Clean butts are healthy butts, especially when it comes to anal sex. Here’s how to improve your anal hygiene and feel confident for anal play.
Unlike the self-cleaning vagina, butts need help when it comes to cleanliness. While anal hygiene can be an awkward topic, having a clean derrière boosts your confidence and health. This is especially important when engaging in anal play — the penetration and stimulation of the anus using the genitals, toys, hands, fingers, or mouth. Knowing how to clean your butt can keep you safe, make you less self-conscious, and help you master post-sex self-care.
GENERAL WISDOM FOR BUTT CLEANLINESS
Scared of seeing the remnants of a bowel movement or experiencing poop during anal play? You’ll be relieved to know it’s not likely. Unless you’re actively feeling the need to go, your poop sits in your sigmoid colon, a space above your rectum — the buffer before your anal canal — in a subsection of your large intestine. While it’s not common to come across poop during anal play, it CAN happen and just because you may not see poop, there still can be poop particles in the anus.
Sometimes, anal play can be messy, and that’s ok! Here are some tips for minimizing your risk and keeping your butt clean:
If you can, try not to eat anything a few hours before anal play since it can stimulate your bowels. Try to use the bathroom up to 30 minutes before anal play and if you do have the time, you can take a shower and use your fingers with a little bit of lukewarm water to help you relax. It’s important to avoid any chemical products since it can irritate the very sensitive anal tissue.
Clean butts are made in the kitchen, meaning good anal hygiene starts with a fiber-rich diet. Fiber will help you to avoid back-ups or constipation and keep you regular. An average of 21-38 grams of fiber is recommended. If you have a history of irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or other digestive disorders always consult your health care provider before adjusting your diet.
Drink water to stay hydrated. This makes poop softer and easier to pass.
Your butt is sensitive — so go easy! Use softer toilet tissue, wipe gently after you go, and choose breathable cotton fabrics for underwear.
Like most sensitive body areas, your butt can do without additional irritants like harsh cleansers and fragrances that can be found in some soaps, wipes, or laundry detergents.
WHAT IS ANAL DOUCHING?
Anal douching injects a solution directly into the anal canal to flush liquid through the rectum to remove remnants of bowel movements by opening up the anal sphincter and softening the stool. It’s important to know that anal douching is not required or necessary, and can become damaging if done repeatedly or forcefully. People with anal diseases, inflammation, anal fissures (tiny tears in or around the anus), or severe hemorrhoids should avoid anal douching. Anal douching may also cause contractions in pregnant people.
To avoid an electrolyte imbalance, a lukewarm saline solution is recommended to cleanse using an enema bulb or Fleet enema.
HOW DO I USE AN ANAL DOUCHE?
A Fleet enema is typically marketed as an over-the-counter constipation relief tool in drugstores. These single-use douching kits come pre-filled with saline solutions with a pre-lubricated nozzle tip for easier insertion. After one use, the Fleet enema should be tossed out.
An enema bulb is a reusable cleansing tool that requires a water-based lube and a liquid solution (here are some lube ideas and information). Again, a saline solution is recommended, but the bulb can also be filled with lukewarm water. Try to use filtered water if possible! Never use soap or other chemicals. Once your bulb is filled and lubricated, apply lubrication to your anus.
Regardless of which enema tool you use, you should place yourself comfortably over your toilet or the shower, raising a leg, resting it on something for balance, and taking a few relaxing breaths before inserting the lubricated nozzle into your anus, giving a gentle squeeze to the bulb or bottle to expel the liquid. Try to hold the liquid in for a few seconds before slowly and gently releasing it.
MINIMIZING YOUR RISK
Rectal Douching is not a requirement or necessary and repeated use can damage the very sensitive barrier of the rectum, which MAY increase the likelihood of STIs. People with anal diseases, inflammation, anal fissures or severe hemorrhoids should avoid anal douching.
There’s very little scientific literature on this subject. However, the few studies we’ve found suggest that those who douche more than 1x per week may have an increased risk of getting an STI, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV.
The reason is because douching can cause the outer protective layer of cells in the rectum to be removed. This means that STIs have increased access. For people who have sex without condoms, remember that part of being a responsible sex partner is getting screened for STIs in the areas where you have sex (including your butt and throat).
Here are some ways to minimize your risks:
Since the anus is not naturally lubricating, It is important to use an adequate amount of lube during anal play. This can help decrease pain but also lessen the risk of tears which MAY make you more susceptible to STIs.
Anal fissures (a tiny tear in the anal canal) are caused by some trauma to the anal canal like straining to use the bathroom if you're constipated or from anal sex. Depending on the size, these fissures can bleed and become quite painful. If you develop anal fissures, there are treatment options available and you should speak with a health care provider about your options.
If you’re using sex toys, avoid sharp ridges or those large in size. If the toy has a base, do not put the base inside your anus, since it can tear the opening.
Communication is key, and it's sexy! It's important to check in on one another and feel comfortable expressing if you're experiencing any pain or discomfort.
Remember, unprotected anal intercourse is high-risk for many STIs, such as gonorrhea, HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, HPV, and hepatitis. Use condoms during anal sex to decrease the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
WHAT NOT TO DO
You may have assumptions about what it means to be clean that are harming you. For anal hygiene, it’s important to understand what not to do to avoid irritation or damage to your body. Some substances to avoid in or around your anus include:
alcohol, including rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer
bleach
hydrogen peroxide
iodine
talcum powder
witch hazel
Simply put, stick with warm water and gentle, unscented cleansers and/or wipes. It’s also important to know that using oil-based lubricants and natural oils (olive oil, coconut oil, etc) can damage latex condoms and make them break.
OPTIONS FOR A DEEPER CLEAN
Suppose you feel called to get squeaky clean, especially in preparation for anal sex. Some safer options and tools are available, like an enema bulb and a Fleet enema for anal douching.
HOW TO CLEAN UP AFTER ANAL SEX
Clean-up after sex should be gentler as your body adjusts to being stimulated or stretched. Try to take a warm bath to relax your muscles. Rinse and cleanse your rectum with warm water and a gentle, scent-free cleanser. Continue with drinking water for hydration and fiber as part of your daily anal hygiene, but pay special attention to wiping after bowel movements, cleaning methods, and sensitivity as your booty rests.
After anal sex, pay attention to your body. Spot the difference between minor discomfort and pain in your body, and see a health care professional if you suspect anal injury.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this publication is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care provider. You should not use this information for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication. You should consult with a health care professional if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
About the Author
Mare Leon (they/she) is a nonbinary Black woman and writer from Philadelphia, PA, who enjoys travel, oat milk lattes, and being unbothered. They are a contributor to Womanly Magazine, Yes! Magazine, Salty Magazine, and Fodors Travel. Follow Mare on Instagram.
About the Artist
Ian Long (they/them) is a Philly-based artist who enjoys creating narrative pieces by using a combination of bold colors, textured brushes, and paper overlays. You can find more of their work on their website or Instagram.
