Sexual Health What Is Rimming? A type of oral sex that involves stimulating the anus By S. Nicole Lane S. Nicole Lane LinkedIn Twitter S. Nicole Lane is a freelance health journalist focusing on sexual health and LGBTQ wellness. She is also the editorial associate for the Chicago Reader. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 01, 2022 Medically reviewed by Chioma Ndubisi, MD Medically reviewed by Chioma Ndubisi, MD Chioma Ndubisi, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in sexual and reproductive health in New York, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Anatomy of the Anus Physiology and Practice Risks and Safety Frequently Asked Questions Rimming—also known as analingus, anilingus, or a "rim job"—is a form of oral sex in which the mouth, lips, and tongue are used to stimulate a partner's anus. It is referred to as "rimming" because it largely involves the kissing or licking of the outer edge (rim) of the anus. Rimming may also involve penetrating a partner's anus with the tongue. Rimming can be enjoyed by all genders and sexual orientations. Even so, there are risks associated with the rimming, including the passing of certain bacterial or parasitic infections through contact with feces ("poop"). Several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also be spread through oral-anal contact. This article explains what rimming is, including the anatomy of the anus and the possible risks associated with this common sexual practice. Tom Merton/Getty Images Anatomy of the Anus The anus is a roughly one-inch opening where the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract ends. It is located at the end of the last six inches of the large intestine known as the rectum. The anus is a complex organ populated with nerves, tissues, and muscles (both voluntary and involuntary) that work in coordination to help evacuate poop from the body. Anal Sphincters Sphincters are circular muscles that open and close to regulate the passage of substances through the body. These include substances like food (esophageal sphincters), urine (urethral sphincters), and feces (anal sphincters). The anal sphincter consists of an involuntary internal sphincter muscle that keeps the anus closed to prevent poop from leaking out. The external anal sphincter muscle is voluntary and can be clenched and unclenched to help push feces from the body. Pudendal Nerve The pudendal nerve is a major nerve group located in the pelvis. It sends nerves signals from the genitals and anus to the brain and plays a central role in your ability to defecate (poop) and urinate (pee). The pudendal nerve also provides sensory information about touch, pleasure, pain, and temperature to the penis, vagina, clitoris, scrotum, labia, vulva, perineum (the area between the anus and genital), and anal canal. Physiology and Practice of Rimming The pudendal nerve enables the sexual stimulation of reproductive organs like the penis and vagina. Since branches of the pudendal nerve also service the anus and perineum, licking, kissing, or fingering these non-reproductive structures can also lead to sexual arousal. This is why so many people find rimming so pleasurable. Rimming is a common sexual practice. While many people associated it with men who have sex with men (MSM), people who identify as heterosexual regularly engage in rimming. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in Australia, 25.5% of heterosexual males and 9.3% of heterosexual females reported performing rimming on a sex partner within the past three months. Risks and Safety of Rimming As pleasurable as rimming can be, there are certain risks associated with the practice. This not only includes the risk of certain STIs but also bacterial viral, and parasitics infections you can get by ingesting even trace amounts of a partner's feces. Sexually Transmitted Infections As with other types of oral sex, there is no risk of pregnancy associated with rimming. However, rimming may expose someone to a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Some of the STIs that can be transmitted by rimming include: Chlamydia Genital herpes Gonorrhea Human papillomavirus (HPV) Syphilis STIs like syphilis and herpes can pass through contact with open sores and ulcers. Herpes and HPV can also be passed through skin-to-skin contact. There are several key ways to prevent getting an STI through rimming: Limit your number of sex partners. Use dental dams (thin squares of latex that act as a barrier between the mouth and anus). Avoid rimming if there are sores, warts, lesions, bleeding, or oozing of any sort from the anus. Do not rim someone if you have a cold sore. Ask your partner in advance if they've been tested for STIs. Is Oral Sex Really Safer Sex? Bacterial, Viral, and Parasitic Infections Rimming also carries the risk of infections from bacteria, parasites, and viruses that pass through the anus during defecation (also known as the fecal-oral route). Among the infections you can get via the fecal-oral route are: Amoebiasis E. coli Cryptosporidiosis Dysentery Giardiasis Helminths (intestinal worms) Hepatitis A Salmonella Many of the same precautions used to prevent STIs can also apply to these fecal-oral infections. In addition: Maintain good personal hygiene by taking a bath or a shower before sex.Use an antibacterial soap to clean the anal area.Consider anal douching (flushing the rectum with water) before sex.Avoid rimming if you or your partner has diarrhea or any signs of a gastrointestinal infection. Summary Rimming is a sexual practice in which the mouth, lips, and tongue are used to sexually stimulate a partner's anus. It is a common practice for both males and females and people of different sexual orientations. Rimming can be pleasurable but pose certain risks. STIs like herpes, syphilis, and HPV can be readily passed through rimming, You can also get bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections (like dysentery, hepatitis A, and intestinal worms) through the fecal-oral route. A reduction in your number of sex partners, the consistent use of dental dams, and other safer sex practices can help reduce your risk of infection when performing or receiving a "rim job." Frequently Asked Questions What is rimming? Rimming is slang for oral-anal sex (also known as analingus or anilingus). It involves the stimulation of a sexual partner's anus with the tongue, lips, teeth, or mouth. What are the risks of rimming? Rimming can cause the transmission of sexually transmitted infections as well as diseases spread by the fecal-oral route, including:AmoebiasisChlamydiaCryptosporidiosisE. coliGiardiasisGonorrheaHepatitis AHepatitis BHepatitis EHerpesHuman papillomavirus (HPV)Molluscum contagiosumSalmonellosisSyphilisTapewormsToxoplasmosis Learn More: Can You Get HIV From Oral Sex? Can you make rimming safer? To reduce the risk of infection, use a dental dam. Dental dams are latex or polyurethane squares you can buy at drugstores that serve as a barrier between the mouth and the anus. In a pinch, you can make a dental dam by cutting open an external condom or using cling wrap from the kitchen. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Phillips TR, Constantinou H, Fairley CK, et al. Oral, vaginal and anal sexual practices among heterosexual males and females attending a sexual health clinic: a cross-sectional survey in Melbourne, Australia. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 1;18(23):12668. doi:10.3390/ijerph182312668 UK National Health Service [NHS]. Does anal sex have any health risks? Kumar T, Puri G, Avarinda K, Arora N, Patil D, Gupta R. Oral sex and oral health; an enigma in itself. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2015:36(2):129-132. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.167133 By S. Nicole Lane S. Nicole Lane is a freelance health journalist focusing on sexual health and LGBTQ wellness. She is also the editorial associate for the Chicago Reader. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit