Is anal sex safer than vaginal sex?

It depends on what you mean by safer. You can’t get pregnant from having anal sex, but anal sex without a condom or internal condom has a higher risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). That’s because the skin of your anal cavity is made up of delicate tissue, which means small tears and cuts are common—especially if you’re not using enough lube during anal sex—which can lead to additional entry points for infections like STIs.

To protect yourself while having anal sex, make sure you’re using enough lube and use condoms or internal condoms with the inner ring removed.