Sh*T I’m Afraid to ask my doctor By Sabrina Deutsch
Toys Toys Toys
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hether used solo or with a partner, ‘adult’ toys can be regular participants in a healthy sex life. Unfortunately, the subtitle of this article could just as well be: “Stigma Stigma Stigma.” Prime example: four twenty-one-year-old, sexually active women, squirming with simultaneous guilt and giddiness as they visit Babeland.com for the first time (source: my living room last Tuesday night). If we’ve learned anything over the course of the past year, it’s that self-care (in all of its many forms) is paramount. 2018 is for reclamation and reparations. So, if Babeland.com is calling your name, we’re in the age of communication, pick up the phone. Using sex toys can be both pleasurable and empowering, but there are still important considerations to keep in mind to make your experience as safe as possible. Before you get to playing, let's get to the questions you may be too afraid* to ask anyone else. *Note: fear around discussing sex toys arises out of social stigma around sexual bodies. Ask away, break the stigma.
What are the do’s and don’ts when it comes to choosing sex toys? Sex toys come in a remarkable number of shapes, sizes, materials, and functions. One of the most important considerations when purchasing a sex toy, especially if you plan on using it with a partner(s), is the material. Certain materials, like most soft plastics and even some hard plastics, are porous. This means that they can harbor dirt and bacteria within the microscopic pores of the material. Consequently, porous materials are difficult to disinfect and increase the risk of transmitting infections. This is not to say that you should stay away from plastics altogether. ABS is a type of hard plastic that is non-porous and sanitizable. If softer (or squishier) plastics are more your speed, there’s no need to rule them out entirely. It is best, however, to reserve these toys for solo-play or for use with a monogamous partner. If you’re looking for something softer that can still be used with a partner, you’ll want to check out silicone products. Silicone is nonporous, easy to sanitize, and tends to have good heat transfer. With proper care these products last longer than most others, but as with all good things, there’s a catch. In order to maintain the integrity of even the best silicone toys, you’ll need to care for them properly. For example, silicone is degraded by oil lubricants and soaps. Don’t be afraid to check out a variety of materials to determine which properties are best suited to your needs. Though we tend to think of those bright, colorful, silicone and plastic products, sex toys are also made from glass, metal, and wood. Glass and metal tend to be easy to sanitize, and wood can even be specially treated to make it nonporous. At the end of the day, you’ll want to do your research about the product you’re buying, keeping in mind how and with whom you intend to use it.
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