Sexual practices between men

Sexual activities involving men who have sex with men (MSM), regardless of their sexual orientation, can include oral sex, manual sex, anal sex and frot. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys.

Various sex positions may be performed during sexual activity between men. Evidence shows that sex between men is significantly underreported in surveys due to social desirability bias.

A 2011 survey of 18,000 MSM showed that oral sex was most commonly practised, followed by mutual masturbation, with anal intercourse in third place." 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. The most common sexual act practiced, was holding their partner romantically, kissing partner on mouth, solo masturbation, mutual masturbation, and frotting."

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.

Manual sex is another non-penetrative sex act that can occur between men. This includes handjobs, which is the use of one's hands to stimulate another person's penis or scrotum as well as anal fingering, the use of one's fingers to stimulate someone else's anus.

Historically, anal sex has been popularly associated with male homosexuality. Many MSM, however, do not engage in anal sex.

Among men who have anal sex with other men, the partner who inserts his penis may be referred to as the top, the one being penetrated may be referred to as the bottom, and those who enjoy either role may be referred to as versatile. When MSM engage in anal sex without using a condom, this is referred to as bareback sex. Pleasure, pain, or both may accompany anal sex. While the nerve endings in the anus can provide pleasurable feelings, an orgasm may be achieved through receptive anal penetration by indirect stimulation of the prostate. 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. A study sampling single people in the U.S. indicated that orgasm rates are similar among men across sexual orientations. With regard to pain or being uncomfortable during anal sex, some research indicates that, for 24% to 61% of gay or bisexual men, painful receptive anal sex (known as anodyspareunia) is a frequent lifetime sexual difficulty.

Reports pertaining to the prevalence of anal sex among MSM have varied over time, with some percentages higher than others. A large percentage of gay and bisexual men self-report lifetime participation in anal sex. 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. Some men who have sex with men, however, believe that being a receptive partner during anal sex questions their masculinity.