Have you only tried fisting with a serious partner, or in a casual relationship as well?

Woman A: Serious partner (male) — my first adult, long-term(ish) relationship. I don't think I'd want to/be able to with a casual partner.

Woman B: Serious partner (female).

How old were you the first time you did it?

Woman A: Twenty-two.

Woman B: Twenty-nine.

Were you the fister or the fistee? Or have you done both?

Woman A: Fistee.

Woman B: Both.

And whose idea was it — yours or theirs?

Woman A: I think it was mutual — I really liked being penetrated by several of his fingers at once, and he might've suggested we try fisting since it seemed like something I'd enjoy. And then he went off and researched it, being that kind of person.

Woman B: Theirs.

What did you do to prepare for it?

Woman A: We needed a lot of time and used water-based lube and latex gloves. Also trust, as having someone's hand inside you is fairly intimate! That relationship was quite sexually adventurous, for me at least, and fisting was at the apex of that. Oh, and you don't have your hand in a fist when you're entering your partner: more like a beak shape. Lots of fingering and gentle stretching helped.

Woman B: Foreplay — normal kissing, touching, fingers penetrating, etc.

Did it feel good? (Or conversely, did it hurt?)

Woman A: Getting there hurt. Neither I nor my partner had fisted before (that I know of, for him) and there were some very painful false starts getting there. Using gloves, different positions, a lot of lube, and much talking helped — "Is this OK?" "Now I'm going to go in a bit further," etc. — as did getting it right once because I knew when I got there again, it'd feel amazing. It's very, very, very intense, with your entire vag feeling stretched/pressure.

Woman B: It felt intense and slow and gentle and loving.

Did you orgasm from it?

Woman A: The fisting itself didn't give me an orgasm but my partner playing with my clit while his hand was inside me did, over and over. Very intense as I said above!

Woman B: Yes.

Who enjoyed it more, you or your partner?

Woman A: I think I enjoyed it more. But while being fisted I wasn't really in a headspace to notice much else.

Woman B: I think we both enjoyed it as a very intimate thing. I enjoyed it the most when it was done to me rather than when I was doing it. I don't know which role she enjoyed more.

How do the sensations compare to other penetrative sex acts?

Woman A: Very intense and a lot of pressure everywhere inside you. It was different in that, once his hand was inside, he only moved it gently (not thrusting as with a penis or dildo or what have you). Also it could go on for a long time, until I'd had enough or his hand started to cramp. It was a bit removed, bodily. Normal penis in vagina sex you can be quite close and in fisting he was halfway down my body and a bit away. Also, I was sore afterward for a few days.

Woman B: It feels much more intimate. It isn't something I'd do with someone I didn't feel safe with and really connected to.

Is fisting a regular part of your sex life now? Why/why not?

Woman A: It isn't, mostly because I haven't brought it up with my current partner. I keep on thinking about it and then chickening out on asking. It requires trust and patience and lube and gloves and most importantly time, which isn't something I have a lot of. Writing this is making me think about it though!

Woman B: No. It takes a while to work up to it. It's not an every-night-25-minutes-of-sex type of thing. It's more like something that you do after having sex for an hour or two, once intensity is building up.

Do you have any advice for people who might want to try it? Or whose partners want to try it?

Woman A: Yes! Take all the time you need; use all of the lube. Gloves also help for letting things slip in a little easier — and don't be discouraged if it takes a few goes. And if you or your partner is hurting or doesn't think it's going to work, it's fine to stop. You might take a few goes or decide it's not for you. I would only consider fisting again with someone I trusted and was probably in a relationship with, but your mileage may vary. Also small/slender hands are a plus, and trim your fingernails.

Woman B: Make sure you feel safe and trust the person you're doing it to or having do it to you. To me, it feels very intimate. I think it would hurt if you weren't tuned into each other.

Follow Rachel on Twitter.