Anilingus / Rimming

Anilingus — commonly called rimming or a rim job — is oral stimulation of a partner's anus with the lips and tongue. A form of oral sex, it plays on the dense cluster of nerve endings around the anus and perineum. It can be a tease, a warm-up before anal sex, or an act enjoyed entirely for its own sake, and it's sometimes called 'tossing the salad.' There's no obligation for it to lead anywhere — many enjoy it as a complete experience in itself.

The appeal is the intense, ticklish-to-electric sensation of such a sensitive area, plus the intimacy and mild taboo of the act. Giving it can feel adoring and submissive; receiving it, indulgent and deliciously exposed.

The receiver relaxes — often face-down or on their back with hips raised — while the giver uses broad licks, flicks, or gentle probing with the tongue, sometimes adding fingers. It's frequently woven into foreplay alongside other oral or manual play.

The main risk is gut bacteria and parasites, so wash well beforehand and consider a barrier — a dental dam or cut-open condom — especially with new partners. Don't move mouth-to-vagina afterward without cleaning up, and skip it if either partner has a stomach bug or any cuts or sores.

It may be more common than people assume: one study found about 30% of couples had engaged in some anal stimulation in the past year, versus roughly 14% who reported anal sex. For some, rimming is also a gentle way to get comfortable with the area before ever trying penetration.