Sexpert: March 8, 2012

Dear Sexpert,

My partner wants me to perform anal sex, but, to tell you the truth, I’m very concerned about cleanliness, and this kind of freaks me out. I’ve heard that an enema can be done to make things cleaner overall — is this true? What else can we do to make this safe and pleasurable?

—Clean & Concerned

Dear Concerned,

Your questions regarding hygiene and anal sex are good ones. While anal sex can be a pleasurable experience, it does provoke some concerns about maintaining cleanliness. While planning ahead may mitigate some of these concerns, only you can decide whether it’s something you’re OK with.

One way to help maintain hygiene during anal sex is to have your partner visit the toilet ahead of time. Given your concerns, it may also make sense for your partner to shower before you get started. You could also ask your partner to slip a lightly soaped finger inside during their shower to further cleanse the anal area. If your partner has recently had a bowel movement and has a healthy digestive system, only trace amounts of feces will remain in the anus and rectum. These trace amounts of remaining feces are far too small for the penetrating partner to actually feel during sex. While an enema can help to clean out some of the remaining fecal matter and can contribute to a general sense of cleanliness, frequent use is not recommended, as an enema can cause trauma to the rectum, which increases the risk of transmission of STIs and other infections.

Speaking of STIs, there is an increased risk of STI transmission during anal sex. The tissues of the anus and rectum are delicate and have a lot of blood vessels that can become injured during anal sex. Injured tissues in the anus and rectum can expose you to HIV and other STIs. These risks can be greatly reduced by using a barrier — such as condoms, latex gloves or dental dams — and a lot of lube so the barrier doesn’t tear. Lube will also contribute to both you and your partner’s pleasure during anal sex. Make sure to use silicone or water-based lube, as oil-based lubes, lotions or Vaseline can destroy latex. Silicone-based lubricants are especially popular for anal sex because they tend to last longer and don’t dry up or become sticky.

There is a risk of pregnancy associated with heterosexual couples engaging in anal sex, as semen deposited around the anus may find its way into the vagina, so just like with vaginal sex, you may want to consider methods of pregnancy prevention. Also, keep in mind that after having anal sex bacteria from the anus can remain on the penis, fingers, toys or anything else that you have used. Wash up with soap, and switch to a clean barrier before moving on to anything else, including vaginal or oral sex. By keeping these tips in mind and maintaining an open line of communication with your partner, anal sex can be an enjoyable experience for both of you. For readers looking for more information about this topic, the Go Ask Alice! website (goaskalice.columbia.edu) is a great resource!

— The Sexpert

The Sexpert is written by a team of peer sexual health educators and fact-checked by University health professionals. You can submit questions to sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com. Don’t be shy!