Anal Douching: What to Know

The biggest piece of medical advice Bespoke Surgical can offer is to listen to your body. It knows what it can handle and what it can’t. Along with this, it’s key to make sure that you are eating well and maintaining great hygiene. One easy tip is to prove to yourself, even before you douche, how clean you truly are by using a butt plug or dilator, preferably light-colored, to see whether or not any residual stool is present. If it’s all clean, you’re ready to go. The important thing to remember is that accidents happen and everybody poops. So, if you find yourself in a situation where things have gotten a little messy, DON’T PANIC! You’re not a freak… you’re perfectly normal.

ANAL DOUCHING PRACTICES

ANAL DOUCHING: HOW TO SAFELY CLEAN FOR ANAL

If you engage in anal play or bottoming, you may be wondering how to clean yourself out before anal sex. After all, we were not taught this in sex ed and often have to figure it out on our own. There are many ways to clean up, get comfortable, and feel confident before anal sex, and one of those ways is to use an anal douche. While we love douching for how effective and easy it is, there are proper measures that should be taken to make sure that you are doing it safely. Below, Dr. Goldstein explains how to anal douche properly while answering the most common questions about all things related to anal cleansing.

What is Anal Douching?

Anal douching (aka rectal douching) is the act of cleansing the rectum and anal canal, most traditionally done with liquid expelled from a douche bulb. It is not meant to treat a medical condition, such as constipation, and can be done before and/or after sex. It’s most commonly done to get the rectum and anal canal ready for bottoming or anal receptive sex. If you’re new to anal sex, consider reading our Guide to Anal Sex before taking any steps towards anal cleansing. Read ahead to learn how to clean your asshole before anal intercourse.

Is Anal Douching Necessary?

It is not necessary to anal douche before having anal sex. Typically, gently cleaning the external anal canal is effective enough. Unless you feel the urgency to go, your body actually stores poop higher up in the sigmoid colon, which will generally only be reached if you’re engaging in fisting or your partner/toy is above average in length. Therefore, cleansing around the anal opening (externally with your favorite soap) should be sufficient for most people. Of course, a high fiber diet also helps keep the area right inside your hole tidy, too, by helping create bulky stool that’s easy to pass when you go to the bathroom.

However, many people prefer to anal douche to ensure that they are fully clean and ready for bottoming. Douching can also help people feel more comfortable and relaxed before they participate in anal sex because, if done properly, it will help to wash away any lingering excrement inside the anal canal and rectum. Most don’t need anal cleaning as long as their external hygiene and diet (read: high fiber and staying hydrated) is good, but if it makes you feel more relaxed – go for it!

What Can Be Used For Safe Anal Cleansing?

While there are many popular anal douches out there, including pre-filled store bought enemas, bulb douches, water bag douches, and shower attachments, unfortunately, each of these come with negative effects. Why? These solutions were not meant for anal sex preparation and, therefore, have been known to cause harm to the body.

Though opponents of a single-payer system have long cited cost as an obstacle, findings published in The Lancetshow the opposite is true. Switching from the current model of numerous public and private insurers to a Medicare for All model would save the United States 13% annually. In raw numbers, that’s $450 billion a year.

Luckily, there is a body-compatible solution specifically made for anal sex available – the Future Method Anal Douche. It’s the first isotonic solution that was created by medical professionals, including Dr. Evan Goldstein, to gently, yet effectively, cleanse the anal canal and rectum. Future Method’s Anal Douche is a rectal wash perfectly formulated to clean and hydrate before and after anal engagement. If you already have a go-to reusable bulb, consider the Future Method Powder Packs, a revolutionary single-use powder that mixes quickly and easily with water wherever you go. Finally, you have options made by our community for our community that have the safety profile we have been asking for.

Future Method’s Anal Douche is a rectal wash perfectly formulated to clean and hydrate before and after anal engagement. Finally, something made by our community for our community that has the safety profile we have been asking for.

How To Anal Douche

Proper anal cleansing is key to a pleasurable and safe experience. In general, to anal douche you’ll want to stand by your toilet in a comfortable position, then use lubricant before inserting the douche and slowly squirting liquid. The medical team at Bespoke Surgical has outlined how to douche to help prepare for anal sex in the steps below:

Formulated from a doctor’s perspective, the Future Method isotonic solution gently, yet effectively, cleanses the anal canal and rectum for confident, worry-free sex.

Anal Douching Steps

1. Use the bathroom.
2. Wash your douche’s bulb and tip with warm water and soap until clean.
3. Draw the douche solution into the bulb.
4. Lubricate the bulb tip to make insertion easier and reduce the risk of tears.
5. Get into a comfortable position. Most often, resources will recommend sitting on the toilet, getting on all fours, or standing in the shower. However, we find that standing up (either in or out of the shower) helps prevent the liquid from going too high up into your body (thanks primarily to gravity). The higher it goes, the more likely it’ll end up in your sigmoid colon, the more likely you’ll dislodge any poop that might be stored in there, which can make things messier than they would have been had you not even douched at all.
6. Insert the entire bulb tip into the anus.
7. Gently squeeze the bulb’s contents into your rectum.
8. Remove both the tip and the bulb, and then immediately expel the mixture of douche solution and waste into the toilet or down the shower drain.
9. Repeat steps if necessary.

If you’re unfamiliar with anal lubricants, consider checking out our guide to Anal Lubricants. We cover all the basics of body-safe and comfortable lubes, and even recommend products that are best for your butt.

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Is Anal Douching Safe?

Now that you know how to properly clean your butt, you might be wondering if you should. As we’ve mentioned previously, douching is a method of squirting a cleanser inside their rectum. Anal cleansing is typically considered safe when done correctly, but there’s more to consider. Our intestines, more so the anus and rectum for bottoming, contain good bacteria that assists in digesting food, absorbing nutrients, aiding in appropriate stool formation, and keeping the bad bacteria in check. Supporting it with fiber supplements and a balanced diet is a good way to maintain good bacteria, but can anal cleansing change that? Keeping your gut biome happy and healthy is an important part of learning how to clean your ass for anal intercourse.

This microbiome stability is paramount to its functionality. Aggressive and frequent anal douching with products not developed specifically for the anal canal and rectum can actually flush away the good shit (pun intended), leaving you susceptible to a whole host of stomach and intestinal issues. Your intestinal flora are valuable for maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance and should be preserved as much as possible.

Water alone or saline chemical solutions actually cause the cells in the anorectal region to be injured, subsequently causing cell death. Remember: douching with a commercially prepared enema before anal sex or using just plain tap water creates a lot of mucus and dryness in the area, which can also cause cell damage, cracking, and bleeding, making it easier to contract and pass along both HIV and other STDs. The crazy part is if this location is injured during the douching act, its lacks the sensations necessary for one to know a true problem exists.

One can be doing damage to one’s mucosal lining for a prolonged period of time and not know it until it’s too late. This is why it’s so important to consider an isotonic douche designed specifically for the anal canal and rectum, making it the best way to prepare for anal sex. Isotonicity means a solution is in a normal zone of protection that allows for appropriate cleansing of the anal canal, without the traumatic effects of the other anal douche products mentioned. It’s that zone that one wants to stay within, which will allow both fruitful and continuous bottoming.

Risks Of Over-Douching

Over-douching (cleaning too deep, with too much force, or with too much tap water) can cause problems, such as douche dependency, prolonged anal irritation, elevated mucus production, and lengthening or incomplete contraction of the rectum/colon, which can lead to chronic constipation. One’s anal sphincters keep everything inside and the constant pushing required for douching can cause injury to these muscles, let alone just the insertion of a device can cause added localized injury. Proper use and lots of lubrication aids proper mechanics.

Aside from the health risks, over-douching (too much volume or too much force) can also loosen stools that are higher up in the rectum, which wouldn’t normally come into contact with anal sex, making it even messier than if you hadn’t douched at all. The people who are douching for hours on end, for traditional anal intercourse, are placing themselves at risk and this method is not substantiated. The area in which the penis actually enters is located in the distal rectum and anal canal. This region is mostly clean, if the above methods are taken into account.

Gentle cleaning with small volumes allows for the removal of any remaining debris, all the while protecting and aiding one during the actual act. Less is more from the actual size of the bulb to how much force one uses. If you inflate like a balloon and use too much volume, this will enter the actual colon, much further from where one would go for engagement. This in and of itself will produce brown excrement, which leads one to believe that they are not “clean”. It’s key to understanding the correct principles and using the right mechanics and solutions that will aid in proper preparation. Anal douching isn’t the only anal cleansing type with a risk – our blog about How Often You Should Use an Enema covers similar health issues.

Anal Cleansing & Grooming Tips

Understanding how to clean for anal involves more than just knowing how to douche. Anal hygiene and grooming also involves external hygienic care of your backside. Anal douching and learning about the effects of diet on anal sex are powerful first steps toward the best possible anal sex experience, and depending on your preferences and those of your partner(s), you can opt to take additional steps to ensure your anal experience is positive for everyone involved.

External anal hygiene

External hygiene really comes down to keeping your anus clean regularly and before you’re ready to have anal sex. You can do that through regular washing with soap and warm water or by installing a bidet at home. Whatever soap suits your fancy is amazing, but exfoliating soaps, specifically in this region, allow for not only ridding of unhealthy skin, but also keeping you primed and fresh.

To shave or not to shave?

You can also shave or wax your anal region, but this is a personal aesthetic preference (and comes with potential problems, like ingrown hairs or irritation). Also of note, if not done correctly through either cleaning reusable razors or utilizing new razors, one can cause local infections, including anal warts from an HPV infection. Laser hair removal is ideal, but can be costly and is more a long lasting effect with some elements of irreversibility.

Say no to wipes!

We are sorry to crush your spirits, but wet wipes (aka baby wipes) are terrible not only for your hole, but also the environment as well. They truly deplete your anal region of the good bacteria, which can lead to significant dermatitis or infections and can be the cause of a herpes or HPV/anal warts outbreak. Also, the residual moisture can lead to constant irritation and infections. While brands are constantly touting their freshness and ease of use, they don’t want you to know about their potential risks. Not to mention, the clogged toilet you have is usually because of them. Help the environment and your ass by staying away from wipes.

Conclusion

The biggest piece of medical advice Bespoke Surgical can offer is to listen to your body. It knows what it can handle and what it can’t. Along with this, it’s key to make sure that you are eating well and maintaining great hygiene. One easy tip is to prove to yourself, even before you douche, how clean you truly are by using a butt plug or dilator, preferably light-colored, to see whether or not any residual stool is present. If it’s all clean, you’re ready to go. The important thing to remember is that accidents happen and everybody poops. So, if you find yourself in a situation where things have gotten a little messy, DON’T PANIC! You’re not a freak… you’re perfectly normal.

By taking the above advice and utilizing the appropriate methods with minor tweaks, we can all reach the desired effects we are searching for. When it comes to sex, one size does not fit all (literally and figuratively). Let us know if you still have specific anal cleaning questions we can answer. Oh, and good luck!

Bespoke Surgical is an NYC-based elite anal surgery practice. We put sexual wellness and health first, providing you the best care possible. LGBTQ+ friendly and sex positive, we’re happy to answer any questions you might have. If you have any further questions about how to clean for anal, contact us.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr. Evan Goldstein on February 11, 2021.

References

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Anal Douching: What to Know

If you’re planning to have anal sex or simply “clean” or “rinse” the area, you might consider anal douching. It’s a process many use to clean out the rectum – the last part of your large intestine – through the butt using water. But is it safe for you?

A diet high in fiber is usually enough to keep the inside of your rectum clean. Ideally, this should be your go-to method to maintain gut health and poop regularly. But if you’re planning to give anal douching a try, here’s a closer look at how to do it safely.

What Is Anal Douching?

The word “douche” is French and means to shower. In this case, anal douching refers to using a device such as a squeezable bottle or tube to squirt water or other liquids like saline up your butt to “clean” it. It can be done for medical or sexual reasons.

Who Does Anal Douching?

People of all gender identities can practice anal douching. But according to a study that looked at over 1,700 people, experts found that anal douching was more common among men. More than 7 out of 10 men douched, whereas over 3 in 10 women anal douched. The study also reported that among men who have sex with men, more than 5 in 10 men anal douched before they had anal sex.

Types of Anal Douching

There are many ways to try anal douching. Popular methods include:

Bulb douche. It’s one of the most common and affordable types of anal douching kits that usually includes two pieces – a rubber or silicone bulb and a nozzle that you insert into it. To use it, fill the bulb with warm water and insert the nozzle into your butt. Squeeze the bulb to release the water. This usually gives you a shallow cleanse.

Water bag douche. This contains a bag like a hot water bottle that you can hang high on a hook. One end has a long tube that you can insert into your butt. It also usually comes with an adapter to control the flow. The design allows it to be portable and easy to use. But you’ll need to clean it and replace it often to avoid infections.

Fleet enemas. These are over-the-counter laxative treatments that you can take for short-term relief, especially if you’re constipated. To do it safely, follow the instructions on the package. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor how to do it. You’ll probably see results in about 2-5 minutes. But if you notice side effects like bleeding, pain, blistering, a burning sensation, or other types of irritation in the area, tell your doctor. Don’t use fleet enemas for more than a week at a stretch unless a doctor approves it.

It’s best to use lubricants to reduce your odds of tearing, swelling, or bleeding. If you’re worried about doing it safely, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about your options.

Don’t use laxatives regularly unless you have constipation, you can’t have regular bowel movements, or you have impacted poop in your gut. If you do, talk to your doctor. They can suggest over-the-counter enemas or suppositories (laxative medications you insert up your butt) if necessary. This can help to loosen up the stool and pass it. Fiber supplements can help, too.

How to Do Anal Douching Safely

The best way to have a clean gut is to have a diet high in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise often. But if those don’t work or if you’re looking to try anal douching, there are few things you should keep in mind. Here are some tips to do it safely:

• Use only warm water.
• Gently slip the nozzle or tube inside your butt. Don’t force it in, as you can risk tearing or bleeding in the area. Use lubricants if necessary.
• During your first try, only squeeze or squirt water in for about 10 seconds. It may feel strange at first, but you don’t need too much water. You only need to clean the first few inches inside your butt.
• Try to hold the water in for a bit. You can hold your breath for this. To release it, breathe out and relax.
• Repeat the process till the water comes out clean.

Things you shouldn’t do include:

• Don’t rush it. This will reduce your odds of hurting yourself in the process.
• Don’t squirt the water before you check the temperature. Make sure it’s not too hot. While you may like a hot shower, the same water could burn your insides.
• Don’t put or spray too much water in. This might throw off the balance and kill good bacteria in your gut, too. It can also increase your risk for infection.
• Don’t use olive oil, bleach, alcohol, or any cleaning chemicals you might find under your sink. It can cause serious harm to your gut health.
• If you’re using a bulb to douche, after you squeeze it, don’t let go of it right away, as the water might get sucked back with all the particles in it. This makes the bulb unsanitary and unusable.

What Are the Risks of Anal Douching?

Studies show that douching can increase your risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

In fact, one study found that those who douche had 74% higher odds of reporting an STD in the past year, compared with those who don’t douche. But you might wonder how cleaning the insides of your rectum increases your odds of infection. Shouldn’t it do the opposite?

It can irritate or damage the inner mucus lining of your rectum (called rectal mucosa).

Without this protection, you’re more likely to get HIV or other infections, especially if you don’t use protection in the form of condoms or PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis), a type of medication you take to reduce your odds of getting HIV from sex.

How Is Anal Douching Different From Vaginal Douching?

Most doctors don’t recommend vaginal douching, as a healthy vagina is a mix of good and bad bacteria that help to maintain a proper acidic environment.

This allows it to self-clean, and it naturally carries a distinct odor. Douching your vagina throws off the good balance and puts you at risk for some serious infections and health problems. This can include pelvic inflammatory syndrome, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, it can cause you to have painful sex.

It’s possible for bits of poop to be stuck to the walls of your rectum, especially if you have a low-fiber diet or don’t have regular solid bowel movements. Anal douching, if it’s done safely, can help clear it up.

How Often Can You Do Anal Douching?

As with most things, anal douching is OK if you do it in moderation and you take your time doing it. There’s no correct number of times, but it’s best to limit yourself to once per day. Ideally, don’t do it more than 2-3 times per week.

If you’re unsure how to do it, hurt yourself in the process, notice any side effects from anal douching, or have symptoms of an STD, talk to your doctor right away.

Show Sources

San Francisco AIDS Foundation: “Anal douching safety tips,” “Here are the results of the anal douching survey in San Francisco.”

Birmingham LGBT: “Sexual Health Week 2016 – Douching Guide.”

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa: “Your Guide to Anal Douching.”

BMJ Journals: “Association between rectal douching and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.”

BMC Infectious Diseases: “Prevalence and types of rectal douches used for anal intercourse: results from an international survey.”

Office of Women’s Health: “Douching.”

National MS Society: “Fleet Enema.”