| Fisting |
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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straight, but in more extreme forms of this practice, such as "punching," a fully clenched fist may be inserted and withdrawn.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. |
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| Incidence |
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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. |
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| Health and safety |
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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). |
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