildos were up by nearly 200% last year.

Source: Bespoke Surgical, Marie Claire

What Do Women Like About Pegging?

While men likely enjoy the prostate stimulation from pegging, many women enjoy it too. Here are their top reasons:

“Pegging allows a woman to actually be inside a man, navigating the pleasure (which is a thrill in itself). It’s often one of the few times in sexual play that women get to do that.” According to Alicia Sinclair, a certified sex educator, and CEO of toy brands b-Vibe & Le Wand.

Top reasons why women tried pegging:

Curiosity was the most common reason women said they tried pegging.

Reasons

Women

Reasons

Curiosity

It turns them on

Partner’s desire

Sexual variety / sexual fantasy

Women

Curiosity was the main reason they tried pegging.

That pegging a guy gives them sensation and excitement, that it turns them on.

They did it because of their partner’s sexual desire to be pegged.

That “sexual variety or fantasy” was the reason why they tried pegging.

What women liked about pegging:

A sense of control and power was the most common reason women said they liked pegging.

What they like about pegging

Women

Sense of control and power

They liked the sense of control and how it made them feel powerful during pegging.

Boosts their sexual confidence

That pegging boosted their sexual confidence, which translated to their regular day-to-day life.

The fluidity of roles

Liked the fluidity of roles in pegging.

Deep intimacy

Enjoyed how pegging was deeply intimate and created a new way to connect with their partners.

Women learned that it could provide an emotional and physical release.

Giving men pleasure

Enjoyed giving men pleasure that may be new to them.

Note: These women expressed more than 1 reason for what they like about pegging.

Sources: Men’s Health, Men’s Health

Reasons Why Men Don’t Want to be Pegged

While pegging seems to be growing in popularity, it’s still viewed as “gay,” “wrong,” or “disgusting” by a lot of men. Some of this may be due to homophobia, and in other cases, they might just NOT like the idea of it. Here’s what people said:

Why men said they didn’t want to be pegged

Point of View of Men about Pegging

Disgust

24 people

Complex Homophobia

33 people

Closed Minded

13 people

Don’t trust women

16 people

Gender Identity

38 people

No explanation

53 people

No one to peg

38 people

Pegging is gay

28 people

Stigma/Taboo/Weird

61 people

Source: Journal of Humanistic Psychology

Why People Should Try Pegging

If you’re peg-curious, it might be worth giving it a shot! There are lots of reasons men and women both enjoy pegging:

Top reasons men and women should try pegging:

Men

Top Reasons

Prostate stimulation

The prostate is a pleasure zone for men, with many nerve endings. It can be stimulated during anal penetration.

Prostate orgasm

Men experience a prostate orgasm from rhythmic stimulation – commonly referred to as prostate milking. This can feel incredible for some.

Submissive roles

Many men don’t often slip into more submissive roles, and getting pegged can do that for them.

With the right energy or position, it can be exciting to be dominated by a female partner.

Pegging doesn’t have to be all rough and tough; you can also have a very loving and sensual experience getting pegged.

Women

Top Reasons

Clitoral stimulation with strap-on

The base of a strap-on can be stimulating, similar to dry humping.

Specialized pleasure toys

Dildos designed for pegging can have other additions for the giver, such as a dildo-base-mounted vibrating wand.

Role reversal

Pegging allows a woman to dominate the situation and control pleasure delivery.

Women often experience a sense of control and power.

Prostate massage can be performed both with fingers or strap-on dildos to stimulate the prostate gland.

Prostate massage is performed with a finger or strap-on inserted into the rectum to stimulate the prostate gland. This can release excess seminal fluid—the fluid that mixes with sperm to create semen—from the ducts of the prostate gland.

Stimulating the prostate gland or prostate massage is said to treat:

Disease

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Enlargement of the prostate

Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate

Urinary hesitancy

Difficulty urinating

Erectile dysfunction

Difficulty getting or keeping an erection.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a gland that produces some of the fluid in semen. It’s found in front of the rectum, between the bladder and the penis. When the prostate gland is stimulated or massaged, it’s possible to have a prostate orgasm.

53.3% of men have fantasized about “being dominated sexually.”

“The switching and subversion of gender roles, the playing with power, and the novelty of a woman wearing a penis can all be a massive turn-on for a man.”

Ian Kerner, Ph.D.

Sex Therapist and Author of “She Comes First.”

“To allow men the ability to say that they don’t want to be in control all the time – that they like it when their female partner initiates sexual activity – and, likewise, to allow women to feel empowered to take control and not feel that sex is something that happens to them is a great leveler,”

Dr. Gayle Brewer

Sexual Behavior and Relationship Psychologist From the University of Liverpool

Sources: Promescent, Verywell Health, WebMD, Journal of Sexual Medicine, Marie Claire

Can Pegging Be Painful?

Some people are interested in pegging but are worried it might be painful. Generally, if done right, pegging should be a pain-free experience:

It is possible to experience slight discomfort

after anal play, though you shouldn’t experience any pain.

“You may also feel the urge to use the bathroom soon after anal play, but it shouldn’t prevent you from having a bowel movement,” According to Malika O’Neill, sexologist and licensed professional counselor.

The anal canal is delicate and vulnerable to microtears

Microtears are avoidable as long as people follow these rules: Use lube, ease it in slowly, and communicate with your partner.

Source: Healthline

Conclusion

While pegging seems to be on the rise, it’s still relatively uncommon. Many will likely avoid it (and miss out on some incredible orgasms) because of their existing stigmas or fears. While both men and women can enjoy pegging, it should be approached with care to avoid any injuries to the receiver.