Anal play can bring a whole new level of fun to the bedroom, but for some folks, it can also bring on some stress. We all know that the butt is the body’s defecation station, and some folks get anxious about poop making an unwanted appearance in their sexy times. This is totally understandable. Like any sexual activity, butt play should be comfortable and fun. With that in mind, today we are going to talk about anal douching- a safe and easy way to start anal play with a clean slate, as it were.
Anal douching, or rectal douching, is a method by which the anal canal and rectum, a small part of the large intestine closest to the anal entrance, is cleaned out by using water or a specialized cleansing fluid. Squirting a small amount of fluid inside allows you conveniently rinse out any leftover fecal matter from your last bowel movement.
WHO IS ANAL DOUCHING FOR?
Anal douching is for anyone who wants their rectum to be as clean as possible, especially in preparation for anal play. That said, folks with hemorrhoids or anal fissures may want to skip it.
WHEN DO YOU USE IT?
Typically, the reason for anal douching is to ensure cleanliness and hygiene prior to anal intercourse, whether with a partner or with anal sex toys. And when it comes to anal penetration, it’s one of the first steps often recommended when learning how to prepare for anal sex (although it’s definitely not a requirement).
Something to keep in mind is that the rectum is specifically designed to hold your feces high up in the intestine until you’re ready to release, so the likelihood of any poop making an appearance during sex is actually quite low, whether you’ve recently douched or not. However, it provides a level of comfort which can allow everyone to fully immerse themselves in the erotic experience and fully relish the sensations. It’s hard to have an orgasm if you’re too busy worrying about something else coming out, after all.
ANAL DOUCHE PREPARATION
Skip the Laxatives
It can be tempting to add a laxative to your anal cleansing routine, but resist that temptation! Laxatives can cause gas, cramping, and diarrhea, which is not what you want heading into anal play.
Begin With a Clean Douche
Start with a clean anal douche to avoid spreading any bad bacteria. Generally, you want to make sure anything you put in your body is clean but this is especially true if you are using a reusable douche.
Lubricate the Douche
Lubricate the douche nozzle to ensure that it slides in without any friction or pain. Even if it’s very small, you shouldn’t underestimate how tight the anus is. You can choose whether to douche in the shower or over a toilet, but make sure your derriere is located somewhere convenient for whatever surprise comes out.
HOW TO USE AN ANAL DOUCHE
Let’s talk about how to anal douche. Ready to do this thing? Ok, let’s get down to the details!
Prepare the Anal Area for Insertion
If you’re worried about pain, you can use a lubricated finger to relax your anal opening and tease the area. Then line up your douche’s nozzle and breathe out while inserting it. This may feel strange, especially if it’s a solid, plastic tip. That’s completely normal, but it should never actually hurt — if it does, stop immediately.
Pro Tip: Many people prefer to put one leg up, either next to the toilet, on a shower bench, or the side of the tub, to allow them easier access.
Squeeze the Douche Bulb
Once the tip is inserted, squeeze the douche bulb very slowly to propel the liquid inside. The anal canal is a tight delicate space, and if you squeeze too hard, the resulting water pressure can be very uncomfortable! Go slow, clench your butt to hold the liquid inside, then slowly remove the douche nozzle. Be sure to hold the bulb tightly squeezed until the nozzle is fully out - this will help prevent anything from being sucked back into the bulb.
The douche process can be repeated a couple more times until the water comes out clear. It’s suggested not to exceed 3 flushes per session to avoid irritation.
Wipe Up & Get to It
If you’re in the shower anyway, clean-up is made easy. Otherwise, wipe thoroughly. It’s recommended to wait 30 minutes to an hour after douching to engage in anal play. This will ensure all liquid is out, allow any tissue irritation to subside, and can give a body time to adjust.
ANAL DOUCHE SAFETY
Safety first! What you use to cleanse your rectum and how often you douche can greatly affect the safety of the process.
Be Cautious of Your Cleaning Solutions
Certain cleaning solutions can actually damage your sensitive large intestine and cause serious problems, like an increased risk for infections of all kinds. Make sure to only use water, saline solution or a commercially approved (made specifically for anal douching) substance to get that good, clean feeling without potentially hurting yourself.
Be Aware of Temperature
It might sound like warm water would be nice for douching but trust us when we say don’t do it! Your colon is much more sensitive to temperature than the skin on the outside of your body. Use your hand to test the water temperature first. When it feels lukewarm (not hot!), turn the temperature down a little bit more, that way it will be safe to go in your but
ANAL DOUCHE CHOICES
When looking for the best anal douche for you, there are loads of options. Luckily, anal douching is a fairly simple procedure and there are several types of equipment that can be used.
Douche
You can think of an anal douche like a syringe or cooking baster. That may be an odd comparison, but it’s a simple one to make. After purchasing one, you screw the douche nozzle onto a pump ball. You load up the douche with clean water by squeezing the large douche bulb and placing the tip in the fluid. The douche suctions up the fluid, and then it’s ready to be inserted into your anus. Gently squeeze the ball to release the fluid, and you’re ready to douche in a snap!
When it’s time to clean the cleaner, simply pop the nozzle off and run it under warm water. You can use a tiny amount of soap as well to get rid of the bacteria, but make sure to rinse it all off before the next time you use it.
Enemas
If you’re looking for something a bit more thorough, consider opting for an enema, as opposed to simply douching. Technically, an enema is a more in-depth form of douching, in that it uses a cleansing fluid to clean your insides out, but the method and equipment used are somewhat different.
An enema kit consists of a large pump bottle, long hose, and small nozzle. These can hold a decent amount of fluid. You fill the bottle and attach the hose and nozzle for use. While a traditional anal douche simply cleans out the rectum, a small section of the large intestine, an enema goes deeper and cleans further into the intestine. If the enema comes with a bag of solution, you squeeze the bag to push the contents into yourself.
If you want to learn more about enemas and have more questions like, “what is an enema and how do I do it safely?”, “do enemas hurt?” or “colonic vs enema: what’s the difference?” read our linked blogs!
HOW OFTEN DO SHOULD I DO ANAL DOUCHE?
Limit your douching to around three times a week and definitely not more than one session per day. After all, your body is naturally protected by its own bacterial environments, and douching can disrupt your natural and healthy intestinal flora and bacterial cultures if performed too often.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Like all types of sex, anal sex is inevitably going to be messy. There will be fluids, and after the throes of passion have ended, some clean-up will be required. However, by ensuring that your back end is as clean as possible beforehand by anally douching, you can cut down on much of the mess and possible ick factor on your sex toy or partner. That way, everyone’s more comfortable and you can focus purely on pleasure.
