Anal Play And Anal Sex Can Be Incredibly pleasurable for both partners, but many people are turned off by the negative ideas surrounding anal stimulation. Even in this enlightened sexual age, anal play is often thought of as taboo, something normal people just don’t do. The anus is thought of as “dirty,” so the idea of stimulation of the area can cause feelings of shame. Likewise, because the area is so sensitive, many people assume that penetration is painful.