Welcome to anal douching 101–a place for all genders to learn about the ins and outs when it comes to cleansing the back door in preparation for anal play. 

Why do we specifically mention “all genders”? To eradicate any stigmas from the get-go. 

Anal play is fun for all bodies—we said it. So let’s move on to the topic at hand… a beginners guide to anal douching.

A Simple Guide for Beginners to Anal Douching

You’re here because you’re a newbie. A newbie to anal? A newbie to douching? Whatever it may be—don’t stress! We’ll cover the basics for you so that you’ll be able to get started with confidence. 

The very basics of it all starts with this simple question… 

What Is Anal Douching?

Anal douching is when a person flushes out their rectum with water (or another liquid such as saline solution). 

By anal douching, one will be able to remove any fecal matter from the rectum and anal canal. A douche will soften any stool that may be in the lower rectum, and loosen the anal sphincter so that a bowel movement is prompted. 

"The gentle force of water and subsequent evacuation allows for a cleansing of the lower rectum and anus," says Felice H. Schnoll-Sussman, MD, gastroenterologist.

And, just for clarification, some people may believe that a douche and an enema are the same thing. They aren’t. 

A douche is what we’ve described above while an enema is usually something that is prescribed by doctors for things such as a colonoscopy or major constipation, because it cleanses further up the body. 

But there are such things such as enema douches too. We’ll introduce you to them below.

Purpose and Benefits

What is the purpose of anal douching? Some people like to do it for anal hygiene purposes because they want to feel cleaner or because they want to prepare for receiving anal penetration or rimming. 

The benefits of anal douching, as per the latter, is that there is always a chance that fecal matter may appear during anal play. Douching allows the receiver to have peace of mind, and to enjoy the act with confidence. It can also reduce the chance of catching infections that are spread by poop (but more research is needed on this).

Having said that, this is not to scare you. This kind of accident does not always happen, there is just a possibility that it could. 

When Is It Necessary?

In actuality, anal douching is never necessary. Doing so is a personal choice, and as long as you aren’t doing it daily and you are using the right solution, it is safe to anal douche. How often? We’ll answer that below. 

Preparing for Anal Douching

Now that you’re more acquainted with anal douching, let’s talk about how to prepare for it. 

Selecting the Right Equipment

There are different kinds of anal douches available. For example:

Anal Douche Bulb

This is the most common kind of anal douche and the most affordable. It comes with two pieces—a silicone bulb and a nozzle that you insert into it. 

Water Bag Douche

This anal douche looks similar to that of a hot water bottle and it needs to be hung high on a hook. It has a long tube that is then inserted into the rectum.

Saline Enemas

We did mention that enemas are not the same as anal douches. But in this case, it is not a medicated type of enema, rather a saline solution enema that comes with a nozzle.

Shower Douche With Hose Attachment

This is a hose that gets attached to your shower, but can be tricky to use as one must watch out for temperature and pressure of the water.

Tips for Choosing a Safe Solution

Tap water is the most commonly used solution when anal douching, but saline solution is a great option.

According to Dr Evan Goldstein, the Founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical, the leading private practice in health and wellness for gay men, using a saline solution is the best option. 

This is because it allows for free movement of solution across the cell membranes, cleansing them without disrupting them—which is what one would want their anal douche to do. 

Step-By-Step Guide to Anal Douching

From preparation to the act of douching plus post-douching care, here is a step-by-step guide to anal douching.

Pre-douching Preparation

You’ll want to practice these pre-douching instructions carefully as it can help prevent pain and damage.

Step one: clean your douche and nozzle in order to prevent the spread of bacteria. You can do this with warm water and soap to clean the inside and outside. Rinse it multiple times to ensure it’s sparkling clean.

Step two: pour lukewarm water into the douche, make sure it isn’t warmer than lukewarm so as not to burn the mucosal lining.

Step three: lubricate the nozzle for easier insertion.

How to Douche Safely

Once your douche is prepared, you’ll want to follow these steps:

Step one: either stand in the shower or squat over the toilet so that the contents of the douche and your rectum have a place to be expelled. You may find it easier to stand with one leg up over the toilet, the side of the tub, or a shower bench. 

Step two: if you’re nervous, you could lightly massage the anal opening with a cleaned, lubed finger before inserting the douche. 

Step three: gently hold the nozzle against your anus, take a deep breath in, then slowly and gently insert it inside of you whilst breathing out.

Step four: once the anal douche is inside of you, squeeze the douche bulb, bottle, or bag, which will prompt the liquid to slowly enter inside of you. 

Step five: hold the liquid inside of you for a few seconds (3-7) before pushing it out.

Step six: repeat this process until the water running out of you is clear.

Post-douching Care

After you’ve finished anal douching, you can get into the shower and get cleaned up. Some people may wait an hour or two to engage in anal play after this, just for an extra layer of precaution to ensure all the liquid is out. 

This may also be a good time to get your head ready for the journey ahead, and to make sure you have all of your essentials ready for your fun, such as condoms and lube.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As with most things, there are some risks involved when it comes to anal douching. Be sure to take these into account to enjoy peace of mind and to enjoy anal play.

Over-Douching and Its Risks

While there isn’t a set rule on how many times is considered “over-douching”, it’s recommended not to do so more than two to three times per week. And it is definitely not advised to do it more than once per day. 

What are the risks involved with over-douching? You could risk damaging your anus and intestinal lining, even if you are doing it carefully. 

You could also run the risk of throwing off your pH balance of electrolytes, and disrupting your body’s natural elimination rhythm (i.e. going to the toilet) when you douche too often. 

Using Harsh Solutions

We’ve previously mentioned that the safest solutions to use are water and saline solutions. But there are some cases where people use other solutions whilst anal douching, and that can have some negative consequences. 

For example, if homemade or non-commercial solutions are used, it can damage the rectal tissue which can make one more susceptible to infections. 

Another example of using a harsh solution is if one opts for laxatives. Some store-bought enema solutions contain stimulant laxatives like bisacodyl, that induce intestinal contractions and diarrhoea, which may lead to other side effects such as cramping, gas, and dehydration. 

Anal Douching but the Water Won’t Run Clear?

There are times when you’ve followed the instructions perfectly but the water simply won’t run clear—it happens. 

It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s important to know when to stop douching and to possibly consider other options for playtime. 

Or, if you’re okay with having anal penetration without douching, that’s okay too. You can simply lay down some towels in case of any mishaps.

Watching Your Diet

If you’re not a big fan of anal douching, you could actually incorporate foods that are high in fibre into your diet, such as fruit and vegetables. 

This, with the addition of good hydration, will impact the quality of your bowel movements (make them more solid). What does that mean? You’ll be less likely to need to douche at all. 

Making Peace

Having said all of the above, sometimes mistakes do happen. If you’re having anal sex, there’s always a small risk that some poop may come out—and it may just be easier to accept that when you make peace with it. 

If a mistake does happen, you could jump in the shower, or you could prepare beforehand by placing down a towel or old sheet, and wearing a condom. 

The most important part is that we don’t shame ourselves or our partners. It is a normal bodily response, and it is a possibility—it’s as simple as that.

Now let’s take a peek at some of our favourite anal douche and enema douche recommendations!

Product Recommendations

With that, do you feel ready to get started with an anal douche? Having read the ins and outs, it’s really not that scary, is it? 

And, by anal douching, you may just feel even more relaxed and ready to go on all sorts of (new) anal adventures! Enjoy!