Introduction to Sex Toys
The term “sex toys”
refers to objects or devices used for sexual stimulation and enhancement,
especially those that are commercially manufactured and distributed.
Sex toys are used by sexual health professionals to encourage sexual
exploration in relationship therapy and to treat sexual dysfunction and
post-traumatic stress
Sex Toy Safety
Sex Toys Are Not Regulated
It is important to
know that currently, neither concrete safety regulations nor any designated
regulatory body exists for the sex toy industry; this is why sex toys are
often labeled “sold as a novelty only.” The manufacturers are therefore not
responsible for the negative consequences of any “unintended” (i.e.
sexual , internal) use of their products. This also means that manufacturers are
not obligated to report the chemicals and materials used in a product to any
higher regulatory body, and that they may report them inaccurately on their
packaging without consequence. This is why it is important to be knowledgeable
and informed about the materials and chemicals used to make sex toys
today.
Sex toy websites that
are advocacy-oriented with consumer-driven communities are often good resources
for determining the true material composition of a toy, along with any
other points of health-related interest .
Phthalates
Some toys are made
with chemicals that may not be safe for your body, and can cause itching,
burning, rash and tissue damage. Phthalates (“thal -ates”) are a class of
chemical plasticizers that are frequently added to the plastics used in sex
toys (particularly PVC) to increase their flexibility, resulting in a softer,
“squishier” feel to the toy material. The EPA has designated phthalates as “possible human carcinogens,” and they
have also been linked to neurological and reproductive issues. Toys with
phthalates in them are often linked with side effects such as itching,
burning, rash and minor tissue damage.
Phthalates are a
controversial topic among regulation agencies around the world and are banned
in several countries (including children’s toys the U.S.), and research
is continually being done to determine exactly what dangers they may pose to
humans. No safety regulations currently exist for the sex toy industry, which
means that any “phthalate-free” claims that adorn sex toy packaging are
unverified and may be false.
Toy Care, Cleaning, and Maintenance
Different toy
materials follow different instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Non-waterproof vibrators must be washed with care to ensure that water does not
damage the componentry—it is easiest to simply wipe down these toys with an
antibacterial toy cleaner. Antibacterial soaps and cleansers should be allowed
to sit on toys a few minutes before washing in order to take full effect.
Here are some general
guidelines:
Sterilizing your toys: Some toys may be sterilized, such as in
boiling water or in a dishwasher. This is a preferable option for those with
sensitivities to fragrances or antibacterial soaps and toy cleaners.
Sterilizing your toys is especially important if they are being shared between
partners or used anally . The sterilizability of a toy depends upon its
materials and construction, and manufacturer guidelines should be followed when
attempting to sterilize a toy. Toys made from porous materials cannot be
sterilized (see “Porosity” under Toy Materials for more information).
Condoms: Always using a fresh condom on your toys is
the easiest way to keep them clean and ensure their longevity. This is
especially important with porous toys, whose surfaces absorb dust, oils and
other particles that they come into contact with. As with a live partner, fresh
condoms should be applied before each use, and used condoms should be removed and
disposed of immediately. Always replace condoms before changing orifices to
reduce risk of urinary tract or bacterial infections.
Lubricant: Another way to promote a long life for your
toy is to use lubricant on your toys during use. Water-based lubricant can be
used with any sex toy. Silicone lubricant should NOT be used with toys made of
silicone or realistic skin-like materials. The silicone polymers in the
lubricant will bind with those in the toy, damaging or “melting” the material
of the toy. While this is not necessarily true for toys and lubricants
made from higher grade silicones, most packaging does not denote the grade of
the silicone used, making experimentation risky.
·
Silicone:
May be washed with antibacterial soap and water or an antibacterial toy
cleaner. Some silicone toys without electronic componentry may be boiled
in water for 3-5 minutes or run through the dishwasher to sterilize (see
manufacturer’s instructions). Allow to air dry.
·
Glass/Stainless steel /ABS plastic: May be washed with antibacterial soap and
warm water or with an antibacterial toy cleaner. To sterilize, wipe down
the toy with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and then rinse thoroughly. Allow to
air dry. Most Pyrex glass and stainless steel toys can be boiled in water for
3-5 minutes or run through the dishwasher to sterilize (see manufacturer
instructions). Allow to air dry.
·
TPR/TPE/Elastomer: May be washed with antibacterial soap and warm water or an
antibacterial toy cleaner. Allow to air dry.
·
PVC: May be washed with
antibacterial soap and warm water or an antibacterial toy cleaner. Allow to air
dry.
·
Jelly rubber:
Condoms are strongly suggested for use with these highly porous materials.
Jelly rubber toys may be washed thoroughly with antibacterial soap and
rinsed well with warm water. Allow to air dry. Please note that while the use
of soap will lend to the degradation of the toy, antibacterial toy cleaner is
not the most hygienic option for cleaning jelly rubber toys due to the highly
porous nature of the material.
·
Realistic skin-like materials: (e.g. CyberSkin , Real Skin, Soft Touch, etc.) Condoms are
strongly suggested for use with these highly porous materials. Refer to
manufacturer’s instructions; some may be washed thoroughly with antibacterial
soap and warm water, some may only be cleaned with antibacterial toy cleaner .
Allow to air dry completely, then sprinkle with corn starch or the restorative
powder included with the toy to maintain the toy’s soft, skin-like feel and
prevent the development of a sticky or “gummy” texture to the surface (note : do
not use talcum or baby powder on realistic skin-like toys).
·
Silicone composites (e.g. Sil -a gel): May be washed with antibacterial soap and
cold or lukewarm water or an antibacterial toy cleaner. Allow to air dry.
Note: The scent in scented Sil-a-gel toys is permanent and cannot be washed
out; repeatedly attempting to do so will only damage the toy.
Toy Materials
Introduction
Commercially
manufactured sex toys are made from a wide variety of materials, with varying
levels of price, quality, hygiene and safety. Common sex toy materials
include jelly rubber, PVC and silicone. Cheaper materials, such as jelly
rubber, PVC, and realistic skin-like materials tend to be more porous, cannot
be sterilized, and have a diminished lifespan. Many also contain chemical
plasticizers that can cause harm to the body (see “Phthalates” under Sex
Toy Safety). Non-porous materials, such as silicone, VixSkin, and
borosilicate glass tend to be more expensive, but boast superior hygiene, a
longer lifespan, and the ability to be sterilized.
Porosity
“Porosity” describes
how porous or absorbent the material of a sex toy is. The more porous the
material is, the more nooks and crannies there are for bacteria and the like to
hide in—like a sponge. There, in the surface of a porous toy, bacteria can
thrive and reproduce. Because they cannot be sterilized, porous toys should
always be used with a condom, especially for anal use or when sharing of toys
between partners.
A non-porous toy has a
smooth, impermeable surface, like stainless steel, and does not retain and
harbor bacteria in its surface. Many non-porous toys can be sterilized by
boiling them in water or running them through the dishwasher (see
manufacturer’s instructions). Regardless of porosity, it is always important to
properly clean and maintain your toys (see Toy Care, Cleaning, and
Maintenance section).
Materials
·
Silicone:
Silicone is a man-made material known for its tight molecular structure and
excellent heat retention. While the rigidity of a silicone toy may vary
between manufacturers, silicone is always smooth and rubbery to the touch,
extremely durable and 100% non-porous. Due to the high industrial cost of
silicone, silicone toys tend to be higher in price than cheaper, more
porous materials. However, silicone is hypoallergenic, non-porous, easy to
clean, and can be sterilized (see manufacturer’s instructions). It is
recommended that silicone lubricant is NOT used with silicone toys, as the
silicone in the lubricant can damage or destroy the silicone in the toy.
·
Borosilicate glass: Frequently sold as Pyrex glass, borosilicate glass is
shatter-proof . Glass toys are extremely hard and rigid in structure and
boast excellent temperature retention . These non-porous toys have excellent
longevity, are hypoallergenic and easy to clean, and can be sterilized (see
manufacturer’s instructions).
·
Stainless steel: Stainless steel is an alloy, giving it its extremely hard and
rigid structure, as well as its excellent temperature conductivity. Stainless
steel is hypoallergenic, and smooth, shiny, and cool to the touch. Stainless
steel toys are non-porous, easy to clean, have unparalleled longevity and can
be sterilized (see manufacturer’s instructions).
·
ABS plastic:
Also known as “hard” plastic, ABS is a non-porous, rigid material that is cheap
to produce and used frequently in sex toys. ABS plastic can have either a
smooth or textured surface. ABS plastic is the cheapest of the non-porous
materials used to make sex toys.
·
TPR/TPE:
Thermoplastic elastomer or rubber is a rubber polymer blend. It has excellent
flexibility and can be soft to the touch. It is less porous than jelly rubber,
but more so than silicone. TPR/TPE toys tend to fall in the medium price-range
·
Elastomer:
Thermal plastic elastomer is a highly elastic and “squishy” material. Although
medical grade elastomer is hypoallergenic, it is porous (although less so
than jelly rubber) and cannot be sterilized. Elastomer toys fall in the medium
price-range.
·
Silicone composites (e.g. Sil -a gel): Often composed mainly of Polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), silicone composite toys are soft, “squishy” and smooth to the touch.
Containing less than 10% silicone, silicone composite toys are dramatically
lower in price than their 100% silicone counterparts, and significantly more
porous. Sil-a-gel in particular is an anti-bacterial material, free of latex
and cadmium.
·
Realistic skin-like materials: Various companies have patented their own realistic skin-like
material blends, including RealSkin, CyberSkin, Pure Skin, SoftTouch, and many
others. Often in packages bearing the words, “Touch Me,” these toys have a baby
skin-soft, powdery surface that must be carefully cleaned and maintained in
order to prevent sticky or “gummy” buildup from forming. These materials are
very porous and cannot be sterilized; clean thoroughly after each use and use
condoms with these toys whenever possible.
·
PVC: PVC, or Polyvinyl
chloride, is a very rigid, hard material. Any soft, “squishy” or flexible PVC
toys are likely to contain phthalates, which are potentially harmful
plasticizers used to soften the material (see “Phthalates” under Sex Toy
Safety). PVC toys are cheap to produce, durable, and low-maintenance, making
PVC one of the most commonly used sex toy materials today. PVC has a smooth,
rubbery surface texture. PVC is quite porous and cannot be sterilized; clean
thoroughly after each use and use condoms with these toys whenever possible.
·
Jelly rubber:
Composed of PVC, jelly rubber is also frequently treated with phthalates to
promote flexibility and softness in the material. Jelly rubber has a “squishy,”
rubbery feel and a soft but sticky surface texture. Jelly rubber is a very
popular material among sex toy manufacturers because of its soft, “squishy”
feel, low price and wide range of bright colors. Jelly rubber is highly porous
and cannot be sterilized; clean thoroughly after each use and use condoms with
these toys whenever possible.
·
Others: Many companies have
patented their own unique material formulas. These materials, such as VixSkin,
IntraMed and Sil-a-gel, are unique in composition and have varying levels of
porosity.
For a fuller list of
material descriptions and safety ratings, please see the EdenFantasys Guide to Materials.
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