CONTD. FROM PART 1 * * * CLEAN THE INSIDE OF YOUR BUTT: Keeping the inside of your butt clean isn’t always a one-and-done method - it’s a lifestyle. Eat foods that are high in fiber to encourage regular, healthy bowel movements. Fiber improves the passage of poop through your colon by shaping waste into one solid lump, which reduces the amount of residue that’s left behind, and adults should aim to eat 28 to 34 grams of fiber each day. In addition to consuming a fiber-rich diet, you should also avoid eating a big meal within a few hours of when you plan to bang, since that can increase the risk of poop accidents. “Keep in mind the body has a natural gastrocolic reflex”. That means that when you put food in, it’s going to want to come out. Some people opt for additional internal cleaning in the form of an enema (often called an ‘anal douche’), which flushes the inside of your butt with water or saline. But doing so isn’t necessary and there are lots of safety and health caveats involved, so there are some things you need to know if you’re considering trying it out. First, there are some types of enemas you definitely shouldn’t use: “I don’t advise using store-bought enemas containing laxative solution, which cause your rectum to spasm and stimulate emptying. Those harsh solutions can irritate the rectum and tiny tears can increase the risk of STI transmission.” If you take more than the recommended dose, laxative solutions can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that can damage your organs and even kill you. Long term use can cause a loss of muscle tone in your intestines, which means your colon won’t be able to contract and push out your poop normally. Dr. Thomas also advises against using shower enemas (or ‘shower shots’), which attach to your shower’s water supply with a long hose. These “can pump way too much water up into the rectum at unpredictable temperatures and speeds,” he says. The pressure from all that water could lead to a colovesical fistula or a bowel perforation. Shower shots also come with less serious - but still unpleasant - consequences. “Sending water up too high into the colon makes the whole process messier and can lead to water flooding out during sex,” which is basically the opposite of what you’re going for. If you do use an anal douche, THE SAFEST WAY IS WITH AN ENEMA BULB FILLED WITH WATER. “You can use a drugstore enema that you’ve emptied and rinsed out first,” he says. Fill the bulb with lukewarm water and lubricate the tip. Then sit on the toilet, insert the tip until it’s just inside your anus, and gently squeeze until you feel water inside your rectum. Hold the water inside you for 15 to 30 seconds before releasing it into the toilet. The water that comes out will probably be brown at first. Repeat the process a few times until the water runs clear. After using an enema, you should wait one to two hours before anal sex to allow your butt time to recover from any irritation and to ensure that you’ve completely emptied the water. Again, enemas come with serious risks, especially if you use them improperly: it’s possible to perforate your colon or rectum, which can cause internal bleeding, inflammation, or even sepsis. Using enemas more than two to three times a week can disrupt your body’s natural defecation process. You also shouldn’t use an enema if you have hemorrhoids or anal fissures, since it can make them worse and cause pain. That’s a lot of worry for a less-than-guaranteed result; the reality is, you still might see poop during anal in the end. No matter what you do in advance to clean your butt, FOCUS ON HOW INCREDIBLE BOTTOMING CAN FEEL AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER INSTEAD OF FREAKING OUT ABOUT STRAY SPOTS. “SOMETIMES SHIT HAPPENS, AND THAT'S OKAY.” If poop enters the picture, clean it off with a baby wipe or a quick rinse, remove any barriers you’ve been using and put on a fresh one, and you can get right back to getting it on. * * * (Ro White is a Chicago-based writer. ‘They’ primarily cover sex, relationships, mental health, and LGBTQ+ issues). * * * SELF.COM