Perhaps you have already taken a look at your local sex shop, or at online stores to see what the selection is like. I bet you were taken aback! Heck, my sex toy store has over a thousand different products in the lubrication category!

That is a whole lot of choice, so let’s take a minute and talk about your options. Lubricants can easily be broken down into a few categories based on ingredients.

First, the “base” of the lubricant determines how they can be used – silicone lube, for example, can’t be used with silicone toys; oil-based lubricant is not safe for use with condoms; some women are incredibly sensitive and will only be able to use lubes that are based on natural, organic ingredients.

Next, there are lubes that are best for anal sex, others that heat up or cool down, and even some with special flavors just for oral. Be sure you know what you’re getting into before going on a shopping spree.

Oil & Water

Oil based lubricants are great, especially natural ones, because the body just soaks them up and gets silky smooth. Most oil-based lubricants, unless otherwise labeled, are not condom safe. If this is your choice of birth control, move on to another selection.

Water based lubricants are the best all-around choice. Not only are they safe for condoms, but with silicone and other toys as well. They are also easy to wash out of sheets and clothing. They do tend to evaporate quickly, but a bit of saliva or a light mist of cool water will slick them back up in no time.

Silicone

Silicone-based lubricants are smooth like silk and great for long lasting play, but are no good when using silicone toys and not great for oral sex. Silicone may not taste very good, but you only need a touch and it will last for hours. It is safe to use with condoms, so if you do have silicone toys, you can protect them with a latex condom or nitrile glove. If you are planning to try a bit of back door play, pick one that is nice and thick.

Au Natural

If your wife or girlfriend is particularly concerned about what kind of liquid love gets inside her body, or if she happens to be sensitive to parabens or other irritating ingredients in most popular lubes, you should take advantage of the growing array of natural and organic products for the conscientious buyer. If plain coconut oil won’t do, or you want something a bit slicker for longer play, these are right up your alley.

Hot, Cold And Delicious

Whether you want something that is going to warm up with some vigorous thrusting, or a bit of icy gel to get her clitoris tingling under your touch and tongue, there are options available for your delight! Tingling lubricants and gels are also great for nipple play, especially if they are edible. They will help to harden her nipples right up, making them extra sensitive to your mouth and fingers, and also give them a bit of a slippery surface for extra sensation.

Flavored lubes are obviously best for a bit of oral play, but be very careful. Many of these lubes contain irritants or sugars that can cause a yeast infection if they get inside her vagina, so if you use them on her genitals, be sure to only put a drop on her clitoris and keep your fingers clean for insertion when your tongue techniques have made her wet.

Well Trimmed Nails

A not so perfect manicure is a no-go when it comes to any kind of sex, not just anal. With anal though, given the fact that the tissue of the anus and anal canal is much more delicate than that of the vagina, taking care of your nails before getting down to business is a very crucial factor.

Chipped, dirty nails may tear the skin and cause unwanted infections. If you are planning to wear latex gloves, don’t think that this way you can save the money spent on a decent manicure. If your nails are too long or too irregular or pointy, they can tear through the latex, and even if they don’t, your girlfriend or wife might still feel them, which can cause tremendous discomfort.

Make sure you cut them really short and even, so that they are smooth and don’t get stuck through layers of skin during anal fingering.

Shaved Butt And Empty Bowels

As well versed as she might be when it comes to her pubic hair, given the fact that the anus is not in plain sight most of the time, she might not come prepared at this aspect. If you don’t mind the hairs surrounding her anus, then it’s absolutely no problem, but if you are planning on some analingus as well, you might want her to come forth with a shaved butt.

In this case, it will be more effective if you’re the one holding the razor, given the fact that she can’t really see her back parts, and can end up hurting herself. As long as you have the right tools – a good shaving cream (a non-irritating one would be perfect), a sharp razor and willingness and attention, the whole experience is not bound to last more than a few minutes and it’s a good first step that can be turned into anal foreplay.

However, if things don’t go as perfect as planned and she ends up with a few minor bruises, as superficial as they might be, don’t have anal penetration right away; there’s a good chance you’ll enhance her irritation.

As far as cleanliness inside her butt is concerned, as always, this matters more to some people than others. There are a few basic rules that shouldn’t be looked upon superficially though. The first one, she should have a bowel movement an hour or so before you two have anal sex, to ensure that nothing is encountered during any penetration, and then thoroughly bathe the area.

Bulb Enemas

This type of enema is filled and used in the same way that one uses an ear syringe to clean the wax out of one’s ears. You fill it by squeezing the air out of it, placing the tip under the surface of the container holding the solution and releasing the bulb, thus filling the syringe with solution.

The enema is administrated by inserting the tip into the rectum and squeezing the solution into the bowels. You can buy this type of enema at most local drug stores and give it to your girlfriend so that she can use it to her convenience.

Enema Bag/Hot water Bottle Enemas

Giving yourself an enema with an enema bag and plastic tubing (also called a fountain syringe) takes a little more skill. If your girlfriend or wife is not accustomed with the rules, hand her these instructions or offer to help before having sex.

Here’s what you have to do: you need an enema bag (which resembles a hot water bottle with a nozzle on the bottom), tubing, and a hook of some kind to hang the bag on (over either the toilet or the tub).

Lubricants And Condoms

It’s only in porn films that saliva and free-flowing love juices provide enough lubrication to fully enjoy anal sex. Non lubricated penetration causes friction of the worst kind and can tear the sensitive  tissue of the anus or the anal canal. Unlike the vagina, the anus does not produce a natural lubricant, only a sort of mucus, but that is definitely not enough.

Water Based

Lubricant comes in two forms: liquid-like (just like plain water, odorless, tasteless, non-staining and non-irritating) and jelly like (it preserves the same properties as the first one, the only difference is that this one has a thicker consistency, like hair gel for example). The first one is probably the most popular, though some people complain that it wears off too easily and you have to reapply it ever so often. My advice? Try them both and see which works best in your case.

Oil Based

The good thing about these ones: they don’t dry off like their water counterparts. The bad thing: they break down latex and pretty
much ruin your protection. Moreover, they don’t wash off as easily as the water based ones and can lead to serious infections.

Silicone Based

This is the best option for you because it lasts a long time, stays where you put it, and doesn’t evaporate- unlike water based lube- and it’s latex compatible- unlike oil based lube. As far as condoms are concerned, there are a few things that it’s imperative you know before having first time anal sex.