How To Stretch Your Asshole Like A PRO: The Ultimate Guide

Looking for an anal stretching guide? No worries — we’ve got you covered! But just in case you are in a hurry, here is a brief explanation of how to expand your asshole.

Read on!

how to stretch your asshole

How To Stretch Your Asshole In A Nutshell

To stretch your anus, empty your bowels and give yourself an anal douche or enema. Relax and warm up. Lube up and slowly insert anal stretchers until you meet resistance. Let it rest, or gently wiggle it around. Once you are happy with that level of stretch, push further up or get a bigger toy.


What is The Purpose of Anal Training and Stretching?

Is Anal Stretching Safe?

Generally — yes. However, you should always keep in mind the dangers and precautions we discussed earlier. To minimize the risks, take it slow, keep things hygienic, apply plenty of lube, and consider using condoms

However, if you’re pregnant or have hemorrhoids or another anal or rectal condition, always check in with your doctor before engaging in any kind of anal play.


Is The Stretching Permanent?

No, that’s a myth. Your anal sphincters have evolved to contract, hold your poop in, and expel it when needed. They did NOT evolve to accommodate giant butt plugs and dildos

So, no matter how much you stretch your asshole, it will always bounce back — even after a bit of gaping. The reason why you will be able to take in larger objects over time is that your muscles will learn to relax more effectively and not because they will get “loose.”


Won’t You Get ‘Loose’?

Luckily anal stretching IS NOT PERMANENT. I know what you’re worried about, and no –  you WON’T get so stretched out you won’t be able to control your bowel movements. 

But then why does anal get easier over time? 

Because you have more control, not because your rectal opening has gotten looser. 

Your sphincter is a muscle. By stretching it, you’re training this muscle, making it more flexible and even stronger. Make sure to do tightening exercises as well as relaxing exercises. This will train your sphincter to contract more easily.


How Far Can An Asshole Stretch?

Well, pretty far. The average rectum is roughly 5 inches long, and it can stretch even further. Your pelvic bones usually define the ultimate limit.

However, everyone’s anatomy is unique. You should always listen to your body: if something does not feel right, don’t do it.


How Often Should You Train?

As often as you’d like. For best results, though, aim to exercise your asshole once or twice a day, five days a week. Each anal training session should last at least 5–10 minutes


How To Prepare For Anus Stretching

What You’ll Need

Whether you are an experienced anal player or just beginning your stretching journey, it’s a good idea to have the following at hand:

  • Lube — the more, the better
  • Anal stretching toys of various sizes (see more anal toys here)
  • Time, patience, and a positive outlook

Anal Stretching: Steps & Exercises

Ready for action? Here is how to do anal stretching properly (and safely):

Step 1: Empty Your Bowels

As with any form of anal play, you want to have a bowel movement first, or you risk pooping right in the thick of the action. To speed things up, you may take a gentle laxative but don’t overdo it.


Step 2: Give Yourself A Douche Or An Enema

Emptying your bowels may be all you need for regular anal sex, but when it comes to stretching, you want to make sure that there is no leftover fecal matter up there.

If you are a beginner or simply want less intense stretching, an anal douche should do just fine. The Colt Anal Douche is a great option for beginners that’s easy to use and clean.

However, an enema would be a safer bet if you plan to penetrate deeper than 3–4 inches. Check out the Clean Stream Deluxe Shower Enema Set, which includes everything you need to give yourself a quick and easy enema.

Discover some of the best tips on how to anal douche in this guide and keep your rectum and anus squeaky clean!


Step 3: Relax And Warm-Up

For the best results, you want to be as relaxed as possible. That should loosen all your muscles, including your anal sphincters, and will help your butt take in larger objects.

Pro Tip

Consider taking a long, hot bath — alone or with your partner. Warm water can relax your muscles as few other things can. 

Follow that up with your preferred type of foreplay. Oral sex, gentle fingering, and prostate massage usually work wonders. 


Step 4: Lube Up

When you are ready to start stretching, apply a liberal amount of lube around your asshole and on the toy you will be using. And don’t hold off on the lube: unlike the vagina, the anus is not self-lubricating, so it needs quite a bit of extra help. 

Silicone lube can be a great fit for anal play (see more lube choices here) — it’s thicker and lasts longer, so you won’t need to reapply it as often. Its rich texture also offers more cushioning, making it an excellent choice for anal play. 

Boy Butter is an effective oil-based silicone lubricant that has the benefits of natural coconut oil and can still be washed off with water—this means it won’t stain your clothes, either. However, it is not latex-safe, meaning you can’t use it with latex condoms.

Remember: If you are playing with silicone toys, you should only use water-based lubricants, as silicone-based ones can damage the material of your toys. They can also break down latex, which is the last thing you want if you are using a condom or a latex glove.

If you require lube regularly, I suggest getting yourself a bottle of X Lube. This innovative water-based lube comes in concentrated powder form, and you’ll get almost 20 liters of lube from a single bottle! All you have to do is add warm water.


Step 5: Insert A Finger, A Sex Toy, Or Your Partner’s Penis

For starters, insert an object or a body part that you know you can handle easily. You don’t want to bring out the heavy artillery right away.

To make the initial penetration easier, get on all fours or lie on your side with your knees bent. 

Slide the tip in very slowly and stop as soon as you meet any resistance. At this point, you can let the toy stay in place and gently stretch your anus as you engage in other activities: foreplay, masturbation, watching porn, or just about anything else.

Alternatively, you can use slow circular and thrusting motions to get your butt used to the foreign object. As you do that, remember to keep taking deep breaths and enjoy the process. 

Another thing to keep in mind here is that plugging is easier than thrusting. So, just because you are able to accommodate and carry around a butt plug of a certain size, that doesn’t mean that a similar-sized dildo will go in and out that easily.

Consider checking out our best anal beads from small, beginner, to large and vibrating guide for more options.


Step 6: Gradually Work Your Way Up

As soon as your anus adjusts to the sensation, wiggle the toy gently and push it a little bit farther up. It’s okay to feel some slight discomfort, and you might even find that quite pleasurable.

If you feel any pain, though, stop immediately and slowly pull the toy out. If the pain is too intense, consider giving your butt a break for a few days.

Once you feel like that first toy is no longer much of a challenge, substitute it for a larger one.

Repeat the process above and gradually work your way up until you reach a level of stretching that you are comfortable with. 


Step 7: Prepare For The After-Effects

After your anal stretching session is over, you may feel some gassiness and/or an intense urge to evacuate your bowels. These sensations may continue throughout the day and even longer.

That’s entirely normal, though: by this point, you would have inserted a substantial amount of lube and air in your asshole, and your body will be looking for ways to expel them.


What Can You Use?

Dilator

As the name suggests, rectal dilators are specifically designed to stretch your butthole. Medical dilators are used after anorectal surgery to help make passing stool easier. Those made for pleasure are basically identical.

Dilators are usually smooth and tubular, often with a tapered tip. They’re sold in sets of 5 or more. You start training with the smallest one. Once you’re comfortable with it, you move on to the next size. Repeat until you get to the largest one. 


Plug

Butt plugs are comfortable and easy to use. Most of them have a tapered tip for easy insertion and a wide base so they don’t get sucked into your rectum (sparing you an embarrassing ER visit). They also have a thin “neck” your sphincter can close on, so they stay in place once inserted.  

Buttplugs come in all sorts of lengths and widths. Anal play newbies can find themselves a smaller model, while pros can pick up a plug that’s bigger than a beer can. 

A lot of plugs also have extras that can make your training sessions more pleasurable, like texture or vibrating functions

You can get yourself a butt plug trainer kit (like a dilator set) so you can gradually increase the size you’re working with. There are also “blow-up” buttplugs that can be used in a similar way – just use the best anal pumps and some air to make the toy bigger while it’s already inside you. 


Lifelike Dildo

If you want to combine your anal training with a lifelike masturbation experience, pick a realistic dildo. They come in all sorts of different sizes (from cute little peckers to monster dongs), so you can start small and gradually work your way up. It will feel almost exactly like real anal sex! 


Fantasy Dildo

Why not change things up a bit by adding a fantasy element to your anal workout? Fantasy dildos are inspired by animals, dragons, unicorns, and even aliens. They come in some funky shapes and textures that can diversify your pleasure and introduce you to new sensations. 

Most of them are softer than the average dildo, which makes them very comfortable for anal training. Also, some of them (like tentacle dildos) are tapered towards the tip, so they’re easy to insert. 


SquarePegToys Egg Plugs

Insertable length:
Available from 3.5” to 8”
Diameter:
Available from 1.3” to 3.5”

High-quality material and a wide range of sizes from “XS” to “Monster.” This range of butt plugs is excellent for gradually working your way to bigger butt plugs.


Easy In Anal Dilators

Insertable length:
From 3.5” to 5”
Diameter:
From 1” diameter to 2” diameter

The tapered head, smooth material, and flared base make these a great option for beginners. Comes as a set of 5 butt plugs with increasing sizes. 


Tantus Cone Large

Insertable length:
10.7” (total length)
Diameter:
3.5”

This XL toy is for experienced users only and one that you can work up to. Made of high-quality silicone, that’s the perfect smoothness and sturdiness.


Mr. Hankey's Xtra Small Dildo Series

Mr. Hankey’s Xtra Small Dildo Series

Insertable length:
Various (available from 6.5” to 7”)
Diameter:
Various (available from 0.9” to 1.9”)

This range of textured realistic and fantasy dildoes is perfect for beginners who want to experience anal penetration as well as enjoy different textures.


Mr. Hankey’s Seahorse Dildo

Insertable length:
Available from 8.75” to 14”
Diameter:
Available from 1.5” to 2.8”

This textured fantasy dildo comes in 5 different sizes, from “small” to “XXXL.” It can be used for penetration either vaginally or anally and has an intense ribbed texture.


Why Should You Look Into Anal Stretching Exercises?

The point of gradually stretching your anus is pretty self-explanatory: you want to train your butt to be able to accommodate larger and larger objects. 

But why would anyone want to do that? Well, here are some rather compelling reasons:

Super Intense Sensations 

The interior of your asshole is lined up with a whole bunch of super-sensitive nerve endings.

And the math is simple: the girthier and longer objects you insert up your butt, the more intense the sensations.

For many people, that feeling of maximum fullness and stretching can be extremely pleasurable.


Body Modification

Many people get a huge kick out of modifying their bodies as a result / for the purposes of sexual activities. And yes, you guessed it — if you do it frequently and for a long enough time, anal stretching can cause your anus to look, well, modified

That’s not a bad thing at all — if it’s not due to injuries or play, that’s a little too rough, of course. Over time, repeated muscle stretching may cause the ring of your anus to look different than before it was exposed to this type of exercise.


Non-Human Dildos

Other people are really into playing with fantastical dildos. And it just so happens that a dragon or a werewolf dildo is substantially larger than a human one.

However, if you’re a beginner who’s curious about non-human dildos and enjoys the odd session of sci-fi-inspired anal play, Mr. Hankey’s Toys has a huge range of fantasy dildos in small sizes that you can start with.


Anal Gaping

Last but not least, some people like to stretch their asshole to get their anus to gape. After intense stretching or a prolonged period of anal sex, your sphincters may take a while to tighten up back to normal.

In the meantime, your anus will remain wide open or gaping. And a surprisingly large number of people get off on that!

Check out our guide on how to gape to learn more about this.


Dangers & Safety Precautions

Anal Tearing

Your asshole is extremely sensitive. On the one hand, that makes for super pleasant sensations.

On the other hand, though, it also means that your anus is susceptible to tears and tissue damage if you get a little too rough, don’t use enough lube, or overestimate the size of toys you can handle. 

Something to note:

To minimize the risk of tears, do NOT use numbing creams.

You want to be able to tell if something goes wrong. Plus, the whole point of stretching is to feel it.


STIs and STDs 

Anal muscles are much thinner and more delicate than those of the vagina. As a result, it’s a lot easier to catch an STD or an STI anally than vaginally.

So, when in doubt, always use a condom


Anal Prolapse

Stretching and other forms of extreme anal play might cause rectal prolapse. While there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship, that’s something to keep in mind. 


Hemorrhoids

A hemorrhoid is a swollen blood vessel in your lower rectum and anus. That can cause swelling around your anus, as well as pain, bleeding, and itching. 

Most hemorrhoids are internal and stay inside the rectum, but sometimes, they can push through the anal opening and cause even more irritation. 


Perforation

Perforation is a very serious condition. The good news is that it’s quite rare — but there are reports of people ending up with their colons perforated after using sex toys and other objects.


Other People’s Tips, Experiences & Techniques

“Can you loosen your hole with just your fingers? (NB: Trim your nails, my dude.) […] I usually recommend starting there, because you’ll need a lot of biofeedback to be able to open up and stay open, and your hands are absolutely the best way to do that.

More or less, you’re going to be building new neural/motor pathways to your ass. Hands are the best way of getting that feedback.

Poppers. If you don’t use them already, they are especially helpful for this sort of play. While the short head rush and high are the best part for some guys, the real benefit is that they make smooth muscle tissue relax… and your hole is primarily smooth muscle tissue.

Aftercare. After you’ve given your hole a good working over, take the time to cool down. Gently massage and caress the outside, the wall, and the near inside: get the blood flowing to those muscles to aid in recovery.

I don’t recommend using any lotions or gels: that tissue is sensitive, and you’ve probably just given it quite a workout. Let it rest comfortably. The prime benefit of this is that you’ll help minimize the chances of any hemorrhoids flaring up.”


Stretching Your Asshole: Final Thoughts

Well, there you have it. This is how you stretch your anus. 

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and found it useful. As always, make sure to leave your feedback in the comments section below. I’m super curious to find out what you think!

Anal stretching is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it can bring you a whole load of new and unexpected sensations if you are willing to give it a try.

Dainis Graveris

Dainis Graveris

Over last 4 years Dainis have helped millions of people through his advice on this site (200+ guides and 1M+ visits/monthly). His work & advice has appeared on sites like: Healthline, Vice, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, WomensHealthMag, MindBodyGreen & more. Read More.

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