Water in anus during anal sex

Dear Reader,   

You're correct that your partner's preference to penetrate you with the water still in your anus isn't an enema, but there are some similarities in the health risks between the two. An enema is a medical procedure that flushes water into the rectum, where it's held for a few minutes before being released; the fluid can initiate a bowel movement or clean out any traces of feces from the anal cavity. Enemas may be medically recommended to relieve constipation, manage bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, or clear out the colon and rectum before surgery. Enema kits are commercially available at pharmacies and administered either at home or by a physician, or some people create their own using a solution of water or saline. For some, the enema is pleasurable and erotic, while others may find it uncomfortable. While infrequent use or as medically directed may have health benefits, performing enemas too often may cause adverse health consequences.

While enemas may be helpful in certain situations, enemas may also disrupt the rectum, bowels, gastrointestinal tract, and frequency of bowel movements. Potential side effects include nausea, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances, which are more likely if enemas are performed frequently or with a non-saline solution. There is also some risk of damage or tearing of anal tissue during the enema insertion process, particularly if the body isn't adequately prepared or lubricated. Over time, using enemas frequently may cause the body to become reliant on an enema to pass stool. While what you and your partner are doing isn't exactly an enema, there are many overlaps, and the enema health risks may also apply to you. If you start to experience side effects or your bowel movements become irregular or uncomfortable, it may be beneficial to hold off on this act and figure out other types of sexual pleasure that you and your partner enjoy. In the meantime, here are a few tips for your aqueous anal play:

• Temperature: The mucosal lining of the colon and intestine is extremely sensitive to temperature, and using liquid that is too hot or too cold may be uncomfortable or cause cramps or pain. Check the water temperature carefully to ensure it is lukewarm or room-temperature.
• Liquid solution: While many people use tap or bottled water for enemas, these liquids may skew the electrolyte balance in the colon, especially if used frequently. Using a saline solution (a water and sodium electrolyte mixture that matches the body's natural levels) reduces this risk. Saline is available at many drugstores and can also be made at home by adding a half teaspoon of salt to one cup of water. Other liquids, such as oils, coffee, alcohol, or chemical cleaners, are not recommended as they may cause intestinal damage or discomfort.
• Frequency: Even with the optimal temperature, liquid solution, and equipment, a higher use frequency equals higher risk of damaging the mucosal lining in the rectum. Among people who use enemas for non-medical reasons prior to anal sex, the anecdotal recommendation is to use no more than two to three enemas per week. Since the act you described sounds like it includes a greater volume of fluids and longer duration of retaining it internally than a standard enema, you may wish to be even more conservative in your frequency.
• Lubrication: The anus doesn’t make its own natural lubricant, so adding extra water-based or silicone-based lubrication (both during the act of anal sex itself, as well as on whatever object is used to inject the water beforehand) will increase comfort and help prevent injuries to the delicate rectal tissue. Somewhat counterintuitively, water alone isn't very slippery. In fact, it adds friction, which increases the risks for condom breakages and microtears in anal tissue. Given the amount of water that you’re using, you may find that water-based lubricants wash away too quickly. If you haven’t already, you might give silicone-based lube a try!
• Communication: Speaking with your partner before, during, and after this act may make the process more comfortable, build trust, and help each of you relax.
• Volume of liquid: From your description of using so much water that it is “overflowing,” it appears that you are using a much greater volume of water than a typical enema. You may find that using a smaller volume increases your comfort.
• Injection method: You mentioned that you use a water bottle to inject the water into your rectum, which may pose a couple potential problems depending on the kind of bottle. If you’re using a standard water bottle, the mouth of the bottle is often made of hard plastic and about an inch in diameter, which might be quite uncomfortable to insert. If you’re using a sports water bottle that squirts water out of a small opening, it may be easy to overdo it and inject water at too high of a pressure, potentially causing pain or discomfort. You may find that switching to a different method with a smaller and more flexible applicator (such as a commercial enema kit, anal douche bulb, or even baby mucus sucker) greatly increases your comfort.

It seems that your anal play rides a fine line between your pleasure and discomfort, so keep those lines of communication flowing. You may consider speaking about sexual boundaries so both you and your partner feel safe and enjoy your time together. For more information, you may want to leaf through Anal Pleasure and Health by Jack Morin or peruse the San Francisco AIDS Foundation website, which posts a variety of funny and informative content on sex, identity, and more. Wishing you luck on your aqueous adventures!