With any high-pressure action, any assistance to decrease and disperse the force is essential to function.” At this location, there are glands that secrete mucus. Scientifically speaking, anal lubricant comes from anal ducts when the rectum is distended by the presence of feces.
The rectum is also distended by the presence of a penis during anal intercourse, which may cause increased production of this natural lubricant, albeit not designed for intercourse. That is, your body feels sensations that communicates we might need to poop and gets prepared to do that. When these gland produce excessive amounts of fluid, they can get clogged, leading to anal abscesses (a collection of puss near the anus) and localized infection. Goldstein says these infections are becoming more common among gay men, since we tend to douche prior to anal intercourse, which causes irritation. “Douching with water (tap or bottled) or with enemas can lead to cellular irritation, destruction, and then elevated mucosal lubrication,” Dr. Goldstein says, adding that Fleet enemas-saline laxative enemas-tend to cause more mucus production as the irritation is greater. “I’ve felt like it might have been lubricant or just some leakage,” Ben, 26, tells me over Instagram DM, adding that at times he considered visiting a doctor. “When I do bottom, I definitely self-lubricate,” writes Xavior, 29 also via Instagram. In speaking with people who believed they self-lubricate, they were very reserved with what they were willing to share. For the most part, they’d say they could and that’s all they’d detail. I wasn’t sure if this was because it was a graphic topic, or rather that they, too, believe this ability to be supposedly impossible. “There are definitely people who say they can or actually do secrete more excrement, Dr. Goldstein confirms, but insists this is due to irritation or possibly even STIs. “Inducing blooming, or its later stages of overt rectal prolapse, has been called the ‘anal cumming’ for a reason,” Goldstein adds. “People love it, but again, it’s the stress in the area that leads to these initial benefits, yet eventual complications.”īoth Goldstein and Prause recommend lube for anal play-it won’t cut it. “Whenever and wherever someone uses saliva, using spit alone elevates the potential risk of injury, as well as the possibilities of STDs,” Goldstein says.