What is anal douching?
Rectal douching is the act of rinsing the rectum with intent to clean it. An instance of this rinsing or a tool used to perform the rinse may be called a rectal douche. It’s no secret that the rectum is the exit for your poop.
Some guys prefer to douche before anal sex, however with a healthy, high-fibre diet you should be perfectly fine without needing to douche. Problems with rectum are common. They include hemorrhoids, abscesses, incontinence and cancer. Many people are embarrassed to talk about rectal troubles. But seeing your doctor about problems in this area is important. This is especially true if you have pain or bleeding. Treatments vary depending on the particular problem.
Is Anal Douching Safe?
There’s been concern in the past that anal douching could increase the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mainly due to ingredients commonly used. Most men who have sex with men — or MSM for short — report using homemade and noncommercial substances and solutions. Many of these can damage rectal tissue, potentially making you more susceptible to infection.
The case against anal douching is that it can irritate or damage the lining of the rectum, making you more susceptible to HIV infection if you don’t use any protection such as condoms.
What are the risks involved in anal douching?
There are several risk involved in anal douching, they include:
Pain and tear: Unlike the vagina, the anus lacks lubrication. That means you have to provide some form of lubrication in order to reduce pain during anal douching. Inserting the anal douching paraphernalia without lubrication can tear the delicate tissue inside the anus, which can lead to pain and bleeding.
Infection: The tissue and skin around the anus acts as a protective barrier for the bottom half of your digestive tract. However, the tissue inside the anus is thinner, delicate, and more likely to tear and bleed as a result of penetration. This increases the likelihood of passing infections, viruses, or bacteria especially when using a contaminated anal douching instrument.
Effect on ability to poop: You might experience an urge to use the bathroom soon after anal douching but it won’t prevent you from pooping. However, this can result in a whole lot of complications especially if you have conditions like the irritable bowel syndrome. Up to 70 million people in the United States are affected by digestive diseases, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Effect on Hemorrhoids: Stretching and pushing from anal douching can irritate existing hemorrhoids, but it’s unlikely to cause the dilated and stretched blood vessels inside the rectum and anus. When hemorrhoids stoked, you may feel pressure, discomfort, or a sharp pain when you sit down. You might also feel pain or discomfort during a bowel movement or when wiping the area.
Colon perforation: This is very uncommon, but it’s possible that anal douching can puncture a hole in your colon. Surgical repair is necessary, so if you experience heavy rectal bleeding and abdominal pain following anal douching, see your doctor. The primary symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation are severe abdominal pain and tenderness. The abdomen may also protrude or feel hard to the touch. If the hole is in a person’s stomach or small intestine, the onset of pain is usually sudden, but if the hole is in the large bowel, the pain may come on gradually.
