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 douching.

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.

Here is how to anal douche properly while answering the most common questions about all things related to anal douching.

anal douching

WHAT IS ANAL DOUCHING?

Anal 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.

IS ANAL DOUCHING NECESSARY?

It is not necessary to anal douching before having anal sex. Typically, gently cleaning the external anal canal is effective enough. Therefore, cleansing around the anal opening (externally with your favorite soap) should be sufficient for most people.

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.

WHAT CAN BE USED FOR SAFE ANAL DOUCHING?

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. Luckily, there is a body-compatible solution specifically made for anal sex : It’s the first isotonic solution that was created by medical professionalsto gently, yet effectively, cleanse the anal canal and rectum.

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. 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 helps prevent the liquid from going too high up into your body.

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 bacteria, 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.

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.

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.