Rectal douching

Rectal douching is the act of rinsing the rectum with intent to clean it. An instance of this rinsing or a tool used to perform the rinse may be called a rectal douche.

Rectal douching (Rectal irrigation)
This illustration of the large intestine highlights the rectum in red. A rectal douche would clean the rectum. To compare, an enema would clean further into the large intestine.
Pronunciationdouche, /duːʃ/
ICD-9-CM96.39
MeSHD007507

Uses

Rectal douching is a hygienic practice to clean the rectum to void hardened stools as opposed to a pharmaceutical method to soften the stool.

Rectal douching is distinguished from anal cleansing, which is the routine cleaning of the anus after defecation, and enema, which is the rinsing of part of the large intestine.

Technique
The nozzle tip is inserted into the rectum then the bulb is squeezed to release water.

Liquid, typically water, is inserted into the rectum by means of some tool. After some time, the water is expelled in the manner of a routine bowel movement, and, in the process, the rectum eliminates waste and is cleaned.

Most people who use rectal douching do so with plain water.[1] The use of a hose connected to a tap, either in a shower or sink, has been reported as the most popular way to administer a douche.[1] Another popular way is with a handheld bulb and syringe designed for rectal douching.[1]

Less commonly, some people used commercial products sold for performing rectal douching, with single-use bottles of saline being most used.[1] Also commercially available but even less commonly used for rectal douching are mineral oil products intended to assist in an enema.[1]

History

A rectal douche device was patented in 1957 in the United States by Patricia Bragg.[2]

Society and culture

From a public health perspective, understanding rectal douching practices may be important because the practice can be paired with behaviors which are risk factors to acquiring a sexually transmitted infection.[1]

Research

Research into rectal microbicide to prevent the transmission of HIV increased interest into researching safer and more gentle rectal douching techniques.[3] The hope in that research is that a rectal microbicide could be delivered with a rectal douche.[3]

References
  1. Javanbakht, Marjan; Stahlman, Shauna; Pickett, Jim; LeBlanc, Marc-André; Gorbach, Pamina M (2014). "Prevalence and types of rectal douches used for anal intercourse: results from an international survey". BMC Infectious Diseases. 14 (1): 95. doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-95. ISSN 1471-2334. PMC 4015843. PMID 24555695.
  2. A US patent US2811156 A, Patricia Bragg, "Rectal douche", published 29 October 1957
  3. Carballo-Diéguez, Alex; Bauermeister, José; Ventuneac, Ana; Dolezal, Curtis; Mayer, Kenneth (2009). "Why Rectal Douches May Be Acceptable Rectal-Microbicide Delivery Vehicles for Men Who Have Sex With Men". Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 37 (4): 1. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181bf9b2d. ISSN 0148-5717. PMC 2891180. PMID 19959973.
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