Rectal Douching and Associated Infection Risks
Similar to vaginal douching, rectal douching or anal douching is not something that many people talk about it polite circles. It is commonly practiced by Men-Who-Have-Sex-With-Men (MSM) who receive anal sex. Let’s face it, generally we don’t want our loved ones to have to deal with our faeces while having anal sex. However there is a growing concern about the practice of performing anal douching and its associated risk of STI including HIV infection.
Other Read: Anal Pap Smear for Anal Cancer.
Find a doctor | Make an appointment
A recently published systematic review (essentially this means that the study involves gathering all published studies on a subject and compiling the findings together) in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections (May 2019), there is evidence to suggest that anal douching can potentially increase the risk of STI and HIV infection among MSM. In the systematic review, it included a total of 28 studies looking at anal douching and the risk of STI/ HIV in MSM population around the world (46% from US, 35% from Europe and the rest from South America, Asia and Africa).
Also Read: STD Risk From Receptive Unprotected Anal Sex In Men
The findings show that men who perform anal douching compared to those who don’t have a 2.8 times higher risk of HIV and close to 2.5 times higher risk of any other types of STIs (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HPV). With respect to specific STIs, the study found that anal douching increases the risk of chlamydia and gonorrhoea by up to 3.25 times and 3.29 times for Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus.
It is theorised that possible reasons for the association of anal douching with increased risk of STIs and HIV may be due to:
- Water and/ or soap causes the delicate lining of the rectum and intestines to become damaged.
- Removal of normal flora (bacteria that normally is found in the rectum) due to the action of flushing
- Risk of transmission of STIs and HIV through the sharing of douching devices much sharing of needles for IVDU.
The authors also noted that further studies will be needed to further elucidate this association between anal douching and STIs and HIV infection.
Speak to your doctor if you have any questions regarding the associated infection risks from rectal douching or anal douching.
Find a doctor | Make an appointment
