{{Short description|Sex toy}} {{multiple issues|{{original research|date=January 2014}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2008}}}} thumb|Anal beads'''Anal beads''' are a sex toy consisting of multiple balls attached in series. Individual balls are continuously inserted through the anus into the rectum and then removed with varying speeds depending on the desired effect. The main use of anal beads is for sexual stimulation.
== Design == Anal beads are available in many sizes, with individual beads measuring from 25 mm in diameter to 125 mm in diameter or larger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anal Beads and Health |url=https://www.discreetlife.ca/blogs/news/anal-beads-and-health |website=Discreet Life |publisher=Discreet Life |access-date=2026-01-12 }}</ref> Most users enjoy beads of approximately 45 mm, but those more adventurous or with experience may try larger sizes. Anal beads are commonly made of silicone, plastic, rubber, latex, glass, or metal, and normally end with a ring or similar handle designed for pulling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zane |first=Zachary |date=2021-10-01 |title=Everything You've Ever Wondered About Anal Beads, but Were Scared to Ask |url=https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a31294599/anal-beads/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Men's Health |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515134714/https://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/a31294599/anal-beads/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsieh |first=Carina |date=2021-01-04 |title=22 Things You Didn't Know About Using Anal Beads |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a12274254/anal-beads-how-to/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US}}</ref> The purpose of this ring is to prevent the beads from becoming fully lodged in the rectum and to make the toy easier to remove. The beads may either be joined flexibly, requiring individual insertion or by a semi-rigid thin shaft, allowing anal insertion in a single motion.
The many nerve endings of the sphincter provide arousal both during insertion and removal, while larger beads may create a feeling of pressure in the rectum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-19 |title=Here's Everything You Need to Know About Anal Beads |url=https://www.self.com/story/how-to-use-anal-beads |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=SELF |language=en-US}}</ref> Removing anal beads at the point of orgasm heightens sensations, leading to a much stronger orgasm.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anal Beads: Backdoor Pleasure Part I |url=https://blissfulcherry.com/sex-toy-guides/anal-beads/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=blissfulcherry.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125140851/https://blissfulcherry.com/sex-toy-guides/anal-beads/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Some anal beads are enhanced with vibration technology.<ref>{{cite book|page=152|title=Is This Normal? Judgment-Free Straight Talk about Your Body|year=2023|author=Jolene Brighten|publisher=S&S/Simon Element|isbn=9781982196400}}</ref> Certain models by companies like Lovense can be remotely controlled or act as IoT devices.<ref>{{cite book | title=Supersex | publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited | author=Cox, Tracey | year=2009 | isbn=9781405349246}}</ref>
== Use == Anal beads are commonly incorporated during anal sex, worship of the buttocks, genital or anal masturbation, or any activity involving the buttocks, anus, or the anal area.
As with all anal sexual activity, the anal beads and the rectum should be well-lubricated with a sexual lubricant intended for anal sex. It is important to do this, as the rectum can be easily ripped, torn, or injured. Silicone-based lubricants should not be used with silicone anal beads, as the lubricant will erode the beads. Anal sex toys should be well washed with warm soapy water and left to dry naturally after use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Clean Your Anal Beads |url=https://loveplugs.co/blogs/news/cleaning-anal-beads |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Love Plugs |language=en |archive-date=2022-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614011759/https://loveplugs.co/blogs/news/cleaning-anal-beads |url-status=live }}</ref> Alternatively, they can be placed inside a condom, which is recommended if they are shared with others.
Care must also be taken to count the beads before and after use to ensure that they are all removed from the anus, as strings have reportedly broken during intense rectal movements.
== Safety == If the beads are threaded onto a string, which is a porous material, they cannot be fully disinfected. Anal beads should not be shared between users without using a physical barrier, such as a latex or neoprene condom, to prevent the transfer of feces. Sharing unsterilized anal toys can expose users to various sexually transmitted diseases. Anal beads that have been inserted into an anus should not be inserted into a vagina, as this causes yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis, as well as various sexually transmitted diseases.
== Carlsen–Niemann cheating controversy == {{Main|Carlsen–Niemann controversy}} In the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, a prestigious chess tournament, reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the tournament after implying that the opponent he lost to, Hans Niemann, was cheating. An internet meme, first propagated as a joke in grandmaster Eric Hansen's Twitch chat,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=The Chess Grandmaster Anal Bead Conspiracy That's Happening Right Now, Explained |url=https://kotaku.com/chess-champion-anal-bead-magnus-carlsen-hans-niemann-1849542639 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us |archive-date=2022-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918081647/https://kotaku.com/chess-champion-anal-bead-magnus-carlsen-hans-niemann-1849542639 |url-status=live }}</ref> suggested that Niemann was cheating using anal beads that vibrated the computer-suggested move via Morse code. The meme spread throughout the internet, even appearing on late-night talk shows such as ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'' and ''The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meanwhile... Sitting Is Killing Us {{!}} Anal Bead Chess Scandal |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLwyhmmEoAQ |language=en |access-date=2022-09-18 |work=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |date=16 September 2022 |via=YouTube |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920174835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLwyhmmEoAQ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=Cheating with…vibrating anal beads? Even if you lose, you still kinda win. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpfWGyvO80o |access-date=2023-01-22 |work=The Daily Show |via=YouTube |archive-date=2023-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122193813/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpfWGyvO80o |url-status=live }}</ref>
In a 2023 interview, Piers Morgan asked Niemann if he had ever used anal beads to cheat, as the meme alleged. Niemann categorically denied that he had.<ref name=":21">{{Cite news |date=2023-09-26 |title=Chess grandmaster Hans Niemann denies using vibrating sex toy to cheat |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66921563 |access-date=2025-08-17 |work=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=2025-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250822141049/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66921563 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=2023-09-26 |title=Chess grandmaster Hans Niemann 'categorically' denies using vibrating sex toys to cheat in the sport |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/sport/hans-niemann-denies-sex-toys-cheating-chess-spt-intl |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=2025-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907095355/https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/sport/hans-niemann-denies-sex-toys-cheating-chess-spt-intl |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=2023-09-26 |title=Hans Niemann pooh-poohs a chess cheating theory that's based on vibrating beads |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201734274/chess-hans-niemann-anal-beads-cheating |access-date=2025-08-17 |work=NPR |language=en |archive-date=2025-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823153857/https://www.npr.org/2023/09/26/1201734274/chess-hans-niemann-anal-beads-cheating |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also == {{portal|Human sexuality}} *Anal masturbation *Anal vibrator *Ben Wa balls *Butt plug *Pegging *Prostate massager {{Commons category|Anal beads}}
==References== {{Reflist}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180622171804/http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/anal-beads Go Ask Alice: Anal Beads] *Silverberg, Cory. [http://sexuality.about.com/od/sextoys/a/anal_beads.htm About.com: Sexuality, "Anal Beads"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113234005/http://sexuality.about.com/od/sextoys/a/anal_beads.htm |date=2017-01-13 }}
== Further reading == * {{cite book | first = Tristan | last = Taormino | author-link = Tristan Taormino | year = 1997 | title =The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women| url = https://archive.org/details/ultimateguidetoa00taorrich | url-access = registration | publisher = Cleis Press | isbn = 1-57344-028-0 }}
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