Anal Toys

Anal play is comfortable when three things are right: a safe shape, enough lubricant and enough time. Size is the last thing to worry about. This guide covers the shapes, the safety rule that has no exceptions and the practical side of hygiene.

The one rule: a flared base

Anything that goes in must have a base wider than the widest part of the toy, or a retrieval loop or cord. The rectum draws objects inwards, and a toy without a stop can travel beyond reach. Never use a dildo without a flared base, and never improvise with household objects.

Which type suits you

Butt plugs stay in place and give a steady feeling of fullness, on their own or during other stimulation. Anal beads are a series of spheres on a cord and give their sensation on the way in and, above all, on the way out.

Anal training sets contain three or four sizes so you can move up over weeks instead of in one evening. Prostate massagers are curved to press against the prostate a few centimetres inside the front wall, and many have a perineum arm on the outside. Tails and jewelled plugs are worn for the look as much as the feeling.

Size and material

Start smaller than you think. A first plug of two and a half to three centimetres at its widest point is plenty. A tapered tip and a narrow neck matter more than the total length, because the neck is what keeps the plug seated comfortably.

Silicone is soft and forgiving, which suits a first plug. Glass and steel are hard and slide with much less lubricant, and their weight is part of the appeal, but they are unforgiving of a rushed start.

Lubricant is not optional

The anus does not produce its own lubrication, so lubricant is a requirement rather than a nice extra. Use a thick water based gel or a dedicated anal lubricant, apply generously to both the toy and the body, and top up rather than push harder. With glass or steel, a silicone lubricant lasts longest. With silicone toys, stay on water based.

Numbing gels are a bad idea. Discomfort is a signal you need in order to stop in time.

Hygiene and cleaning

Wash before and after use with warm water and a mild soap. Non porous materials can be cleaned thoroughly, which is why silicone, glass and steel are the only sensible choice here. A toy that has been used anally goes nowhere else without a thorough wash or a fresh condom.

Frequently asked questions