Health and safety with sex toys

Sex toys have become increasingly popular in the last 10 years. They have become a great way to express your sexuality either alone or with a partner. Long gone are the days when sex toys could only be bought in cool shops on the wrong side of town. With online shopping, anyone can buy and enjoy a truly stunning array of sex toys.

Despite the huge increase in popularity and acceptance of toys, most consumers do not realize that the sex toy industry is completely unregulated. There are no rules, laws or at least guidelines as to what makes some materials or designs safe and others not. Many manufacturers only make quality sex toys and immediately willingly provide useful information about their safe use and the materials they are made of, but there are still products that are made from materials that we now know are not reliable and for which the manufacturer offers little or nothing. security information. No one wants to have consequences for their health, so they should be informed when buying each toy.

Do you want to buy toys that could change your sex life? Absolutely! Here’s the definitive guide on what you need to know to stay safe and worry-free.

Be careful where you buy

Although the discount prices on Amazon or eBay look tempting to us, think twice before buying. Why? There is a problem with counterfeiting in the sex toy industry – especially with the more expensive and popular brands. There have been cases of faulty wiring, low-quality materials and breakage, after which customers contact the manufacturer directly to find out that they have bought a counterfeit and not a genuine product.

Never too careful with something that will be in contact with your most sensitive parts of the body and possibly be inserted into you. Stick to your local stores or visit one of the online shops, such as Izazov of course 🙂 Here you can study the features of each toy and find out where it comes from and at the same time be sure that you are getting what you need. A good online store will give you details about the product such as the exact size, the material it is made of and how to care for it.

Think about the materials

Maybe you liked that pink dildo you saw online at first glance, but take a minute to read the product description. Sex toys can be made from a variety of materials, some more comfortable for your body than others. Silicone is the gold standard. Although cheaper materials do not mean less expensive toys and the whole  problem is not only in costs. Different materials have different levels of porosity. In other words, really porous materials are almost impossible to keep 100% clean and disinfected. They absorb all bodily fluids, lubricants and everything else they come in contact with, making them fertile ground for bacteria. A sort of hierarchy of sex toy materials would go something like this:

Silicone: Non-porous and easy to clean, you can even disinfect these toys by putting them in boiling water for 5 minutes (assuming they’re waterproof) and they’ll last and last. You can disinfect them with a bleach solution / water (1 part bleach to 10 parts water and soak for 10-15 minutes) or use a specialized antibacterial toy cleaner.

Glass, metal and ceramic: These toys are extremely strong, but they are also completely non-porous and easy to clean. You can put them in the dishwasher, bleach them or just use soap and water.

Plastic: More often found in bullets and some types of vibrators for the clitoris, it is an extremely good material because it does not contain phthalates and is non-porous. Such toys are cleaned with soap and warm water and are ready again.

TPR / TPE: This material is thermoplastic rubber / thermoplastic elastomer, which is non-toxic and extremely flexible. There are a number of very high quality dildos made from this material and it is definitely more affordable than silicone. What you need to remember is to keep it clean as it is a porous material (unless it specifically says non-porous TPR). Use antibacterial cleaning spray or antibacterial soap and water before and after each use. You cannot cook or bleach this material.

Cyberskin, and UR3, and other realistic materials: Common for dildos, these materials are soft and pliable – the most faithful imitation of human skin – with a solid inner core. Because they are porous, he recommends using them only with a condom. Make sure to clean them thoroughly after each use. Switching between anal and vaginal use is not recommended. To maintain their silky texture, dust them with cornstarch and store them separately from other toys.

Jelly and PVC: Toys made of these  materials are generally cheaper, the jelly material is extremely porous (a magnet for bacteria) and is usually incorporated into lower quality products. In addition, many jelly toys use phthalates to make them softer, and this is where we get to the problem with unregulated production in the sex toy industry. Phthalates often have an intense smell, which is actually the release of chemicals found in the material. Several countries have banned phthalates in food boxes and baby bottles because of their potentially harmful effects. PVC is similar to jelly in that it is soft and pliable, but contains fewer potentially harmful chemicals. To prevent your toy from becoming sticky, clean it thoroughly after each use and store it separately from others.

Sex toys and safer sex

You are mistaken if you think that the use of sex toys is safer than sex in which there is physical contact. Most manufacturers and sellers recommend against sharing sex toys with any level of porosity for good reason – you can never be sure you’ve cleaned them completely. But the use of silicone, glass, plastic or metal does not necessarily mean safer sex. There is a real lack of research on STDs and the use of sex toys. Given the porosity of many available toys, HPV, chlamydia, syphilis and herpes are just a few of the diseases that can be spread by sharing sex toys. Although most sexually transmitted infections have an extremely short lifespan outside the body (seconds or minutes), it is recommended that you never share your toys unless they can be thoroughly disinfected or covered with a condom. Passing a toy between partners without a fresh condom is considered risky behavior. So if you share, keep them covered and clean.

Think about size

If you’ve ever watched porn, you’ve seen some pretty massive specimens that fit into some pretty small places with no problem. Unless you’re a seasoned professional who makes a living at it, trust me real life just doesn’t work that way. The average vagina is 7 – 10 cm long (from the vaginal opening to the tip of the cervix) and although it can expand up to 200% when aroused, there is still a potential risk of injury if you are overly ambitious with the size of your sex toys.

Good sex toys are sold with descriptions of width, length and penetration length (how much can be inserted into your body). The average erect penis is only 12.5 cm long; if this is your only experience with penetration, you may want to think twice before jumping on the 28cm porn star replica. Tears, friction, rawness, cervical irritation, and burning are real possibilities when vaginally using a sex toy that is much larger than what you are used to. If you’re still determined to get bigger, check how excited you are and use a lot of good quality lube to make the process easier.

The same applies to anal penetration. Anal sex can be incredibly good, and keep in mind that the anus and rectum are very sensitive and filled with blood vessels. Scratches, wounds and infections can happen very easily, so start off easy. The anal sphincter is an incredibly tight muscle and it takes time, patience and preparation to relax. There are anal kits that include a number of toys in varying sizes, so you can progress your explorations a little at a time. Don’t forget that they hire professionals to shoot porn movies … and even they use lubricants out of the camera’s reach.

Check if it’s the right toy for your needs

Not all sex toys are multipurpose wonders. This is especially important to consider when talking about anal sex. Anal stimulation provides an incredible experience, but if you insert something into your body, make sure it has a wide base or a solid handle. During orgasm, the strong rectal muscles will contract, causing everything inside the rectum to be drawn in. Using something thin and flat for anal stimulation could be a bad scenario. Specialized plugs and anal vibrators are toys that should be used. Their wide base prevents pulling in during strong muscle contractions.

And please, we repeat countless times, never use a sex toy in the anus that you will then use vaginally. Cover it with a condom for anal penetration, then switch to a new condom for vaginal play. Bacteria transferred from the anus to the vagina can lead to numerous infections.

Don’t overdo it

If you’ve ever watched that famous series Sex and the City, you might think that the biggest risk of sex toys is getting addicted to your rabbit vibrator. It’s true that some toys come with warning labels and it’s important to read them before you get down to business. In the Indiana University Study, more than half of the women who participated used vibrators, while one in five subjects experienced some kind of numbness or pain. Vibrating wands are particularly powerful and it is not good to use them exclusively on the clitoris for a long period of time.

Another sexy toy that is extremely popular, but often sold without instructions for use, is the penis ring. These are often stretchable rings that fit over the base of the penis or the penis and testicles when the penis is not yet fully erect. The idea is to prevent blood flow from the penis, which leads to a longer erection. They are fantastic toys when used with care. Although injuries from ring use are rare, they can be serious; so it is important to know how to use it correctly.

The most important thing is that the ring fits well so that it only slightly enhances the erection. It would be good to leave it for 20-30 minutes. Long-term use can lead to blood clotting in the penis and can cause permanent damage. It is definitely recommended not to use the ring if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol; you can lose track of time and what you are doing. Finally, NEVER fall asleep with the ring in place.