Guide to Dildos and Anal Plugs
- Introduction
- Types of dildos
- Dildo Materials
- Why should I use an anal plug and not a dildo for anal sex?
- Tips for using a dildo
- Dildo care info
A dildo (also called a dong) is any foreign object that is inserted into the vagina or anus to produce pleasure. There are several different types of dildos, and users need to know how to use them correctly and how to take care of them. Remember that for women there are many more nerves in the clitoris than in the walls of the vagina; and therefore, if dildo penetration does not provide enough stimulation, a woman might want to check out A Guide to Vibrators to learn how to stimulate the clitoris.
Dildos are like people, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes! You may want to experiment to discover which of these sex toys, if any, is right for you.
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Traditional: Usually made out of rubber, these are simply designed to be inserted into the vagina and gripped at the base. Some dildos double as vibrators. |
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Realistic: These dildos are designed to look like men's penises. Some have testicles at the base of the dildo, and a few of the fancier models can produce liquid, the modeling ejaculate to further the similarities. Sometimes porn stars sell exact molded replicas of their penises. There are kits to create a dildo molded from your own penis: a fun do-it-your-self project for you and your partner. |
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Curved: These are specially designed to be curved so that women may stimulate their G-spot in the vagina or that men may stimulate their prostate gland rectally. Click here to find out how to locate the G-spot and click here for a diagram showing where the prostate gland is. |
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Decorative: There are many dildos designed to look beautiful in order to reflect the beauty of sexuality and love. Because this one is made of glass we highly recommend not using it – or at least being very careful with it. First, glass is cold and may not be very pleasurable. Second glass can break and broken glass in the vagina is extremely painful. |
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Strap-on Dildos: Some dildos are specially designed to be strapped onto a person's body or head. To the left you can see a harness that would attach to a dildo. |
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Combination Dildos: These dildos are designed primarily for women who want penetration stimulation and clitoral stimulation. They can be inserted but have a special vibrating appendage that can be positioned against the clitoris. |
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Butt plug: These are specially designed for anal stimulation. Keep reading to see why you should use an anal plug and not a normal dildo for anal stimulation. When inserting an anal plug or a penis into the anus remember to move slowly and use lots of lubrication. The rectal tissue is very delicate and these precautions will help prevent any damage. Reviewing the section on anal intercourse may be helpful. |
Dildo Materials
- Rubber is a common material for making sex toys because rubber is inexpensive to produce and easy to mold. The rubber used in most sex toys is also non-porous, so it is easily cleaned. Rubber is used to make traditional and realistic dildos. Rubber has a firm feeling and is structurally sturdy. Rubber is one of the most common materials used for strap-ons because it does not tear easily.
- Jelly dildos are similar to rubber dildos, but they are slightly more squishy and pliable. This makes them feel more realistic than the cheaper rubber dildos. However, jelly dildos are more porous, so it is wise to use a condom over the dildo to help keep it clean. Jelly dildos are made soft by using special plasticizers, called phthalates, and these may be slightly toxic to humans, although the EU (European Union) has declared current levels of phthalate safe. You can avoid any negative effects by covering the dildo with a condom. Jelly dildos can be used in strap-ons, but they should be carefully handled because they are not as solid as rubber dildos.
- Silicon dildos are very smooth and become warm very quickly. Silicone dildos are non-porous and very durable, so they can be cleaned and disinfected in a dishwasher or in boiling water. Silicone rubber is made with elastomers, and is a safe alternative to jelly plasticizers. Silicone dildos are also used in strap-ons because of their stable structure.
- Cyberskin is a synthetic blend that is the closest you can get to real skin today. It's soft, smooth and feels realistic. However, it is very porous as well as being fragile and easily torn. Careful cleaning and and disinfecting of the cyberskin is necessary. Cyberskin must also be cleaned with a special cleaning material that has a consistency similar to talcum powder. This special cleaner helps keep the cyberskin soft. Using condoms to cover cyberskin helps make their cleaning easier. Cyberskin is used more commonly for "fake" vaginas (such as the fleshlight) than dildos.
- Latex dildos are made of natural rubber and are not sold in the US. Many people have latex allergies, so it may be wise to stay away from latex.
- Glass is a new material of dildos. Glass is non-porous and therefore very easy to clean. Like silicone, it can be put in the dishwasher or boiled in hot water. While glass dildos can be for the most part safe, there are some caveats we would like to discuss. Glass dildos with paint on their surface are not safe for use. The paint may be slightly toxic for humans and can chip off during use. Glass is prone to chipping, so be sure to check glass dildos for chips and cracks before use. Another potential problem with glass dildos is that the material that glass dildos are made out of the same material as glass cookware. A small proportion of glass cookware can spontaneously shatter, even after following proper cookware procedures. However, heat from ovens and dishwashers and cold of refrigerators and freezers can be blamed for the cookware's tendency to spontaneously shatter. It is still unclear whether glass dildos would be subject to shattering as well.
Why Should I Use an Anal Plug and Not a Dildo for Anal Sex?
Anal plugs are designed to be wide at the base so that the whole anal plug is not accidentally inserted into the anus. If an object is fully inserted in the anus the muscle that surround the rectal opening, called the anal sphincter, involuntarily closes and traps the foreign object into the anus. This can be painful, frustrating and costly if you need to go to a doctor to have the foreign object removed from your anus. It can also be very dangerous. Here are two x-ray pictures of objects inserted into the anus that got trapped and needed to be removed professionally.
Light bulb trapped in a person's anus. |
Bottle trapped in a person's anus. |
Do not assume that something is too long to become trapped inside the anus – notice how big the bottle is. Also, if you look closely you will notice that the bottle is broken. This must be extremely painful! This also highlights another safety tip: glass objects should not be inserted into any orifice: anal, vaginal or oral.
Tips for Using a Dildo or Anal Plug
- Relax and focus on the sensations that make you feel good.
- Many people like to incorporate fantasy into their masturbation. Click here for our article about fantasy.
- Use lots of lubrication. Some dildos may be rough on the vagina or anus, and lubrication will allow for more pleasurable stimulation.
- Many people like to combine dildos with vibrators to increase their pleasure.
- Many women find pressing a dildo against the front of their vaginal wall can stimulate the Grafenberg Spot (or G-spot). Again, curved dildos are specially designed for G-spot stimulation. If you need help locating the G-spot, click here.
- Many men find the stimulation of the prostate gland to be very pleasurable. As you can see here men can stimulate their prostate gland by pressing against the inside wall of the rectum.
- Many people involve their partner with dildo use.
- If a dildo is used in more than orifice (anal-to-vaginal or partner-to-partner) use a fresh condom on the dildo for each new orifice to keep things sanitary.
- Remember to clean off the dildo after each sexual activity, using warm water and soap.
- Hydrogen Peroxide provides a higher level of sterilization. Make sure to completely rinse the peroxide off afterwards.
- Because most dildos are made out of porous rubber they cannot be sterilized completely. Such dildos should be covered with a condom to assure cleanliness.
- NEVER transfer an anal plug (or a penis or anything else) from the anus to the vagina or mouth without washing it first or putting a fresh new condom on it first.
- If your dildo has electrical parts, do not submerge those electrical parts in water unless the instructions explicitly say it is waterproof.
- When sharing sex toys be sure to use a fresh new condom on the dildo for each partner.
--The Sexperts