A recent study in The Journal of the American Sexually Transmitted Desease Association, which looked at the prevalence of anal douching within the gay community may have in avertedly come across a new method for HIV/AIDS prevention. The study explored the age of onset of rectal douching among men who have sex with men (MSM) and the reasons for continuing to douche.

The study found that despite being advised not to do so, more than half of the participants continued douching during the trial. Of the 51 percent who reported rectal douching in the previous six months 47 percent reported douching before anal intercourse and 25 percent reporting doing so after anal sex.

The average age of beginning to douche was late 20s. Most respondents said they douched because they wanted to be clean, or because their partners encouraged them to do so. In addition, some men thought post-intercourse douching could prevent STDs.

"Rectal douching appears to be a popular behavior among men who have receptive anal intercourse," the authors concluded. "It is necessary to identify harmless douches. If [HIV] or [STD] preventive douches can be developed, rectal douching before or following sexual intercourse could become an important additional prevention tool.

To reshape an existing behavior to which some men strongly adhere, like douching, by suggesting use of one type douche over another may be more successful than trying to convince MSM to engage in behaviors they never practiced before or those they resist (e.g., condom use)."

If you are deciding to douche there are several things you should keep in mind.

1) Stay away from vaginal douches-- Many feminine hygiene products include ingredients which may be harmful for the anus. Stay away from products which contain vinegar. The insert caps for vaginal douches can also tear the mucous membranes, leaving you more susceptible to being infected for a number STD’s and HIV.

2) Douching to regularly can be harmful to your health-- When you use an enema not only do you clean out the feces, but you also clean out essential bacteria and oils that are created by your anal glands. This causes the body to have to grow the bacteria again, and when you are douching three times a week it leave your body with no time to recover.

More information on the subject of douching can be found here.