Let me put it this way: Yes, anal sex can be good, “naughty” fun, but it takes a certain amount of cleanliness. No matter how clean you think your anal area is, fecal matter and E. Coli lurk in and around the surface.
The risk of Hepatitis A and B is the main concern if E. Coli is ingested orally. Other “bad” bacteria and parasites in and around the anus include Salmonella and C. difficile (a bacterium that causes diarrhea), so if your partner has an active infection by any one of those harmful “bugs,” and they are ingested during analingus—or what is commonly referred to as rimming—you may experience diarrhea, stomach pains or a host of other intestinal problems.
If you plan on having sexual contact in the anal area, whether it is via tongue, finger, sex toy or penis, you need to use warm water and soap (or baby wipes) to clean the area thoroughly before engaging in any contact.
Despite what you may have heard, there is no need for an enema or full bowel prep before engaging in any anal activity. But if you want to clean the lower rectum, you can use an over-the-counter enema bulb with warm water to rinse out that area. Some people like to use Latex gloves when doing digital exploring, but a good hand washing is enough protection. Shaving or waxing the anus before sexual contact is always an option, but this is a personal choice and not a necessity from a medical standpoint.
As far as readying yourself for anal sex, being mentally prepared is half the battle. Because the anal opening is much smaller and tighter than the vaginal opening, many women find anal penetration—with fingers or a penis—painful, no matter how adequately lubricated. You may want to first explore the sensation of anal penetration with a finger—yours or your partner’s—or by using a sex toy. This will help to stretch the anal opening. Once that happens, you may be able to move on to more fingers, a penis, or bigger toys!
If you are of the small percentage of women who prefer anal sex, just make sure you take the time to loosen the muscles around the anus and to use plenty of lubrication. And don’t forget those condoms.