It’s a topic that can be uncomfortable for many people to read: anal sex.
Some reading this might think this is extreme, or, to put it delicately, extremely specific.
But the intimate act could cause tension in your love life or even prove to be a deal-breaker for your relationship, according to sexual health experts.
MailOnline interviewed three experts about the adventurous habits Brits should avoid to avoid ruining their relationship.
However, one could take relationships to a whole new level.
Cindy Gallop, activist and founder of MakeLoveNotPorn (a platform that busts myths about hardcore porn), told MailOnline that asking for “something the other person doesn’t want to do” – usually anal sex – is often the culprit.
“It’s even worse to continue talking about it,” he added.
‘Men want anal sex, but you can’t have anal sex if your partner doesn’t want to try it.
“You won’t get it by begging, insisting “everyone does it” or sending him anal porn videos.”
The act of intimacy can mean anything from external contact to penetrative anal sex with a finger, sex toy, or penis.
Instead, Ms Gallop advised couples to “focus on their pleasure” when “having anal sex”.
She told MailOnline: ‘Make every session in the bedroom revolve around her orgasms, in as many creative ways as you can.
‘Make sure the sex you’re having is all about her and giving her a good time, so that she’s more and more open to wanting to explore new experiences together.
‘This is also important because the first time you have anal sex, it’s something you have to prepare for.’
According to Gallop, on the other hand, there is one sexual behavior that could be “transformative for relationships”: filming.
“I can tell you from 11 years of testimony that filming your own sex in the real world is interestingly transformative for relationships and bonding, for a number of reasons,” she said.
‘When you decide to film yourself having sex, you have to talk about it.
‘When you talk about it, no matter how long you’ve been together, the conversation can go places it never went before.
‘Couples write to us and say they thought we were open, but doing this took our relationship to a whole new level.’
Ms Gallop also told MailOnline: ‘Nothing is unpleasant when you are with someone in a sexual relationship of mutual trust and respect, which can be both a casual and committed relationship.
‘Unfortunately, something can be unpleasant when you have been taught to believe that it is “wrong.”
“For too many people this applies to sex itself in its entirety.”
Sex, and intimacy in general, has been linked to a number of health benefits, including improving heart health, reducing stress, and even boosting mental health.
But recent trends show that prudish Brits aren’t having as much sex as they used to.
According to a survey of 2,000 adults by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) earlier this year, men and women typically romp just 46 times a year – or once every eight days.
Research published this week also found that nationally, only 55 percent of Britons reported having sex at least once a week – 59 percent of men and 51 percent of women.
Londoners were well above the national average: 67 percent said they enjoyed a romantic encounter at least once a week.
However, other experts have warned that there are no specific “mistakes” that Britons are making in the bedroom that could automatically ruin relationships.
Similarly, they claim that there really is no such thing as a standard sex life.
Lovehoney’s sex and relationships expert Annabelle Knight told MailOnline: ‘One of the biggest mistakes people can make in the bedroom is thinking there’s a “right” way to have sex.
It’s easy to obsess over performance or whether you’re doing something “wrong,” but remember that sex is about connection and pleasure.
‘There’s also a lot of pressure to have more sex, but honestly, it’s more about quality than quantity.
‘Communication is key – if you’re not talking about what makes you feel good or what you want, you’re missing out on a huge part of the experience.
‘There’s no magic number as to how much sex is too much. It really depends on the individual and what feels right for them.
‘Some couples are perfectly happy having sex once a week, while others might want to do it more often, or less often.’
He added: “Acts of selfishness are a sure way to damage a relationship.”
‘If when it comes to sex you only think about yourself and don’t take into account your partner’s pleasure, then your intimacy could break down.
‘Skipping ‘foreplay’ and going straight to penetration can also be unpleasant, although this is more common than we think.’
An intimate act could cause tension in your love life or even be a deal breaker for your relationship, according to sexual health experts.
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Nationally, 55 percent of Britons reported having sex at least once a week, rising to 59 percent of men and falling to 51 percent of women.
