Bottoms (bottoms are people who like to receive during sex) often search online for tips on anal sex preparation. Common advice includes showering immediately before anal sex and keeping wet wipes on hand to clean any messes that may occur.
But what some people don’t realize is that diet can play a huge role in whether or not mid-sex poop makes an appearance.
1. Eat a Healthy Diet
The food you eat can have a direct impact on how messy anal sex is. For this reason, many people avoid certain foods and drinks before they bottom. For example, caffeine accelerates your journey to the toilet, so it’s best to avoid eating or drinking any before fisting. This is also true for anything that triggers a bowel movement, such as garlic or dairy.
According to Alex Hall, TikToker and creator of the sex-positive cooking show The Bottom’s Digest, consuming foods high in fiber and greens can help make anal sex more enjoyable. He says that “eating right” can also reduce your messiness during penetration by helping waste move through your anal cavity more easily and quickly.
As for cleaning, he recommends using a warm washcloth or sponge to gently wipe your anal after sex. He warns against scrubbing the area too vigorously, as this can cause abrasions or irritation. It’s also important to avoid wet wipes, which contain chemicals and preservatives that can irritate the anal canal.
Lastly, always use a condom during anal sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anal sex poses the highest risk of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because it can expose the rectum’s thin lining to infection. This makes it easier for STIs to enter the bloodstream, which can lead to AIDS or other diseases like Herpes B.
2. Stay Hydrated
One major anal sex preparation tip is to make sure you’re well hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids can help to lubricate the anal, making for a more comfortable experience for both top and bottom.
Additionally, staying hydrated can also help to prevent anal blockages. And if you do get a blockage, drinking water can also help to clear the blockage and relieve discomfort.
Lastly, consuming lots of fiber is another good way to prepare for anal sex. Fiber helps to encourage regular bowel movements and reduce the risk of constipation, which can be uncomfortable during anal play.
If you want to give your rectum an extra boost, try douching or using an enema. You can find douche kits that contain everything you need to clean your rectum for anal sex at Hims, and they’re usually cheaper than buying individual products. If you’re unsure how to use an enema, ask your doctor or sex specialist for advice, and be careful not to squirt too much water inside of you.
Alex Hall, who is known on TikTok as “The Bottom’s Digest,” explains that he started his anal sex cooking show to destigmatize bottoming and provide fellow bottoms with more anal sex prep tips. He says that he often scans Reddit forums for anal sex tips, but many of the advice focuses on pleasing the person who is not the bottom, rather than making both people comfortable during anal play.
3. Avoid Alcohol
While many tops have some level of control over what they eat, bottoms are often confined to a limited diet and can be subjected to stomach distress. As a result, the most important thing for bottoms to do is eat healthy — and if anal play is on the horizon, avoid certain foods.
A big one is alcohol, which can cause pain during anal penetration and also make it difficult to pass anal foreplay items through the anus. Booze lowers inhibitions, which can lead to consenting to things that you’ll regret once you’re sober (think spit play or even, gasp!, poop). The depressant effect of alcohol on the inner anal sphincter (IAS) can be particularly challenging for inexperienced bottoms.
As an added bonus, alcohol can wreak havoc on the digestive tract and, therefore, cause stomach issues for both tops and bottoms during sex. This can also cause abrasions on the anus, which can be uncomfortable for both of you.
If you must consume alcohol before anal sex, try to limit it to one drink or less. And make sure to use plenty of lubrication, starting with small items like fingers to begin with and working up to larger objects. And, remember to clean your anus before and after anal sex. This will help prevent friction and make it easier to insert items. It’s also a good idea to keep a pack of wet wipes on hand in case of any accidents or messiness.
4. Clean Your Anus
Using anal play can cause small amounts of poop to build up in the anus. It’s important to clean your anus regularly to reduce the chances of pooping mid-anal sex. This can be done by showering or using a douche (water-based enema). You may also find it helpful to use lube on the finger or dildo you’re going to insert in your anus, as this will make it easier.
Ideally, it’s best to do your cleaning an hour or so before you plan on bottoming. This gives the food a chance to move through your body and into your small intestine and colon before you bottom.
When you do a douche, start at a low setting to avoid accidentally releasing too much water at once. Slowly squirt the liquid into your anus, and then rinse it out in the toilet or bathtub. Rinse a few times or until you’ve gotten the anal area as clean as possible.
Anal sex is safe for most people if both parties are comfortable and are using lots of lubricant. However, it can be dangerous if one or both parties are HIV positive or don’t know their status and don’t take preventative measures like condoms. Anal sex also poses a risk of irritation to the lining of your rectum, and irritated skin makes you more vulnerable to infections.