All You needed to Know about Anal

Do you enjoy anal sex? Are you using the right lube? Research shows that anal sex is increasingly popular among all genders and orientations. But before we dive into anal play there are a few things you should know. I interviewed Cape Town entrepreneur Duncan Stevens, founder of Backdoor Botanics anal care products who has created an amazing product thats changing anal sex and anal play for everyone. I asked him some questions and his responses were truly enlightening and inspired this article.

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Duncan Stevens is a designer, entrepreneur, and founder of OANA, a regenerative sexual health company dedicated to long-term intimate tissue care. Blending formulation science, design, and skin care philosophy, Duncan launched OANA’s debut brand, Backdoor Botanics, a science-backed anal care line formulated with botanical actives, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to normalize "holecare" and support body-first pleasure.

Anal sex and solo anal play are often surrounded by stigma or treated as an afterthought. How does treating the tissue to dedicated "holecare", similar to how we approach skincare, change the conversation around pleasure?

That's a really great question. I think one of the things we've understood going into this is just how much stigma there still is around talking about the anus. You say "butthole" and suddenly everyone regresses to being five years old and starts sniggering.

We don't think there's anything wrong with humour. We use plenty of it ourselves. But we try to use humour as the way in, rather than the end point. Get someone's attention with something cheeky or funny, and then start having a proper conversation about the body.

And I think something changes when you do that. The anus stops being this slightly ridiculous or taboo part of the body and becomes, well, just another part of your anatomy that you can understand and look after.

We spend so much time thinking about skincare and looking after the rest of our bodies. Why should intimate tissue be any different? And I don't think that takes anything away from pleasure. If anything, understanding your body better gives you more confidence to explore it.

For me, that's the conversation we want to change. Not by making anal sex more respectable, but by making it more normal to understand and care for the body we're using to experience pleasure.

Preparing for anal sex

Mindful sex and anal sex require some preperation, whether solo or with a partner. This is essential for comfort, safety, and pleasure. Because the rectum is a muscular canal that does not self-lubricate, taking time to prepare the body and mind ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience.

1. Communication & Boundaries

Before any physical preparation begins, clear communication with your partner establishes trust and reduces tension:

• Discuss Intentions & Boundaries: 

  Agree on what acts you want to try (e.g., external touch, finger penetration, toys, or penile intercourse) and set a clear stop signal or safe word.

  
  

• Remove Pressure: 

  Ensure both partners view the experience as an exploration rather than a goal-oriented task. If something feels uncomfortable, there should be zero pressure to continue.

  
  

2. Hygiene & Douching

Anal play does not require sterile cleanliness, but taking a few hygiene steps can boost confidence:

• External Washing: 

  Clean the external perianal area with warm water and a mild, unfragranced cleanser. Avoid harsh soaps inside or near the sphincter.

  
  

• Optional Rectal Douching: 

  If desired, a bulb syringe filled with lukewarm water can be used to flush the lower rectum.

  • Keep water volume low (1–2 ounces or 30–60 mL per flush) to clean only the lower rectal vault.

  • Flush gently 2–3 times until the water runs clear.

  • Avoid over-douching or using hot/cold water, as this strips protective mucosal lining and disrupts tissue hydration.

You speak about "The Ritual" having three parts: Preparation, Connection, and Recovery. Why is applying lubricant before douching or prior to penetration so critical for tissue safety?

For me, preparation starts well before penetration. If you're going to douche, the douche itself is part of that preparation. You're introducing water and an object into a very sensitive mucosal environment, so lubricating the douche and continuing to use lubrication throughout the process helps minimise unnecessary friction.

The other really important thing is not to over-douche. You don't need to keep going until you've somehow achieved absolute sterility. Once you're clean, stop. More isn't necessarily better for the tissue.

Once you've finished, give the tissue a little time to settle, and then I like to introduce a small amount of Backdoor Botanics internally. The idea is to replenish hydration and help the tissue settle before you move on to penetration.

I think that's the bit people often miss. Preparation isn't just about getting clean. It's about getting the tissue ready.

People often talk about prep, but rarely talk about post-anal care. Why is post-intimacy recovery important for anal health, and how should someone use the formula after they are done?

I think post-intimacy recovery is something we really don't talk about enough. Sex can be quite physically demanding on the tissue, depending on how vigorous you're being, how much you're stretching, what you're using and how long you're playing for. You can end up with irritation or minor tissue disruption that you may not even be aware of immediately.

And I don't want to wake up the next morning and think, "Okay, I'm sore, so I guess I'm out of action for the next two or three days." I want to think about sexual health in terms of longevity. How do I keep this part of my body healthy so I can continue enjoying it?

I think about it in much the same way as looking after the rest of my body. If I use a skincare product because I want to support my skin, I don't use it once and then forget about it. If I want to build muscle, I don't go to the gym once and expect results. It's about creating a ritual around looking after yourself.

So after sex, I'd recommend using a small amount of Backdoor Botanics internally. The idea isn't to "fix" something that's gone wrong. It's about supporting the tissue after the experience and helping it rehydrate and settle.

For me, it's really about sexual longevity. If this is a part of your body that brings you pleasure, why wouldn't you look after it?

Most people assume "lube is lube." Can you explain why rectal tissue requires a different formulation than vaginal tissue or general body skin, specifically regarding pH balance and tissue density? What difference would readers experience when using your product?

Yes, most people assume lube is lube, and I think that's part of the problem with the category. People's expectations are often quite low. Burning, discomfort, needing loads of lube or feeling raw afterwards are often just accepted as part of anal sex.

The first thing to understand is that the rectum isn't just skin. It's mucosal tissue, and it behaves very differently from the keratinised skin on the outside of your body. With anal play you're also dealing with stretching, pressure and shear forces, so the formulation you're using really matters.

That's why we look at things like hydration, tissue support and, importantly, osmolality. A high-osmolality lubricant can draw water out of mucosal cells, leaving tissue feeling dry and irritated rather than hydrated and comfortable.

So what does that mean in practice? Hopefully, it just feels better. More glide, less friction, longer-lasting lubrication and less of that raw feeling afterwards.

We're not interested in just making something slippery. We're interested in what the formulation is actually doing to the tissue while you're using it.

Popularity of Anal Sex

Over the past two decades, data shows a clear and steady rise in the prevalence of anal sex across both heterosexual and queer partnerships. In clinical sexology and even in my own counselling of couples I encourage men to explore the pleasure zone 'down under'. For men that can mean solo or partnered prostate stimulation using toys or fingers or for the truly adventurous - mouth. I've noticed for many straight men its quite a new area of exploration and they are finally waking up to the intense pleasure there is to be found in this highly erogenous part of the body. I find that many hetero men face a psychological block when I suggest prostate stimulation. Straight men often associate anal pleasure with a threat to their identity or fear being perceived as homosexual. I reassure them anatomy does not have a sexual orientation. The prostate is a physical nerve center (the "male G-spot"). I encourage them to start with solo exploration, non-penetrative external perineal massage, or hands-free toys which lowers the emotional barrier.

For women my experience is that many have at some point tried it and some have found it to be pleasurable. Sadly many have been pressured into it by their male partners who probably got all their education from pornography which really fails at revealing preperation and patience. The anus is lined with smooth muscle that naturally contracts under stress or speed. Without patience, foreplay, and adequate lubrication, rushing penetration triggers the anal sphincters to lock up in a protective reflex (vaginismus-like sphincter contraction), leading to micro-tears and intense pain. Many porn actors have gone through all their prep and priming, with sphincter muscles completely relaxed before the camera starts recording. Saddly many women have been turned off of anal sex indefinately because of a painful previous experience. This article should hopefully cast a new light and some hope to regain this part of your body as source of pleasure.

Primary Cultural & Social Drivers

• Digital Pornography:

  
  

  • The shift from physical media to instant, free streaming content exposed mainstream audiences to acts that were previously considered niche or hard to access.

  • Anal sex transitioned from a rare depiction to a commonplace feature in online sexually explicit media, shifting public perception from an "extreme" act to a standard step in sexual progression.  

    
    

• Mainstream Media Representation:

  
  

  • Popular television, film, and digital media over the last two decades have increasingly referenced anal sex as a taboo-breaking, adventurous, or highly desirable experience. This helped demystify the practice and normalise its discussion in popular culture.  

    
    

• Decoupling Sex from Reproduction:

  
  

  • Cultural attitudes towards sex have progressively focused on pleasure, exploration, and intimacy rather than purely procreative goals. As non-procreative sexual expression became widely accepted, the social and religious taboos surrounding non-vaginal acts diminished. As sexologists we actively encourage our clients to explore this highly erogenous zone.

    
    

• Expanding Sex-Positive & Toy Markets:

  
  

  • The sex-toy industry experienced massive growth, legitimizing non-penetrative and penetrative anal play through products specifically designed for safety and comfort (e.g., flared bases, targeted nerve stimulation, and specialized lubricants).  

    
    

• Peer Dynamics & Social Expectation:

  
  

  • Sociological research indicates that among younger demographics (such as Gen Z and Millennials), peer culture and relationship expectations play a large role. Men often view trying anal sex as an achievement or milestone, while women may engage out of curiosity, mutual exploration, or partner-pleasing motivations.  

    
    

Your marketing is very much targeting the Gay community. But your product is obviously for all orientations and genders right?

Absolutely. The brand has a very strong queer audience, but the products themselves are for anyone who enjoys anal play.

When we started this journey, we wanted to create products for all genders and sexualities. It just felt natural to start with anal care because there was a real gap in the market, and the queer community has historically been more open to talking about sexual health and adopting new products.

I'm also a gay man, so I understand the physiology and experience from a very personal perspective. But I don't think the biology cares very much about your sexual orientation. If you have a rectum, you have rectal tissue.

What's been interesting is seeing people outside our core audience discovering the brand too. We've had straight women come across us through their gay friends and start following what we're doing, which I love.

I think there's also something bigger here around sexual exploration. You don't need to attach a particular label to yourself because you've discovered something that feels good. If a straight man discovers he enjoys prostate stimulation, that's simply something he's discovered about his body.

Backdoor Botanics has a very visible queer identity, and I'm proud of that. But I don't see it as a limitation. We're starting with a community that has historically been underserved, and building from there.

What challenges have you faced trying to market Backdoor Botanics, and how do you navigate public pushback or social media guidelines?

I think one of the biggest challenges has actually been navigating the platforms themselves. We've experienced periods where our reach on Instagram has been heavily restricted, and when you're building a young brand, that has a real impact on growth.

What's fascinating to me is how uncomfortable some platforms still seem to be with straightforward conversations about sexuality, pleasure and anatomy. You can talk about almost anything, but mention a butthole and suddenly everyone gets very nervous.

I think we still have a fairly puritanical relationship with sex. And I don't think the answer is to sanitise what we do or pretend that sex isn't sexual. We're adults. People have sex, people experience pleasure, and people explore their bodies. That's a normal part of being human.

So we've tried to work within the boundaries of the platforms without losing our voice. We use humour, we talk about the science, and we try to create conversations that are informative without being afraid of the subject matter.

Because ultimately, if we can't talk openly about our bodies, how are people supposed to learn how to look after them?

Queer consumers are notoriously perceptive when it comes to brand authenticity versus "pinkwashing." You’ve actively sponsored local LGBT networking events (like Stellenbosch’s Village Drinks). What has the direct response been from the queer community, and how does community feedback shape your product development?

Community feedback is incredibly important to us, partly because my background is in research. When we developed Backdoor Botanics, I didn't want to assume that because I thought the product was good, everybody else would.

We did a qualitative trial with 32 people, 16 couples, who used the product over a couple of weeks and gave us detailed feedback. That was really valuable because there are always things you don't see until other people start using something.

Interestingly, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We made a couple of relatively minor tweaks, but fundamentally the product people trialled was the product that ended up in the bottle.

And I think that's the important part of community engagement. It's not just putting your logo on a Pride event and saying, "Look how supportive we are." It's being prepared to listen when people tell you something isn't working, or tell you what they need next.

One person's comment isn't going to determine what we do. But when we keep hearing the same thing from customers and our community, we pay attention. We track those patterns, and they become part of how we decide what to develop next.

Types of Anal Play

1. Pegging

The term "pegging" coined by advice columnist Dan Savage in 2001 to describe a woman anally penetrating a man with a strap-on dildo has evolved over the past two decades from an underground kink into a mainstream pop-culture reference and a growing sexual practice. Of course pegging is not limited to heterosexual couples and is often practiced by lesbian and trans couples and I've heard some men like to wear strap ons and use them on their male and female partners alike.

Pornography & Search Engine Trends

Search metrics highlight a rapid shift from niche curiosity to mainstream consumption:

• Massive Search Volume: 

  Major adult streaming platforms like Pornhub report millions of searches for "pegging" globally each month. In multi-year metric reviews, pegging consistently ranks among the fastest-growing search terms alongside specific fetish and kink categories.  

  
  

• Viral Spikes & Mainstream Visibility: 

  Search interest experiences significant, sustained surges following pop-culture events or public controversies. Spikes of over +300% in a single day have occurred in response to viral media rumors, TV storylines (such as in Broad City or Deadpool), and political gossip.

  
  

• Demographics of Curiosity: 

  Contrary to stereotypes that pegging is primarily driven by younger audiences, adult site insights indicate that men aged 35 to 64 demonstrate disproportionately higher search activity for pegging content compared to younger age cohorts.  

  
  

• Regional Variances: 

  European search data (particularly from the UK) frequently shows a higher baseline interest in pegging compared to North American markets, with adult sites reporting search rates up to 120%+ higher among British users.  

Prevalence as a Real-World Practice

While porn searches reflect curiosity, behavioral data shows that a notable portion of adults are translating that interest into real-life exploration:

• Fantasy vs. Execution Gap: 

  Sexologist Dr. Justin Lehmiller’s national research revealed that nearly 60% of heterosexual men have fantasized about receiving anal stimulation, and ~40% of women have fantasized about giving it to a male partner.  

  
  

• Lifetime Practice Rates: 

  Surveys focusing on specific anal behaviors indicate that roughly 10% to 16% of sexually active heterosexual adults have tried pegging at least once in their lifetime. Among LGBTQ+ populations (particularly bisexual men), lifetime participation rates are significantly higher (~30%+).  

  
  

• Sex Toy Market Explosion: 

  Industry sales reflect the rise in actual practice. Retailers report that sales of pegging gear, harness kits, and targeted strap-on toys have increased steadily, rising roughly 40%+ year-over-year since the late 2010s, now accounting for up to 15%–17% of total sales for major adult novelty retailers.

  
  

2. Rimming

If light anal tickling seems naughty and daring and totally taboo - nothing can be more titillating then sliding one's tongue around and in your partner's nether regions. Rimming (clinically referred to as analingus) is the act of orally stimulating a partner's anus using the tongue and lips. Historically viewed as a specialized or taboo act, it has transitioned into a widely practiced and mainstream component of human sexual expression.  

How It Is Performed & Anatomical Mechanics

The act relies on gentle, localized oral contact, ranging from light licking and kissing around the external anal rim (the perianal area) to more direct stimulation using the tip of the tongue against the external sphincter.

Nerves & Sensations Triggered:

• Dense Perianal Nerve Supply: 

  The perianal skin and external sphincter are rich in nerve endings branching from the pudendal nerve. Light touch here fires intense signal pathways to the brain, triggering strong physical and psychological arousal.  

  
  

• Receptor Activation: 

  The area contains high concentrations of mechanoreceptors (sensitive to pressure and vibration) and thermoreceptors (sensitive to temperature/warmth). The warmth and wetness of a tongue against this area create a rapid sensory response.

  
  

• Prostate & Internal Anatomy (in Men): 

  For men, oral stimulation near the perineum and external sphincter indirectly stimulates the nerve network surrounding the prostate gland.

  
  

• Clitoral Structure (in Women): 

  In women, the internal "legs" (crura) and vestibular bulbs of the clitoris wrap around the pelvic floor, extending back toward the perineum. Pressure and oral movement near the anus can indirectly stimulate these deep clitoral structures.

  
  

Appeals Across Sexual Orientations & Genders

Rimming is enjoyed across diverse identities, though the psychological and physical appeals often vary:  

• Gay & Bisexual Men: 

  Analingus has long been a key part of foreplay and intimacy within the queer male community. It acts as both a primary source of pleasure and a way to relax the anal sphincters prior to penetrative sex.

  
  

• Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Women: 

  Large-scale surveys among queer women show that over 50% of those who engage in anal play have experienced or practiced rimming. It is valued as a non-penetrative way to heighten sensory arousal and explore bodily intimacy without friction.  

  
  

• Heterosexual Couples: Cross-gender rimming has seen the highest proportional growth.

  
  

  • Women receiving from men: 

    Valued for the intense vulnerability, deep sensory arousal, and the feeling of complete bodily appreciation from a partner.

    
    

  • Men receiving from women: 

    Valued for accessing intense physical nerve stimulation (often serving as an entry point into prostate pleasure) while breaking down traditional rigid scripts around male sexuality.

    
    

Hygiene & Safety Precautions

Now I have to add this from a sexologist point of view - because analingus involves direct oral-anal contact, maintaining clear hygiene and barrier precautions is essential for preventing the transmission of gastrointestinal infections and STIs.

• Barrier Protection (Dental Dams): 

  Using a dental dam (or a slit-open non-lubricated condom) creates an effective protective barrier. This prevents direct exposure while still transferring warmth and sensation.

  
  

• Pathogen Risks: 

  Direct contact can transmit enteric pathogens (such as E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Giardia), Hepatitis A, and STIs (such as HPV, Herpes, Syphilis, and Gonorrhea).

  
  

• Hygiene Prep: 

  Thoroughly washing the area beforehand with mild, unfragranced soap and water is standard practice. Internal douching is generally unnecessary for rimming (as it focuses on external skin), but external cleanliness ensures comfort and peace of mind.

  
  

• Skin Health: 

  Avoid performing analingus if either partner has open cuts, tears, active hemorrhoids, or cold sores (HSV-1) on the mouth.

  
  

Growth in Popularity

Data from modern sexological research and demographic surveys points to a steady rise in analingus over recent decades:

• Rising Adoption Rates: 

  Demographically, studies show that roughly 15%–25% of heterosexual adults and up to 50%+ of LGBTQ+ adults report engaging in rimming as part of their regular or occasional sexual repertoire.

  
  

• Shift Away from Pure Penetration: 

  Modern sexual attitudes have moved away from viewing sex solely as penile-vaginal intercourse. Rimming has gained traction as part of "outercourse" activities that emphasize whole-body sensation and varied nerve stimulation without requiring penetration.

  
  

• Media & Cultural Normalization: 

  Increased discussion in sex-education podcasts, literature, and mainstream pop culture has stripped away much of the historical shame surrounding the act, encouraging couples to communicate more openly about trying it.

3. Anal Surfacing, Fingering and Massage

Now of all the types of anal play this is probably one that gets the most action. Sometimes not even intentionally, right? Anal surfacing (often called external anal massage) involves non-penetrative stimulation of the perianal area, the external anal sphincter, and the perineum. It allows individuals to access dense nerve pathways without the physical pressure or preparation associated with internal penetration. I find with couples that are new to anal sex or anal play that this is an easier go-to as it simply involves light touching of the anal area. Most individuals, when sufficiently aroused, are receptive to a lingering touch around their perinium and anus. With a little saliva, pre-cum or vaginal fluid or better yet some Backdoor Botanics the light touching can easily evolve into inserting a small finger slowly into the anus. For many couples this is as far as they will go and that is good and great for them. The nice thing about this is that it requires no internal douching or extensive prep work, making it accessible for casual foreplay. Ideal for individuals in solo play, curious about anal sensations but hesitant or uncomfortable with penetration.

4. Penile Anal Sex

Anal sex where an erect penis penetrates a partner’s anus is practiced across diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Because the anus is not naturally self-lubricating or designed solely for penetration, the experience relies heavily on mechanics, proper preparation, and anatomical awareness.

Physical Sensations for Both Partners

For the Receptive Partner ("Bottom")

• The Entrance (Sphincter Transition): 

  Passing through the outer and inner sphincters triggers intense sensory feedback. If done too quickly, it feels like sharp burning or pain; when properly relaxed, it creates a unique feeling of deep fullness, pressure, and warmth.

  
  

• Prostate Stimulation (in Male Bodies): 

  The male prostate gland ("P-spot") rests against the front wall of the rectum. Direct, rhythmic pressure from a penis can yield intense, full-body orgasms without needing direct penile touch.

  
  

• Internal Clitoral / Pelvic Pressure (in Female Bodies): 

  The internal "roots" and bulbs of the clitoris extend around the pelvic floor. Penile movement inside the rectum applies indirect pressure against these structures, often enhancing sensations when paired with external clitoral stimulation.

  
  

For the Insertive Partner ("Top")

• Tightness & Friction: 

  The anal sphincters maintain continuous muscle tone, offering significantly firmer, uniform tightness along the entire shaft compared to the vaginal canal.

  
  

• Warmth & Suction: 

  The interior rectal canal naturally holds body heat, creating a distinct sensation of warmth and rhythmic suction as the receptive partner’s pelvic floor muscles contract.

  
  

Preparation (Step-by-Step)

1. Hygiene & Comfort: 

   A warm shower or bath relaxes the pelvic floor muscles. While some prefer internal douching (cleansing the lower rectum with water), it is optional and should be done gently with room-temperature water to avoid irritating the rectal lining. Making use of a lubricant like Backdoor Botanics can assist with this.

   
   

2. Abundant Lubrication: 

   Because the rectum lacks natural lubrication, high-volume lubricant is essential. Water-based or high-grade silicone lubricants work best. (Silicone lasts longer, while water-based is easiest to clean). I recommend Backdoor Botanics as it is one of the few that has been scientifically designed to reactive with a little saliva or water.

   
   

3. Dilation & Pacing: 

   The inner sphincter must be trained to open. Start with a lubricated finger or small toy to massage the opening before attempting penile entry.

   
   

4. Gradual Entry: 

   The insertive partner should apply steady, gentle pressure at the entrance, stopping to allow the receptive partner to breathe out and adjust before advancing deeper.

Users rave about being able to reactivate the lube with just a drop of water or saliva instead of constantly re-applying. What makes this water-based formulation behave like that without becoming sticky?

Without giving too much away, we've used specific ingredients designed to attract and retain moisture. That's essentially what gives the product its ability to reactivate.

So if it starts to lose some of its glide during a session, you can add a tiny amount of water or saliva and it comes back to life.

The trick is doing that without ending up with something thick, gummy or sticky. There's a real balance between hydration, glide and how the formulation behaves on the tissue.

So when people say, "I added a drop of water and it started working again," that's not a gimmick. It's simply a consequence of how we've formulated it to interact with moisture.

Aftercare

• Immediate Cleanup: 

  Gentle cleaning with warm water removes excess lubricant and reduces skin irritation.

  
  

• Soothing Muscle Tension: 

  A warm bath can soothe any lingering muscular soreness in the pelvic floor.

  
  

• Mild Soreness vs. Pain: 

  Mild fullness or light muscle soreness for a few hours is normal. However, severe pain, sharp cramps, or noticeable bleeding require medical evaluation.

  
  

• Emotional Reconnection: 

  Communicating, cuddling, and checking in after the act helps ground both partners after intense physical vulnerability.

Anal Play Toys

Toy-assisted anal play incorporates purpose-built devices to provide hands-free fullness, targeted nerve stimulation, or rhythmic sensation. Because the rectum is a muscular tube that creates a continuous vacuum, any sex toy designed for anal insertion must feature a wide, flared base, T-bar, or sturdy pull loop to prevent the device from being drawn entirely inside. I think we've all seen the embarassing xrays in the ER to prove this point.

1. Core Categories of Anal Toys

• Butt Plugs: Tapered, stationary devices that feature a narrow neck and a wide base.

  
  

  • Function: 

    Designed to sit comfortably inside the canal for extended periods, creating a continuous feeling of fullness while keeping the sphincters relaxed. They are frequently worn as prep for penetrative sex or combined with oral, vaginal, or manual stimulation.  

    
    

  • Variations: 

    Weighted metal or glass plugs (for temperature play and heavy pressure), vibrating plugs, and rimming plugs (equipped with rotating beads at the neck to simulate oral stimulation).  

    
    

• Prostate Massagers (P-Spot Toys): Ergonomically curved toys angled sharply toward the front wall of the rectum.

  
  

  • Function: Target the prostate gland in male bodies. They often incorporate dual motors, one for the internal prostate tip and one resting against the external perineum to induce hands-free or blended orgasms.  

    
    

• Anal Beads: A flexible string of spherical beads that gradually increase in diameter, terminating in a ring handle or flared base.

  
  

  • Function: Inserted slowly one bead at a time to stretch the sphincter incrementally. Removing them gently during climax triggers a rapid series of muscular contractions, dramatically heightening orgasm intensity.  

    
    

• Anal Dildos: Phallic or textured penetrative toys designed specifically with an oversized safety base.  

  
  

  • Function: Used for manual or harness-assisted thrusting. Unlike vaginal dildos, anal dildos feature a more prominent taper at the tip and a flexible neck to navigate the natural curves of the lower rectum.

    
    

• App-Controlled & Smart Toys: High-tech devices utilizing Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.

  
  

  • Function: Allow a partner to control vibration patterns, thrusting mechanisms, or pulse settings remotely (locally or over long distances), integrating hands-free anal play into shared or virtual intimate scenarios.

    
    

For readers using silicone toys, latex condoms, or exploring group/solo play, how does Backdoor Lube perform across different materials and scenarios?

One of the things we were conscious of when developing Backdoor Botanics was that anal play isn't one single scenario. People are using condoms, toys, their hands, playing solo, with partners or in group settings, so the product needs to work with the way people actually play.

Because it's water-based, Backdoor Botanics is compatible with latex condoms and generally works well with silicone toys, although I'd always recommend checking the manufacturer's guidance for any particular toy.

The other thing that matters, particularly during longer sessions, is persistence. You don't want to be stopping every few minutes to reapply. We've formulated it to give you good glide and longevity, and if it does start to lose some of that glide, you can reactivate it with a tiny amount of water rather than starting again.

For me, that's the difference between making something that's simply slippery and making something that's actually designed around how people have sex. It needs to perform, but it also needs to be considerate of what's happening to the tissue underneath it.

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When you hear feedback from customers, what is the single most rewarding part about normalizing 'holecare' as an act of self-love and intimacy?

Honestly, this is probably the whole point for me, and it does make me quite emotional when I hear some of the feedback from customers.

My background is in industrial design and consumer insights, so I've always approached products from the perspective of: what is the gold standard? What does the person actually need, and how do we design the best possible solution around that?

That's what we did with Backdoor Botanics. We weren't initially thinking about people at the extreme ends of the spectrum. We were just trying to design what we thought was the best possible product for the tissue and the experience.

What's been really interesting is that we've had people with quite significant, pre-existing difficulties around anal sex tell us that they've had a very different experience using the product. People who told us that they had previously found penetration very uncomfortable, or would be sore and irritated afterwards, and that they were now able to enjoy it in a way they hadn't been able to before.

Obviously, those are individual experiences and they're anecdotal. We're very careful about not turning customer feedback into medical claims. But when somebody tells you, "I can actually enjoy this now," or "I'm not worried about how I'm going to feel tomorrow," that's incredibly rewarding.

Because ultimately, that's what I'm designing for. I'm not particularly interested in making something that's just another cheap product that feels slippery. I want to make something that I genuinely believe is the best product we can make, even if that means it's more expensive to formulate and more difficult to produce.

We think very carefully about the ingredients, where they're sourced, what we're asking them to do, and even how the product is packaged. And I think customers can feel that. Maybe they don't know exactly what's gone into making those decisions, but they can feel when something has been made with care.

So when someone comes back and tells me that the product has changed their experience of their own body or their ability to experience pleasure, that's the win for me.

That's really the reason we're doing this in the first place.

For readers who might feel shy ordering intimate products online, what measures do you take from dispatch to delivery to ensure total privacy?

That's actually something I thought about quite a lot when we first started developing the brand. I didn't want to enter the category with something that looked seedy or sleazy. We were approaching this as a premium, science-backed health product, and I wanted the packaging and the whole experience to reflect that.

That's part of why we chose glass and gave the product a more premium skincare aesthetic. If you've left it on your bedside table, it doesn't necessarily announce itself as an anal lubricant. We've actually had people tell us they've started using it as a nighttime skin serum, which I find quite funny.

But privacy is still really important. Someone can be completely comfortable with their sexuality and still not want their neighbour or delivery driver knowing what they've ordered.

When we send orders directly to customers, we use discreet kraft-paper packaging without anything on the outside advertising the product.

For me, there's a distinction between discretion and shame. There's absolutely nothing shameful about buying something for your sexual health. But people deserve to have control over who knows about their purchases, and we take that seriously.