Poppers and gay sex
Poppers: reviewed from finest to worst
As a chemical class, alkyl nitrites (AKA poppers) are vasodilators. Inhale, and they smooth muscles surrounding the body’s blood vessels, relaxing minds and sphincters. First used in the 19th century to treat chest pain, they are now a common accoutrement of a wild night at the club, or in the bedroom. A fairly harmless “drug”, poppers remain mired in a semi-legal grey zone, with new recipes devised to evade creeping code. There are even “European” – isopropyl nitrite – and “American” – isobutyl nitrite – versions (though for once, arguably, the American product is better).
To hear from a true specialist, I spoke with Javier who works at a sex shop in Brooklyn. “All the types of poppers are basically the same bullshit,” he tells me. Trendy labels – like Jungle Juice, Man Scent, and Amsterdam – are even produced in the identical factory. Like much in late capitalism, branding is nearly everything. Buy “Man Scent” to unleash your piggy fantasies, or maybe stick with classic “Rush” to accentuate the
“Poppers” have been a fixture for LGBTQ people on the club and sex party circuit for years.
Poppers are a liquid drug used for recreation that can give an instant high when inhaled. Other names for it are amyl nitrate, butyl nitrite and liquid gold. The effects of poppers are immediate and include euphoria, warm sensations and an increased heart rate. Poppers can be a sex enhancer and contribute to sexual arousal. They rest the anal muscles, but can also bring on dizziness and headaches.
The little bottles are usually sold at adult novelty stores and are often at the counter at gas station markets and convenience stores. Popular brand names include Buzz and Rush.
Although intense, most of the euphoric effects wear off quickly, typically within a few minutes. The drug is unsafe for people to take, and the FDA, mindful of post-lockdown partiers eager to obtain back in the club scene and return to the normalcy of nightlife and all that entails, has issued a unused warning: don’t use poppers.
On their website, the FDA notes, “FDA is advising consumers not to purchase or use nitrite ‘poppers’ which can result in serious adverse health effects, including death. These product
Poppers
What's the Score?
Poppers are also known as: amyl/butyl/isobutyl nitrite, amyl (especially in Australia, where it's promounced 'ammul'), aromas and by brand names appreciate Liquid Gold, Rush, etc. They're often (but wrongly) called 'nitrates', which is a similar, but distinct chemical.
Poppers are a liquid made from chemicals from the alkyl nitrite family. The name comes from the days when they came in glass capsules that popped when broken open.
Sex on Poppers
Poppers can build you feel horny, bring down your inhibitions and construct orgasms feel stronger. Because they relax the sphincter (the muscle in the arse hole) poppers can make it easier to be fucked or fisted. They can cause a man to lose his hard-on too.
Research shows poppers might play an important role in HIV being passed on. The reasons could be:
- poppers can lower inhibitions, making unsafe sex more likely
- there's a bigger uncertainty of the arse bleeding (poppers expand blood vessels inside the arse)
- and/or poppers might make the immune system weaker for a short time, so that people are more open to infection.
It's thought the biggest chance of HIV being go by
Poppers for Bottoms
When it comes to enhancing sexual experiences, especially for bottoms during gay or straight sex, recreational poppers are a topic that often comes up. They’re small, straightforward to use, and widely known for their ability to make things a bit more comfortable. Let’s focus on what poppers do specifically for bottoms. How they can boost the experience, and what you should be attentive of if you’re considering using alkyl nitrites.
How do poppers work for bottoms?
When you inhale poppers, the alkyl nitrites fast enter your bloodstream. It causes your blood vessels to dilate and your smooth muscles to chill. For bottom lovers, the most important result is the relaxation of the sphincter. This will construct penetration much easier and more comfortable, especially for those who might locate anal gay sex secure or painful.
Here’s how poppers legal liquid affects the body in ways that specifically benefit bottoms:
Muscles relaxation for easier penetration
Poppers directly affect the muscles in the anus, making them looser and less resistant to penetration. This will ease discomfort, particularly for people trying anal for the first time or having difficulty relaxi
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