Heterosexual Women's and Men's Labeling of Anal Behaviors as Having "Had Sex"

This study explored labeling of penile-anal intercourse (PAI), manual-anal (MA), and oral-anal (OA) behaviors as having had sex among heterosexual men and women with such experience residing in the United States (n=3,218). Adult men and women completed an online questionnaire assessing sexual behaviors and whether each counted as having had sex. With the exception of anal intercourse, there was high variation in whether a behavior was labeled having had sex. There was not consensus on which anal sexual behaviors constituted having had sex, with attitudes varying across age, gender, and behavioral experience. Those who were older, male, and had the specific behavioral experience were more likely to label it as having had sex. Behaviorally specific assessments of the various anal behaviors as part of the sexual repertoire is critical to more accurate evaluation of sexual histories and assessment of risks to sexual health.