sex toys

An Introduction to Sex Toy Safety

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When I set out to buy my first sex toy, I was not an educated shopper. All I knew was that (1) I wanted to purchase from a brick-and-mortar store, so that I could actually see the size of the toy in front of me. And (2) I wanted something cheap, because I had no idea if I would actually like it. Needless to say, I wasted a lot of money on cheaply made and potentially dangerous shit. I’ve had the coating of vibrators begin to flake and fall off. I’ve had a couple of toys get mysterious dark stains, which I now know were probably signs of mold. One bullet that I bought only lasted about 5 minutes before it over-heated to the point that it completely fried the battery components. And I’ve experienced some mild vaginal burning from a toy that later started to disintegrate in a puddle of it’s own goo.

Gross, right?

I now know that in a society where almost everything is government regulated, sex toys are not. There are no government laboratories testing your dildos to make sure that they will not cause chemical burn or that your anal plug has a base wide enough to not get lost in your colon. Instead, most sex toy companies can choose to label their items as “novelties,” meaning that if they aren’t officially made for use, it doesn’t matter how unsafe they are. It also means that companies can get away with not disclosing what their products are made from — or even flat-out lying about it.

There are many individuals in the sex positive community (including educators, bloggers, shop owners, quality toy manufacturers, etc) who are aware of this and are advocating for change. However, the vast majority of the masses are still uninformed. There is a stigma surrounding sex toy use — even though 52.5% of women and 44.8% of men have reported using a vibrator alone or with a partner. People are hesitant to talk about their sex toys, even if their experience has been a positive one. But what about if their experience was painful or they became physically ill? As a wonderful fellow sex blogger once said…

Generally speaking, there are two things that can make a sex toy unsafe: porosity and toxicity.

Porosity

Porosity simply means that the material has pores (tiny holes which allow liquid or air to pass through). For a sex toy, which comes into contact with bodily fluids and sensitive mucous membranes time and time again, the major concern of porosity is the growth of bacteria. Over time, mildew, mold, and fungus can all start growing on and inside of these toys. (This is especially likely if they are not washed straight away or if they are not thoroughly dry before being stored.) Because they essentially absorb what they come into contact with, porous toys cannot be shared. They cannot be used both vaginally and anally. And they cannot be used while experiencing any sort of genital infection.

It’s important to realize that even if you wash a porous toy, you will have not removed the chance of introducing harmful bacteria to your body. There is no way to completely clean or sterilize a porous sex toy. Therefore, to minimize risk, using a condom with these toys is recommended.

Toxicity

There seems to be some recent controversy over using the term “toxic.” Some say that it scares individuals who are not knowledgeable about sex toys and shames those who own unsafe ones. Others, like myself, believe that ugly practices deserve ugly words and that consumers need to know the truth.

A toy may be “toxic” for a variety of reasons. Phthalates (chemicals added to plastics to make them softer and more flexible) usually get the most attention. Phthalates “off-gas” into their environment, meaning that they are released into the air that you breathe. If you’ve ever gotten a headache from the strong odor of a new vinyl shower curtain or that “new car smell,” you’ve got phthalates to thank. If phthalates are in a sex toy (which comes into contact with mucous membranes of the genitalia), they could also leach into your body and/or cause skin irritation. (Research is lacking on whether condoms can provide adequate protection.)

Research is ongoing about the potential harmful effects of these chemicals. It appears that with high levels of exposure, some phthalates may be linked to liver/kidney damage as well as negative effects on neurological & reproductive health. One specific phthalate that has been found in sex toys, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (or DEHP), “may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen” according to the Department of Health & Human Services. Because of this risk, many countries (including the U.S.) have banned children’s toys that include more than 0.1% DEHP in their chemical make-up. Now compare that to the 63% that a Berlin laboratory found in a vibrator.

Unfortunately, phthalates and leaky toys aren’t even the only things we have to worry about. In 2006, the Dutch EPA found arsenic, antimony, lead, & cadmium in the sex toys that they tested. I don’t know about you, but I find that very disturbing. 

Which materials are body-safe and which should you avoid?

I’ll do individual posts on these materials in the future, but for now, here is a basic breakdown.

Non-Porous & Non-Toxic

  • Silicone
  • ABS/Hard plastic
  • Glass, Ceramic, & Sealed Wood (However, not all ceramic glazes or wood finishes are body safe.)
  • Stainless Steel & Aluminum

Questionable or Dangerous

  • Thermoplastic Rubber or Elastomer (TPR/TPE)
    • Usually free of phthalates, but can be porous or non-porous (medical grade).
  • “Realistic” materials (ex: Cyberskin)
    • Porous & may contain phthalates.
  • PVC, Rubber, Latex, & “Jelly”
    • Porous & usually contains phthalates.

It’s important to know that these cheaply made toys from the bottom section are also often unstable and can begin to break-down within a short amount of time. They may develop an oily or greasy sheen on the outside of the toy or even drastically melt (especially when in contact with similar toys). If you want to see some disgusting examples, check out Dangerous Lilly’s, BadVibes’, and BexTalksSex’s jars of melted toys.

Remember that toy companies can and do lie. Even if product packaging or an online description says that a toy is silicone or “phthalates free,” it may not be. And many items sold cheaply on marketplaces such as Amazon turn out to be unsafe counterfeits. Before you buy, do your research on the manufacturer and the retailer. There are many amazing companies out there who are dedicated to producing and selling body-safe products and, in my opinion, those are the ones that deserve our money and support.

If you would like more information on sex toy safety, I highly suggest checking out Dangerous Lilly‘s posts and the posts of other bloggers that she has linked to here. 

The Future of Sex is Near (even when you are not)

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What comes to mind when you hear the words “teledildonics” or “computer-controlled sex toys?”

As I (regretfully) browsed the comment sections of various videos and online articles this week, I couldn’t help but notice a stigma associated with desperate and lonely computer geeks. It surprises me that in a culture where almost everyone owns a smartphone, is constantly connected to social media platforms, and increasingly communicates via electronic devices, many people still have negative reactions to the merging of technology & sex.

As someone who was in a long-distance relationship for a few years, I can most certainly understand the intimate allure of these toys. And as someone who sees cybersex as a physically and emotionally safe way to express & experience one’s sexuality, I appreciate the technological advancements. I am very excited about these new possibilities, and I hope that after learning about a few of the most impressive products, you will be too!

OhMiBod

OhMiBod has been in the business of technology-focused sex toys since they first launched their music vibrators, which vibrate to the music of a connected mp3 player. They went on to add this unique sound-interaction capability to wireless, wearable, remote-controlled vibrators ideal for club or concert environments. Now, moving into the era of smart phones, they have released blueMotion — wearable vibrators that are controlled with the use of a specially made Bluetooth application. The blueMotion vibrator is primarily made for vulva-owners, and only offers one-way technological communication. However, this can still add a large degree of intimacy for long-distance lovers… or simply a bit of secretive, risqué fun for those who crave a little exhibitionism in their sex life.

Vibease

Vibease is another wearable, Bluetooth app-controlled vibrator made for sending one-way pleasure. With Vibease’s Intimate app, your partner will be in control of the vibrations that you receive from anywhere in the world — near or far. However, Vibease is created with solo masturbation in mind as well. With their Fantasy application, you can use your smartphone to select and listen to erotica while the vibrations increase according to the story. (If you’re a writer, you may be interested to know that you can even create your own fantasies for others to use.) Vibease has not been released yet, but they are taking pre-orders that are scheduled to be shipped by September 2014.

Kiiroo

If you’re wondering where the technologically advanced & connective masturbation sleeves are, Kiiroo is your answer. Although they plan to eventually make this a two-way experience, currently the OPue vibrator is only capable of sending information. The SVir masturbation sleeve, however, can send and receive, as it can be paired with a second SVir. (Two OPues are not currently compatible.) The Kiiroo products work by using special touch rings that convey speed and penetrative depth, translating and sending the information to the contracting rings inside the corresponding SVir/s. (One OPue can be connected to multiple SVir units, which is quite beneficial for online sex work.) The connectivity options with the Kiiroo are pretty impressive. Not only are they creating their own social network, the toys will also be usable with Skype, FaceTime, and simple Bluetooth capability. Pre-orders are currently being accepted for eventual 2014 delivery.

Lovense

Lovense, a company that first introduced a Skype compatible vibrator in 2009, is currently on their 3rd generation of toys — Max & Nora, a completely bidirectional pair. (Not only can Max & Nora connect with each other, but two Max units and two Nora units are also compatible.) The Max masturbation sleeve uses vibrations and air pump technology to create stimulating pressure while the Nora vibrator is of the popular “rabbit” style, using both vibration and rotation. Although the toys interpret your thrusting motions, they do not recreate those motions for your partner. Rather, as one partner’s intensity or speed increases, Lovense increases the unique stimulating activity of the other toy (vibrating, rotating, squeezing). One partner can also use the Lovense Bluetooth application to control the other’s toy without connecting their own. They’ve even released a new “Record & Playback” feature, allowing you to save both the stimulation patterns and voice of your partner for your future masturbation needs.

Fundawear

Honestly, although Fundawear is much more tame than many other emerging products, it’s one that I am most excited about. The brain child of Durex Australia, Fundawear is a line of lingerie/undergarments that transmit the sensation of touch via a smartphone application, using the same technology that sends physical feedback to your fingers when using a touchscreen device. Your partner is able to control where you feel their electronic touch and the intensity. The fact that this is more of an intimate experience than a purely sexual one is what intrigues me the most. Durex appears to still be in the early stages of this product line, but you can get more information at Wearable Experiments.

Have you ever used a sex toy that connected with a partner via computer technology? Would you? I want to hear your experiences and opinions! 

8 Titillating Facts About Sex Toys

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Due to a couple of amazing sales at Tantus & Pink Cherry, I’ve recently gone on a bit of a sex toy binge. It only seems fitting that this week’s post shares my current obsession. (Needless to say, I also wanted some quick & easy subject matter as my focus has been on “testing” these new arrivals and not so much on researching/writing.)

Enjoy! 

Dildos have been around forever. Seriously.

It doesn’t really seem too absurd that for as long as humans have been walking the earth, they have been finding ways to satisfy their libido. In 2010, a 30,000 year old stone dildo (or what some believe to be a dildo) was found in Germany. In ancient Greece, “olisbos” commonly made from leather or wood and lubricated with olive oil adorn many erotic vase paintings.

Vibrators were invented to more effortlessly cure “hysteria.” 

A disease that was only diagnosable in women, “hysteria” was believed to be the result of insufficient amounts of sex. (Despite the fact that many people throughout history believed that women had no sexual desire.) During the 19th century, doctors were manually masturbating their female patients in order to reduce hysteria’s rather vague symptoms. Vibrators were a good way to give the good doctors’ hands a break.

The vibrator was the 5th consumer appliance to be electrified.

What were the other four, you ask? The sewing machine, fan, teakettle, and toaster. Before that, many of the first vibrators were powered by steam or a simple hand-crank. For photos and more information about antique vibrators, visit Good Vibration’s Antique Vibrator Museum website. (You really start to get the sense that the people behind Wahl Massagers have simply decided “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”)

The use of vibrators in 1920’s porn made many retailers pull back. 

Prior to their appearance in porn, vibrator ads could be seen in the Sears catalog as well as magazines aimed at a female audience. Similar to how Lelo products are referred to as “personal massagers” in Brookstone stores today, their true use was always veiled. However, as they increasingly became explicitly sexual, many retail stores decided that they were too risqué.

Although it is not strictly enforced, Alabama’s Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act still makes it illegal to sell sex toys.  

You may be thinking that this is simply an outdated law that everyone forgot about, but is still somehow on the books. Unfortunately, it was put into effect in 1998 and upheld in 2009. You know what’s even more crazy? If this is your first offense, you could still be punished with a $10,000 fine and a year in prison. This hasn’t stopped people yet. Sellers market their items as “educational” or “novelty” to get around the law.

The use of sex toys is more common than you might think. 

I’ve seen estimates on how much money Americans spend on sex toys that range anywhere from $500 million to $15 billion annually, but either way — that’s quite a large industry. (According to sex toy company, Adam & Eve, 8/10 of the leading states are largely Republican. Interesting…) In 2009, researchers at Indiana University [IU] studied the use of vibrators in particular. They found that 52.5% of women and 44.8% of men report having used a vibrator either alone or with a partner.1,2 

Using a vibrator may be tied to other sexual health benefits. 

The same pair of IU studies also found that those who report using a vibrator also report higher scores on tests of sexual function. Women were more likely to report that they had a gynecological exam within the last year, and men were more likely to report testicular self-exams when compared to their non-vibrator-using cohorts. It makes sense that if you’re more comfortable with your genitals, you’ll probably take better care of them.

Sex toys are not regulated by the US government.

Sex toy manufacturers are currently not obligated to follow any standards or even disclose what materials they use. Because they are allowed to hide in secrecy, many of the chemicals found in cheap sex toys are ones that have been banned from children’s toys due to possible toxicity. They also degrade at an alarming and disgusting rate, as can be seen at Bad Vibes.

  1. Reece et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Vibrator Use by Men in the United States. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009; 6 (7): 1867 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01290.x
  2. Herbenick et al. Prevalence and Characteristics of Vibrator Use by Women in the United States: Results from a Nationally Representative Study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009; 6 (7): 1857 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01318.