View source for Sexual practices between men

{{Redirect|Gay sexual practices|sex acts between women|sexual practices between women}}
{{Short description|Sexual activity between men}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
[[File:Édouard-Henri Avril anal sex detail.jpg|thumb|19th-century erotic interpretation of [[Hadrian]] and [[Antinous]], by [[Édouard-Henri Avril|Paul Avril]].]]

[[Human sexual activity|Sexual activities]] involving [[men who have sex with men]] (MSM), regardless of their [[sexual orientation]] or [[sexual identity]],<ref name="Syst.Rev. 2023">{{cite journal |last1=Eaton |first1=A.D. |last2=Scheadler |first2=T.R. |last3=Bradley |first3=C. |last4=McInroy |first4=L.B. |date=September 2023 |title=Identity development, attraction, and behaviour of heterosexually identified men who have sex with men: scoping review protocol |journal=[[Systematic Reviews (journal)|Systematic Reviews]] |publisher=[[Springer Nature]] |volume=12 |issue=184 |page=184 |doi=10.1186/s13643-023-02355-6 |doi-access=free |pmc=10542689 |pmid=37777815 |issn=2046-4053 |s2cid=263231942}}</ref> can include [[anal sex]], [[non-penetrative sex]], and [[oral sex]]. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys.<ref name="Adolescent sexual behavior, drug us">{{cite journal |vauthors=Turner CF, Ku L, Rogers SM, Lindberg LD, Pleck JH, Sonenstein FL |title=Adolescent sexual behavior, drug use, and violence: increased reporting with computer survey technology |journal=Science  |volume=280 |issue=5365 |pages=867–73 |date=May 1998 |pmid=9572724 |doi=10.1126/science.280.5365.867|bibcode=1998Sci...280..867T |s2cid=20035266 }}</ref><ref name="nber.org">{{cite journal |title=The Size of the LGBT Population and the Magnitude of Anti-Gay Sentiment are Substantially Underestimated |journal=Management Science |volume=63 |issue=10 |pages=3168–3186 |year=2013 |first1=Katherine B. |last1=Coffman |first2=Lucas C. |last2=Coffman |first3=Keith M. Marzilli |last3=Ericson |doi=10.1287/mnsc.2016.2503 |s2cid=35207796 |url=http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34403526 }}</ref>

==Behaviors==
Various [[sex position]]s may be performed during sexual activity between men. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys due to [[social desirability bias]].<ref name="Adolescent sexual behavior, drug us"/><ref name="nber.org"/>

===Anal sex===
[[File:Wiki-anal cowboy.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The penetrating man lying on his back is the "top" and the receiving man is the "bottom" in the cowboy position.]]
[[File:Wiki-anal missionary.png|thumb|Anal sex between two men in the [[missionary position]]]]

Historically, [[anal sex]] has been popularly associated with [[male homosexuality]]. Many MSM, however, do not engage in anal sex, and may engage in [[oral sex]], [[Non-penetrative sex#Frottage|frottage]] or [[frot]], and/or [[mutual masturbation]] instead.<ref name="Wellings">{{cite book|author1=Kaye Wellings|author2=Kirstin Mitchell|author3= Martine Collumbien|title=Sexual Health: A Public Health Perspective|isbn = 978-0335244812|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education|McGraw-Hill International]]|year=2012|page=91|access-date=August 29, 2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKveuj7dLd4C&pg=PA91}}</ref><ref name="Goldstone">{{cite journal | last1 =  Goldstone| first1 =Stephen E. | last2 = Welton| first2 = Mark L.| year = 2004 | title = Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus| journal = Clin Colon Rectal Surg | volume = 17 | issue = 4 | pages = 235–239| doi = 10.1055/s-2004-836944| pmc=2780055 | pmid=20011265}}</ref><ref name="Johnson and Johnson">{{cite book|title=Gay Perspective: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us about the Nature of God & the Universe|isbn = 978-1-59021-015-4 |publisher=[[Lethe Press]]|year=2008|page=139|access-date=February 12, 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LPyhsuVbUlAC&q=en&pg=PA139|author =Edwin Clark Johnson, [[Toby Johnson]]}}</ref>

Among men who have anal sex with other men, the partner who inserts his [[Human penis|penis]] may be referred to as the ''[[Top (sex)|top]]'', the one being penetrated may be referred to as the ''[[Bottom (sex)|bottom]]'', and those who enjoy either role may be referred to as ''[[versatile (sex)|versatile]]''.<ref name="Underwood"/> When MSM engage in anal sex without using a condom, this is referred to as [[Bareback (sexual act)|bareback sex]]. Pleasure, pain, or both may accompany anal sex. While the [[nerve]] endings in the [[Human anus|anus]] can provide pleasurable feelings, an [[orgasm]] may be achieved through receptive anal penetration by indirect stimulation of the [[prostate]].<ref name="Rosenthal">{{cite book |first=Martha |last= Rosenthal| title = Human Sexuality: From Cells to Society | publisher =[[Cengage Learning]]|year = 2012|pages=133–135|access-date = September 17, 2012| isbn = 978-0618755714|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=d58z5hgQ2gsC&pg=PT153}}</ref><ref name="Answer">{{cite book|title=The Orgasm Answer Guide|isbn = 978-0-8018-9396-4|publisher=JHU Press|year=2009|pages=[https://archive.org/details/orgasmanswerguid00komi/page/108 108]–109|access-date=November 6, 2011|url=https://archive.org/details/orgasmanswerguid00komi|url-access=registration|author1-link=Barry Komisaruk|author2-link=Beverly Whipple|author3-link=Sara Nasserzadeh|author1=Komisaruk, Barry R. |author2=Whipple, Beverly |author3=Nasserzadeh, Sara |author4=Beyer-Flores, Carlos }}</ref> A study by the [[National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior]] (NSSHB) indicated that men who self-report taking a receptive position during anal sex in their last encounter were at least as likely to have reached orgasm as men who adopted an insertive role.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-gender-orgasm-gap/|author=Mona Chalabi|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|date=20 August 2015|title=The Gender Orgasm Gap|author-link=Mona Chalabi}}</ref> A study sampling single people in the U.S. indicated that orgasm rates are similar among men across sexual orientations.<ref name="onlinelibrary.wiley.com">{{cite journal|title=Variation in Orgasm Occurrence by Sexual Orientation in a Sample of U.S. Singles|year=2014|doi=10.1111/jsm.12669|pmid=25131299|pmc=6035747|journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine|volume=11|issue=11|pages=2645–2652|author=Garcia Justin R}}</ref> With regard to pain or being uncomfortable during anal sex,<ref name="Heidelbaugh">{{cite book|title =Clinical men's health: evidence in practice|publisher=[[Elsevier Health Sciences]]|year=2007|page=273|access-date=October 14, 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4N_6nOH5BAEC&pg=PA273| author =Joel J. Heidelbaugh|isbn =978-1-4160-3000-3}}</ref> some research indicates that, for 24% to 61% of gay or [[Bisexuality|bisexual]] men, painful receptive anal sex (known as anodyspareunia) is a frequent lifetime sexual difficulty.<ref name="Heidelbaugh"/>

Reports pertaining to [[Anal sex#Prevalence 2|the prevalence of anal sex among MSM]] have varied over time, with some percentages higher than others.<ref name="Underwood">{{cite book | author =Steven Gregory Underwood|title =Gay Men and Anal Eroticism: Tops, Bottoms, and Versatiles|isbn = 978-1-56023-375-6 |publisher=[[Harrington Park Press]]|year=2003|access-date=February 12, 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i4wRl0_8NuUC&pg=PA}}</ref><ref name = "cdc.gov-Rectal">{{cite web |website=Center for Disease Control |title=Increases in Unsafe Sex and Rectal Gonorrhea Among Men Who Have Sex With Men – San Francisco, California, 1994–1997 |date=January 29, 1999 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/00056314.htm |access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>Laumann, E., Gagnon, J.H., Michael, R.T., and Michaels, S. The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States. 1994. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (Also reported in the companion volume, Michael et al., Sex in America: A Definitive Survey, 1994).</ref><ref name="WebMD">{{cite web|title=Anal Sex Safety and Health Concerns|website=[[WebMD]]|access-date=August 19, 2013|url=http://www.webmd.com/sex/anal-sex-health-concerns}}</ref> A large percentage of gay and [[Bisexuality|bisexual]] men self-report lifetime participation in anal sex.<ref name="Underwood"/> Studies among gay men have indicated that  percentages are similar when comparing men who prefer to penetrate their partners to those who prefer to be the receptive partner.<ref name="Underwood" /><ref name=medic>{{cite journal |url= |title=The Impact of Sexual Orientation on Sexuality and Sexual Practices in North American Medical Students |journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine |volume=7 |issue=7 |date=July 2010 |pages=2391–2400 |doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01794.x |pmc=3607668 |last1=Breyer |first1=Benjamin N. |last2=Smith |first2=James F. |last3=Eisenberg |first3=Michael L. |last4=Ando |first4=Kathryn A. |last5=Rowen |first5=Tami S. |last6=Shindel |first6=Alan W. |pmid=20384941 }}</ref> Some men who have sex with men, however, believe that being a receptive partner during anal sex questions their [[masculinity]].<ref name="Harvey, Wenzel, and Sprecher">{{cite book |author1=John H. Harvey |author2=Amy Wenzel |author3=Susan Sprecher |title =The handbook of sexuality in close relationships|isbn = 978-0805845488|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2004|pages=355–356|access-date=March 12, 2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qsl4AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA355}}</ref><ref name="Odets">{{cite book |first=Walt|last=Odets | title = In the Shadow of the Epidemic: Being Hiv-negative in the Age of AIDS | publisher =[[Duke University Press]]|year =1995|pages=[https://archive.org/details/inshadowofepidem00odet/page/191 191]–192|access-date = July 6, 2013| isbn = 978-0822316381 |url =https://archive.org/details/inshadowofepidem00odet|url-access=registration}}</ref>

===Non-penetrative sex and masturbation===
[[File:Wiki-fr0t2.png|thumb|266x266px|Two men engaged in [[frot]] by rubbing their penises together]]
There are a variety of non-penetrative sex practices. [[Frot]] is a sexual activity between men that usually involves penis-to-penis contact.<ref name="Advocate.com">{{cite magazine |title=The New Sex Police|magazine=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]|date=2005-04-12|access-date=February 12, 2011|pages=39–40, 42|publisher=Here|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mGMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39}}</ref> It is a form of frottage. Frot can be enjoyable because it mutually and simultaneously stimulates the genitals of both partners as it tends to produce pleasurable friction against the [[Frenulum of prepuce of penis|frenulum]] nerve bundle on the underside of each man's penile shaft, just below the [[External urethral orifice (male)|urinary opening]] (meatus) of the penis [[glans penis|head]] (glans penis). [[Intercrural sex]] is another form of non-penetrative sex that can be practiced between MSM. [[Docking (sex)|Docking]] (the insertion of one man's penis into another man's [[foreskin]]) is also practiced.

[[Non-penetrative sex#Manual sex|Manual sex]] is another non-penetrative sex act that can occur between men. This includes [[handjob]]s, which is the use of one's hands to stimulate someone else's penis or scrotum, and [[Fingering (sexual act)#Anus|anal fingering]], which is the use of one's fingers to stimulate someone's anus.

MSM may use [[sex toys]]. According to an online survey of 25,294 men who self-reported a [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] or bisexual orientation, 49.8% have used [[Vibrator (sex toy)|vibrators]]. Most men who had used a vibrator in the past reported use during masturbation (86.2%). When used during partnered interactions, vibrators were incorporated into foreplay (65.9%) and intercourse (59.4%).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Characteristics of vibrator use by gay and bisexually identified men in the United States|journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine|doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01873.x|year=2010|pmid=20561168|volume=7|issue=10|pages=3467–76|author1=Reece M|author2= Rosenberger JG|author3= Schick V|author4= Herbenick D|author5= Dodge B|author6= Novak DS}}</ref>

===Oral sex===
[[File:Wiki-sixtynine-male.jpg|thumb|Two men engaging in mutual [[fellatio]] in the [[69 (sex position)|69 position]]|200px]]
MSM may engage in oral sex, including [[fellatio]], which is using the mouth to stimulate another person's penis or scrotum, and [[anilingus]], which is stimulating someone else's anus using the tongue and lips. Wellings et al. reported that "the equation of 'homosexual' with 'anal' sex among men is common among lay and health professionals alike," whereas an [[online survey]] of 18,000 MSM in Europe "showed that oral sex was most commonly practised, followed by mutual masturbation, with anal intercourse in third place."<ref name="Wellings"/> A 2011 survey by ''[[The Journal of Sexual Medicine]]'' found similar results for U.S. gay and bisexual men. Kissing a partner on the mouth (74.5%), oral sex (72.7%), and partnered masturbation (68.4%) were the three most common behaviors, with 63.2% of the sample self-reporting five to nine different sexual behaviors during their last encounter.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02438.x | pmid=21883941 | volume=8 | issue=11 | title=Sexual Behaviors and Situational Characteristics of Most Recent Male-Partnered Sexual Event among Gay and Bisexually Identified Men in the United States | year=2011 | journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine | pages=3040–3050 | author=Rosenberger Joshua G}}</ref>

==Health risks==
A variety of [[sexually transmitted infection]]s (STIs) can result from sexual activity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Things Gay Men Should Discuss With Their Health Care Providers |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/community/lgbt/gay_men_health_concerns.htm |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.health.ny.gov}}</ref> A 2007 study reported that two large population surveys found "the majority of gay men had similar numbers of unprotected sexual partners annually as straight men and women."<ref name=MedicalNews>{{cite web|url=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82330.php |title=Sexual Behavior Does Not Explain Varying HIV Rates Among Gay And Straight Men – Medical News Today |date=13 September 2007 |publisher=medicalnewstoday.com|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Goodreau SM, Golden MR |title=Biological and demographic causes of high HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevalence in men who have sex with men |journal=Sex Transm Infect |volume=83 |issue=6 |pages=458–462 |date=October 2007 |pmid=17855487 |pmc=2598698 |doi=10.1136/sti.2007.025627}}</ref>

==Legality==
{{main|Criminalization of homosexuality|LGBT rights by country or territory}}
Some or all sexual acts between men are currently or were formerly classified as crimes in jurisdictions of some countries. In its December 2020 report, [[International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association]] (ILGA) found that certain sexual acts between men are criminalized in 67 of 193 [[Member states of the United Nations|UN member states]] and one non-independent jurisdiction, the [[LGBT rights in the Cook Islands|Cook Islands]], while two UN member states, [[LGBT rights in Iraq|Iraq]] and [[LGBT rights in Egypt|Egypt]], criminalize it ''[[de facto]]'' but not in legislation.<ref name=ILGA>{{cite web |author1=ILGA |title=State-Sponsored Homophobia report - 2020 global legislation overview update |url=https://ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_World_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_report_global_legislation_overview_update_December_2020.pdf |access-date=10 January 2022 |language=en |date=14 December 2020|pages=11, 25, 38, 85, 115, 131}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraq debates law on death penalty for same-sex relationships – DW – 09/07/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/iraqi-parliament-to-debate-death-penalty-for-same-sex-relationships/a-66738619 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Ahmady, Kameel Et al 2020: [[Forbidden Tale]] (A comprehensive study on lesbian, gay, bisexuals (LGB) in Iran). AP Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany. p77}}</ref> In Egypt, there is no law against homosexuality but gay and bisexual men are prosecuted under other laws, most famously the [[Cairo 52]].<ref name=Asal>{{cite book |last1=Asal |first1=Victor |last2=Sommer |first2=Udi |title=Legal Path Dependence and the Long Arm of the Religious State: Sodomy Provisions and Gay Rights across Nations and over Time |date=2016 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-1-4384-6325-4 |language=en|pages=19–20, 65}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tolino |first1=Serena |title=The Oxford Handbook of the Sociology of the Middle East |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-008748-7 |language=en |chapter=LGBTQI Rights in the Middle East and North Africa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt: Draft Law Criminalizes Homosexuality |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2017-11-01/egypt-draft-law-criminalizes-homosexuality/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> In at least six UN member states—[[LGBT rights in Brunei|Brunei]], [[LGBT rights in Iran|Iran]], [[LGBT rights in Mauritania|Mauritania]], [[LGBT rights in Nigeria|Nigeria]] (only [[Sharia in Nigeria|northern Nigeria]]), [[LGBT rights in Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]] and [[LGBT rights in Yemen|Yemen]]—it is [[Capital punishment for homosexuality|punishable by death]].<ref name=ILGA/><ref>{{Cite journal |author-link=Kameel Ahmady |title=Ahmady, Kameel, LGBT In Iran: The Homophobic Laws and Social System in Islamic Republic of Iran, PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology, Volume 18, Pages 1446- 1464, Issue, No. 18 (2021). |url=https://archives.palarch.nl/index.php/jae/article/view/10978 |journal=PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt / Egyptology|date=2021 |volume=18 |issue=18 |pages=1446–1464 |last1=Ahmady |first1=Kameel }}</ref> In 2007, five countries executed someone as a penalty for homosexual acts.<ref name=Asal/> In 2020, ILGA named Iran and Saudi Arabia as the only countries in which executions for same-sex activity have reportedly taken place.<ref name=ILGA/><ref>{{Cite journal |author-link=Kameel Ahmady |title=Ahmady, Kameel. Investigating the Dynamics of the Iranian LGBT Community from Legal and Religious Perspectives, Lampyrid Journal Vol. 13 pp 846 - 869. (2023) |url=https://lampyridjournal.com/index.php/journal/article/view/192 |journal=Lampyrid Journal|date=11 May 2023 |volume=13 |pages=846–869 |last1=Ahmady |first1=Kameel }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia: Man sentenced for homosexuality |url=https://www.amnesty.org/fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/mde230132010en.pdf}}</ref> In other countries, such as Yemen and Iraq, extrajudicial executions are carried out by militias such as [[Islamic State]] or [[Al-Qaeda]].<ref name=ILGA/> Many other countries had such laws in the past, but they were repealed, especially since 1945.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hildebrandt |first1=Achim |title=Routes to decriminalization: A comparative analysis of the legalization of same-sex sexual acts |journal=Sexualities |date=2014 |volume=17 |issue=1–2 |pages=230–253 |doi=10.1177/1363460713511105|s2cid=145575130 }}</ref><ref name=Kane>{{cite book |last1=Kane |first1=Melinda D. |title=The Ashgate Research Companion to Lesbian and Gay Activism |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-61314-7 |chapter=Decriminalizing Homosexuality: Gaining Rights through Sodomy Law Reform|page=277}}</ref> Such laws are inherently difficult to enforce;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dupont |first1=Wannes |title=Pas de deux, out of step: Diverging chronologies of homosexuality's (de)criminalisation in the Low Countries |journal=Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies |date=2019 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=321–338 |doi=10.5117/TVGN2019.4.001.DUPO|s2cid=213698186 }}</ref> more often than not, they are not commonly enforced.<ref name=Kane/>

[[File:Decriminalization of homosexuality by country or territory (remastered).svg|thumb|center|600px|
{{legend|#FF0000|Criminalized}}
{{legend|#0000FF|Decriminalized 1791–1850}}
{{legend|#00FF00|Decriminalized 1850–1945}}
{{legend|#FFFF00|Decriminalized 1946–1989}}
{{legend|#FFCC99|Decriminalized 1990–present}}
{{legend|White|Unknown date of legalization}}
{{legend|#cccccc|Always legal}}]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Human sexuality|LGBTQ}}
*[[Gay pornography]]
*[[Homosexuality]]
*[[LGBT sex education]]
*[[Outline of LGBT topics]]
*[[Same-sex relationship]]
*[[Sexual practices between women]]
*[[Terminology of homosexuality]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* Steven Gregory Underwood(2003): Gay Men and Anal Eroticism Tops, Bottoms, and Versatiles. [[Harrington Park Press]]. 978-1-56023-375-6
* [[Kameel Ahmady|Ahmady, Kameel]] Et al 2020: '''[[Forbidden Tale]]''' (A comprehensive study on lesbian, gay, bisexuals (LGB) in Iran). AP Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany.

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Gay sex}}
*{{Wikiquote-inline|Gay sexual practices}}

{{LGBTQ}}

{{Human sexuality}}
{{sexpositions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Male homosexuality]]
[[Category:Sexual acts]]
[[Category:Anal sex]]