SEX
p er f e c t fi t: a b u t t toy b u y i ng gui d e If you can’t love your bum, how is it going to love somebody else? By Bobby Box
Public health officials have acknowledged that, pandemic or not, people need sex. They ask only that when we engage in sexual activity, we reduce risk by limiting partners, wearing masks and using glory holes. Despite these leniencies, many still aren’t willing to take the risk. As such, sex toy sales have skyrocketed. Outlets like Forbes and the Toronto Sun have reported that companies have as much as doubled their sex toy sales since the pandemic started. I myself have used this time to better my bottoming skills using the arsenal of anal sex toys I’ve been given as a sex writer. In fact, I’ve recently written about this experience in graphic detail. Since such valuable intel shouldn’t go to waste, I’ve put together a helpful guide to all the different types of anal sex toys, as well as the sensations they provide and which products will make your booty hole a happy hole.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
Before you purchase, consider the following: Purchase your sex toys from a reputable source Sex toys are not regulated in Canada and the US, meaning companies can produce toys made with potentially toxic materials. Some big box sites, like Amazon, sell knock-offs of popular sex toys made with these harmful chemicals. Don’t skimp; purchase your product from a credible retailer. Beware of porous toys While porous materials aren’t necessarily toxic themselves, they contain tiny pockets that trap dirt and bacteria, meaning they can’t be fully sterilized. If you use a porous toy with a sexual partner, slip a condom over top to avoid spreading potential infection or a pre-existing STI. Some more common porous materials include jelly rubber, PVC, cyberskin, TPR/TPE and elastomer. 18
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Avoid toxic materials Phthalates, harmful chemical agents that make plastic more transparent and flexible, can still be found in sex toys. People tend to experience allergic and chemical reactions when they come in contact with phthalates, which have also been linked to cancer. Other toxic materials to avoid: timethytin chloride, phenol, carbon disulphide, toluene and cadmium. Lube TF up Use a whole lot of lube – you can’t have too much of it, especially when it comes to butt stuff. Lube the toy and your hole. Lube the inside of your hole using a finger if you have to. Your bum doesn’t self-lubricate and the skin is extremely sensitive, so a quality lubricant is essential and, despite what you’ve seen in porn, spit won’t cut it. If your toy is made of silicone, opt for a water-based or hybrid lube since silicone lubricant deteriorates silicone materials (due to the way silicone molecules react with other silicone products). Make sure the toy has a flared base Your bum is like a vacuum and if you use a toy without a flared base, it can get sucked inside your body… meaning a hospital visit to have it removed. Remember the saying, “Without a base, without a trace!”
