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Fisting

by Gay Blade

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Introduction

Fisting, or fist fucking (FF), means placing or attempting to place the whole hand, or even two hands, into the rectum or vagina. The term is a slight misnomer, for the hand is only formed into a fist, if at all, once it is fully inserted, a process that requires a great deal of gentleness, care and patience. 'Fist fucking' implies moving the fist repeatedly in and out of the orifice, but this is better known as punch fucking, a potentially highly dangerous activity requiring advanced technique and consequently relatively rare. The hanky code for fisting is red.

For the moment this fact sheet covers only male anal fisting in detail. Female anal fisting is basically the same but there is no prostate to stimulate and since women's bodies tend to be smaller, the size of hand they can take will be generally smaller too. Special hygiene precautions should be taken to ensure hands that have been up the asshole are not then put up the cunt without being properly cleaned. Female vaginal fisting is in certain respects easier than anal fisting since the opening to the vagina is larger, but the space behind is more enclosed, the sensations are very different and there are other safety considerations too -- the two techniques are not really comparable. A useful piece on vaginal fisting appears on the POWERotics site -- see Links below.

There is some debate about whether fisting counts as SM. Certainly it is very difficult (and dangerous) to play fisting as a pain game, and although it looks very dominant-submissive an activity from the outside, it requires great cooperation by both parties. In the circles of fisting enthusiasts, participants are usually expected to be capable of taking either the insertive or the receptive role, and although there is considerable overlap between fisters and those into more typical SM games, fisting has aficionados all of its own. See the Source Sheet for an impressionistic evocation of the relationship between fisting and SM.

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What's the Thrill?

Fisting is one of the more extreme sexual acts that human beings perform. It is certainly one of the more dangerous. People who get into fisting will often describe it as their 'ultimate high', the best expression of their sexuality, 'the most sensuous act'. For others it is just 'serious raunch'. For the fistee, part of it is the physical sensation, which can be tremendous, particularly when the prostate is stimulated. For the fister, there is the tremendous kick of being inside someone so deeply, where you can feel the warmth and the strength of the pulse. For both parties, there is the mental thrill, the intimacy and the trust.

Trust is vital to fisting. If you want to be fisted you should be able to say, hand on heart, that you trust the fister to look after you. Some people can make that decision a few minutes after meeting. Others could take months. How long it takes to decide does not matter. The trust matters. Without that trust a fistee will find it difficult to relax. If he can't relax he either won't be able to take the fist or it will hurt badly. Either way it increases the risk of injury.

It has to be said that the best fisters are fistees as well. They know what it feels like to have a fist inside them so they know what hurts and what doesn't. If you're new to being fisted you could do worse than choose an expert for your first attempts.

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What to Use

The Asshole

What your fist doesn't see

Diagram of the Rectum
  1. Rectum and sphincter muscle
  2. Blood vessels
  3. Hip bone
  4. Sigmoid colon where the large intestine turns sharply
  5. Pelvic artery
  6. Blood vessels
  7. Pelvic artery (common iliac artery)
  8. Abdominal aorta

The inside of the ass has a very delicate lining. Great care must be taken to damage it as little as possible. Inserting an object as large as a fist into the rectum is going to cause some very small tears, however gently it is done. These tears could be a route for infection and exposure to some small amounts of blood is inevitable.

Unless you're seriously into scat sex you'll probably want to clean out your ass before fisting. Having a good shit will get rid of most of the feces but you may find a douche or enema helpful in getting really clean.

You really don't need to go overboard on the amount of water you use. Too much water will increase the likelihood of small tears in the lining of the rectum and will wash away more of the protective and lubricating mucus. A large volume of water will bring down partially digested food from the higher parts of the gut making things more rather than less messy.

No matter how well they are cleaned out, ass always contain at least some shit. With blood and shit about there is a risk of infection by HIV or Hepatitis B from one partner to the other. Wearing gloves will minimize this risk.

If you did biology at school, you should remember that the asshole is a ring of muscle called the anal sphincter. Above that is a chamber called the rectum. The size of this chamber is roughly proportional to the size of the person it belongs to. Thus the rectum of a small person will be small. If you have large hands it may not be practical to try to fist someone who is only 1.75m (5'6") tall.

Above the rectum the gut does a sharp turn round the sigmoid colon. For most people this is the limit of their fisting. Others find the desire to go further. Going deeper is a problem because it's impossible to follow the natural twists and bends of the gut. The gut is actually pulled out of shape.

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Hands and Gloves

The most important aspects of a fister's hands are the nails. It is imperative that these are as short and as smooth as possible. Sharp edges will dig into the lining of the rectum and tear it.

Wearing gloves while fisting is advisable but they should be the right type. Firstly, they should be soft, with no hard edges. This rules out some gloves that are stamped out of two sheets of plastic such as are sold in supermarkets for DIY or cleaning. Secondly, they should be smooth. If the glove is designed to give a good grip it will be worse than useless for fisting where you want a glove which slides. Thirdly, they should be thin. The more you can feel the less damage you will do.

The best gloves have to be sterile surgeons' gloves or vinyl examination gloves. These can be bought from larger chemists (pharmacies) or from medical supplies shops. Buying large boxes of a hundred or more is the cheapest option and if you know you have a bulk supply you won't be tempted to be mean with them. Some STD/Genito-Urinary Clinics will give them to you if you ask nicely. These gloves all have talcum powder on them which will absorb some lubricant. To get rid of the talc wash your hands after putting the gloves on.

Standard gloves have a ridge at the bottom of the glove, around the wrist, which some fisters find irritating. It is possible, though more difficult, to find gloves without this ridge.

If there are any cuts or abrasions on the hands, or at the nail margins, wearing gloves becomes even more advisable.

Don't expect gloves to work miracles. As extra backup, make sure you have clean hands before you put the gloves on, and if you are fisting more than one person, make sure you change gloves every time you change holes!

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Lubricants

Many people swear by Crisco. This is vegetable-based cooking fat from the USA that is rather like lard only softer. Outside the USA it has to be specially imported and is very expensive: Trex is a good domestic alternative. Like all oil based lubricants, both these will eventually rot rubber, condoms, gloves and any rubber clothes you might be wearing, though some fisters argue that the tougher rubber of gloves will stand up better than condoms, especially if two pairs of gloves are worn. [Editors Note: I prefer Smart Balance, just as good as Crisco, but also lowers the bottoms cholesterol... LOL]

Water based lubricants such as KY Jelly, Foreplay, Elbow Grease and so on dry out a little too quickly to be effective very long. They are also expensive but they don't rot rubber.

When water based lubricants dry up don't be tempted to try spit. Saliva is quite a bad lubricant. You could keep a spray bottle of water handy to revitalize the lubricant.

One lubricant that can be recommended is Slam Dunk. This can be bought from most Leather stores and comes in 8 oz., 10oz., 32 oz., and 64 oz. tubs. It is extremely cheap compared to other lubricants. It doesn't dry up quickly like KY-types and it is much easier to wash off than cooking fat. Slam Dunk Original has a clove base, and Slam Dunk Black is Clove free, however, it will rot condoms. It is an emulsion of water and oil and the oil quickly attacks the thin latex condoms are made of.

One thing is certain. Whichever one you choose, you can never have too much lubricant when fisting.

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Poppers and Drugs

Fistees will probably want some poppers while being fisted. They are a powerful muscle relaxant and are effective in dulling pain. Beware the hazards of spilling an open bottle of poppers when you've got greasy hands: instead try using some cotton ball or paper soaked in poppers and placed in an airtight jar. Poppers should be avoided by anyone who has heart or breathing problems.

Some fisting enthusiasts take other drugs too, in order to relax, but this is inadvisable. Both parties should have all their wits about them when undertaking this potentially dangerous activity.

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Ways to Play

Getting In

The most important thing to remember, particularly with a novice fistee is to take things slowly and rest frequently. Start with a finger and feel around inside. Move your finger round and round in a circle to gently tease the anus open.

The fistee has to relax, otherwise he'll never be able to take more than a finger or two. If he's wanking, get him to stop. Tie his hands behind his back or over his head if necessary. Breathing slowly and deeply also helps. If the fister matches the rhythm of the fistees breathing it can have an almost hypnotic effect.

Once three fingers are inside you should check there is enough lubrication. If you're going to go for a whole fist the lube should cover the whole hand up to the wrist. The knuckles and heel of the thumb form the widest part of the hand and the most difficult part to take.

Although many people would think the fister is doing all the work and is 'the Top', the fistee is most definitely in control of the action. If he says "pause" the fister should ease off the pressure and stop moving for a moment. If the fistee wants "out" then the fister should gently withdraw as smoothly as possible.

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Coming Out

When you want to get your fist out you should remember that he's going to feel much the same sensations as you pull out as when you went in. Make sure you do it smoothly and take care at the knuckles. If you can, hold the thumb and forefinger of your other hand around your wrist, as you pull out, pressing gently on the anal sphincter to make sure it stays in place.

The fistee may find that withdrawal can feel markedly sharp and sore. The best thing is to grin and bear it -- it'll soon be over!

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Health Problems

Despite the horror stories that regularly circulate in certain quarters, if fisting is practiced in moderation, with patience and care and with due attention to the fistee's feelings it is highly unlikely to lead to serious problems. Trauma and infections in the gut are possibilities but should never happen in responsible fisting. If you think you do have a problem, consult a doctor or a special clinic, and be honest about what you think the cause might be.

Also bear in mind that in engineering terms, fisting exceeds the design specifications of the anus and rectum. If you're fisted frequently there will probably be some long term effects. Certainly being fisted can increase your tendency to fart. You're feces may increase in girth and you may find you want to shit at irregular intervals. But there should be little long-term effect for those who practice this intense and satisfying form of play as an occasional treat.

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Links and Resources

Fisting Links

  • The main male fisting internet mailing list is the Handball List hosted by Queernet.

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The material on male fisting is adapted and slightly expanded from a fact sheet originally published anonymously in SM Gays Resource Book 2.