Fisting
Fisting (also FF, for
fist fucking) is a
human sexual behaviour that involves inserting the entire
hand, and sometimes part of the
arm, into the
vagina (
vaginal fisting) or
anus (
handballing or
anal fisting) of a sexual partner. The medical terms for these practices are
brachiovaginal eroticism (vaginal) and
brachioproctic eroticism (anal). The practice was first documented in
San Francisco in the
1960s and
1970s, although it is mentioned in the
Kama Sutra.
Often, fisting does not involve forcing the clenched fist into the vagina or
anus. Instead, all five fingers are kept straight and held as close together as possible (forming a beak-like shape). The hand is slowly inserted into a well-lubricated vagina or anus. Once insertion is complete, the fingers either clench into a fist or remain straight, but in more extreme forms of this practice, such as "punching," a fully clenched fist may be inserted and withdrawn. In even more extreme situations and especially in cases where both the fister and fistee are more experienced, two fists may fit in one's vagina and even anus. In this case the extreme sensation is caused by the stretching of the vaginal wall or anus rather than by the oscillating (in-and-out) movement of hands.
Due to the potential risks, lack of knowledge, perceived pain level and
taboos, the number of people who engage in fisting of any kind is likely much smaller than for other sexual activities.
While handballing is popularly associated with
gay men, it is practiced by people of all
sexual orientations. Handballing is pleasurable for some men because it results in direct stimulation of the
prostate.
Vaginal fisting is known to be practiced by
lesbians,
bisexuals, and
heterosexuals; a few women with very flexible bodies and wrists are able to perform it on themselves.
Perineal massage, an exercise recommended to couples who are preparing to give birth, sometimes results in fisting.
In the 1980s and 1990s depictions of fisting lapsed into taboo in North American-produced
pornography, and on several occasions in which such acts were depicted, the producers of videos and films often found themselves defending against
obscenity charges in court. One of the highest-profile cases,
People of the State of California v. Adam Glasser, et al., involved producer
Seymore Butts (born Adam Glasser) who was taken to court over a fisting scene in his 1999 video
Tampa Tushy Fest. Glasser pleaded
not guilty to
misdemeanor charges of "production, distribution or exhibition of obscene matter" and "advertising or promoting matter represented to be obscene." Glasser reached a favorable
plea bargain in 2002 in which all obscenity charges were dropped. Fisting is no longer considered a porn taboo, although it is still rarely depicted on screen. However, pornographic videos involving fisting are not allowed to be shown in
The United Kingdom.
Fisting is generally considered low risk for the spread of
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), provided a few basic precautions are followed, but there are other serious health risks that must be taken into careful consideration before engaging in the activity. Fisting is sometimes seen as a violent activity, but that is not usually the case; done properly, it is gentle and slow. Done improperly, fisting can result in serious injuries including ruptured
bowels and internal tears and
infections, as well as
urinary tract infections and
pelvic inflammatory disease, bruising of the
cervix, mucosal laceration,
muscle tearing, and temporary
fecal incontinence, among other conditions,
sterility and even death. When fisting is done slowly and carefully, the risks are quite low.
Fecal matter can cause irritation; any abrasions can easily become
infected, but
douches and
enemas can also cause irritation. The fingernails of the
fister must be trimmed and filed, and his or her hands covered with
nitrile or
latex (but not
vinyl) gloves or
calving gloves. Both the fister's hands and the anus or vagina of the
fistee must be very well
lubricated, usually with a thick water-based or
silicone-based sex
lubricant (latex products and oil-based products should not be used together as oil weakens latex. Oil-free lubricants suitable for use with latex are widely available). Sometimes vegetable shortening or mineral oil are used for anal fisting, but these oil-based lubricants should not be used in the vagina as they decrease the body's ability to maintain the proper balance of bacteria.
Pain and/or bleeding are warning signs; significant bleeding could indicate a ruptured
bowel or a major tear.
While it is presumed that most people do not mix fisting with
recreational drugs, muscle relaxants (most notably "
poppers"-
amyl nitrite ) are sometimes used with handballing. The use of drugs may increase the risks of serious injury from fisting, for example by reducing the sensation of pain, reducing inhibitions or causing loss of consciousness.
Fisting has quickly and increasingly become associated with drug abuse, most notably
methamphetamine (see
Crystal methamphetamine and sex).
*
A Hand in the Bush - A book about fisting.
*
Anal sex*
Mutual masturbation*
Perineal massage* Donovan B; Tindall B; Cooper D. Brachioproctic eroticism and transmission of retrovirus associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Genitourin Med. 1986 Dec;62(6):390-2.
* Medical terminology and some information on risks were taken from
The Intelligent Man's Guide To Handball* Addington D,
A Hand in the Bush, The Fine Art of Vaginal Fisting.
Greenery Press, 1998.
*
Experience and technique at Bitch and Moan
