How to choose an anal plug? The anus is a particularly well-nerved area, which is why many people, of all sexes and all genders, enjoy the stimulation of this zone. And there’s no shortage of options when it comes to anal plugs.
Whether you want to ease into anal sex, or you’re looking for the perfect anal plug as an experienced user, you won’t necessarily be heading for the same toy. But here are a few tips and criteria to guide you in choosing an anal plug.
Choosing an anal plug: safety
What are you looking for in an anal plug? Before you think about pleasure, eroticism, the aesthetics of the toy, or even comfort, one essential criterion needs to be considered. Is this plug really designed for safe anal sex?
By “safety”, I mean: it must, under no circumstances, risk getting stuck in your anus.
Some anal plugs are poorly designed
Unfortunately, many sex toys sold for anal use aren’t actually designed for it. With the lubricant, the arousal, if you push on it in the heat of the moment, they can slip and end up entirely inside your anus.
And then, to get them out, it’s not exactly straightforward. Result: a moment of stress and awkwardness, which can, in the worst case (rare, but not unheard of), end in a medical intervention.
When you’re using a sex toy, you should be able to relax and focus on your pleasure… Without the worry of potentially having to ask the emergency room staff for help at the end of your adventures.
What is a safe anal sex toy?
A safe anal sex toy is one that has a base wider than its insertable part. This base acts as a stopper: it stays outside your backside, and prevents the sex toy from slipping further than you’d like.
Choosing an anal plug: size
In choosing an anal plug, one of the first criteria to consider is size. Small? Medium? Large? It all depends on your preferences. And they come in all sizes, for the less daring and for the more ambitious.
But one piece of advice: above all, don’t bite off more than you can chew… I mean, anyway… Don’t choose an anal plug that’s too big.
Even if you think you can insert it, don’t forget that a plug can, if you wish, be worn for more or less extended periods. It’s better to choose a slightly smaller sex toy, to make sure it’s comfortable.
Choosing an anal plug: comfort
And since I’m talking about comfort: on this point, it’s not just the size that matters. But also the shape of the base, which, let’s remind ourselves, sits between your buttocks.
The comfort of your backside is a more or less important criterion depending on how long you plan to wear the plug. If you only plan to use the plug during sex, there’s no need to worry too much about it.
But if you want to wear it for several hours in a row, walk or sit with it, an anal plug whose base hasn’t been designed for this risks being uncomfortable over time. In that case, you’ll want to choose a plug whose base can nestle between your buttocks without spreading them apart. So you’ll want to avoid bases that are too thick or too angular.
Choosing an anal plug: material
As with any other sex toy, for an anal plug, it’s important to go for a body-safe material. And non-porous, because porous materials can never be fully disinfected, and are real breeding grounds for bacteria.
All the more so because, unlike a dildo, for example, it’s unlikely you’d cover your plug with a condom. Depending on the shape and size of the plug, it’s hardly practical.
A material to avoid like the plague: jelly, which is porous and generally contains toxic substances, including phthalates.
The materials to go for when choosing a plug: silicone, stainless steel, glass, wood and ceramic.
Silicone
Silicone is the most commonly used material in body-safe sex toys. Its texture is soft, which makes it less intimidating than other materials. It’s not necessarily the easiest material to insert, though.
But for an anal plug to wear for a long period, soft silicone, which will flex with your movements, can be an excellent choice.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is unbreakable and easy to clean. This material is also very smooth, making it easy to insert. You can also use it to play with temperatures, by running it under the tap to make it hot or cold.
Glass
Smooth, glass is also great for temperature play. However, one obvious major flaw: glass is fragile. So it’s best to avoid it in situations where you might drop the plug.
Wood
Wood is porous, but wooden sex toys (when properly made) are coated with a non-toxic varnish that makes their surface watertight.
Ceramic
Fragile, rigid and suited to temperature play like glass, ceramic has a very soft texture. Technically, ceramic is porous, but vitrified ceramic, used in the making of sex toys, has a non-porous surface.
Vibrating or non-vibrating?
Not everyone necessarily enjoys vibrations around the anus. For some, vibrations can help them relax, while for others, on the contrary, they can make them tense up.
If you’re not sure yet whether it’s your thing, to try and find out, you can press a vibrator, without inserting it, against the entrance of your anus.
Either way, with a vibrating anal plug, you can always switch it off to use it without vibrations.
The tail plug
The tail plug is a rather particular type of anal plug. It’s used for pet play, a type of role play where one of the partners plays an animal, and the other, its owner. Or simply, for aesthetic purposes, to look like a sexy cat for a few rounds of fun.
You can’t really wear it for long periods, as it’s difficult to sit with it or hide it under clothing. It’s therefore mainly intended for intimate play.
I hope this modest guide to choosing an anal plug has been useful to you. But if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments.
