Play Safe: Why you should better not insert some sex toys

Also available in German
Play Safe: Warum du manche Sextoys besser nicht einführen solltest

‘Back then’, I think and reflect on the times of secretly buying sex toys in the Beate Uhse store, while nowadays, the online market for erotic supplies is virtually booming and continuously presenting new innovations to meet the increasing demand. After all, self-exploration is lifestyle, sex is wellness, and the smut image long outdated. However, with all the choices of seductive sex toys, it’s easy to lose track and get lost in the jungle of indulgence without realizing what you’re pleasuring yourself with. We often look first at design, function, and of course, the price. But why you should pay attention to the material processing first, you will learn in this article.

Not all sex toys are body-friendly! That’s shocking, but it’s true. And we are talking about the world market. There are no legal requirements for how many harmful substances sex toys may contain; there are only limited values. For example, sex toys are neither approved nor tested by the FDA, and manufacturers do not provide any concrete information on the material composition of their products. A German study by “Stiftung Warentest” in 2019 announced that only 3 of the 18 toys tested were free of harmful substances. WTF … Harmful substances have no place in sex toys because everything that comes into contact with mucous membranes should be body-friendly.

Toxic materials

Phthalate, or softeners, are probably among the largest percentage of materials used in dildos, vibrators, and other sex toys. Phthalates can make you infertile, cause diabetes and also cancer, so you should stay away from these products, even if they might appeal to you more visually. 

Jelly is a plastic made of PVC, which is better not to come into contact with your most intimate parts because it is one of the highly carcinogenic ingredients and, therefore, completely banned in children’s toys, for example.Many dildos are made of Jelly because the material is soft, flexible, and exciting. On top of that, it’s cheap, which most find attractive.

Hands-off porous materials. Read the product descriptions and ensure the sex toy is nonporous or hypoallergenic! Porous means that there are tiny pores on the toy where all kinds of dirt, fungi, and bacteria can accumulate; this includes materials like TPE, elastomer, rubber, vinyl, and silicone mixtures.

Lastly, I’d like to point out nickel and heavy metals, particularly dangerous ingredients that are not immediately unmasked, especially when manufacturers don’t list them. Nickel and heavy metals not only cause allergies but are also highly carcinogenic. Instead of just looking at the soft materials of dildos and vibrators, make sure to look at the charging contacts and controls. Now, many toys are charged by charging stations and made of medical silicone all around; the perfect choice if you ask me.

Body-friendly is the motto 

Suppose you’re now wondering how to make sure your sex toy is truly body-friendly, I recommend supporting brands that emphasize quality material processing and focus on self-care related to masturbation. My top 3 brands include:

Maude

Founded by Éva Goicochea and Dina Epstein, Maude greatly emphasizes the use of premium materials, in addition to a minimalist and particularly aesthetic design. Sexual wellness is their ideology focusing on quality, simplicity, and inclusion. Best of all, Maude brand products are not only safe for health and look beautiful, but they are also affordable.

Dame

“Get in touch with yourself” that’s what Dame stands for, focusing on sexual well-being with exclusively processed materials and designs. Their range consists solely of doctor-approved products with 100% body-safe materials. Founded in 2014 by sexologist Alexandra Fine and MIT engineer Janet Lieberman, Dame has since established itself as a high-quality sex toy brand, especially among those who value exquisite processed materials that pose no health risks and beautiful aesthetics.

Iroha

Iroha by Tenga defines pleasure with appreciation and self-care. For this reason, they exclusively design products that fulfill these natural needs. As the name suggests, Iroha’s parent company is “Tenga”, a brand that specializes primarily in sex toys for men. At Iroha by Tenga, women are the creators to make sexuality more socially acceptable for women combined with an aesthetic design – “a brand created by women for women“. Their products are made of body-friendly materials that can be used without hesitation.

If you are looking for alternatives to silicone, sex toys made of glass, stainless steel, stone, and ABS plastic are suitable. Always look for material specifications that list nonporous, hypoallergenic, phthalate-free, and body-friendly. Research brands, read reviews, and trust quality over price. As soon as your toy arrives at your home, you will notice at the latest when unpacking whether your vibrator or dildo is really made of 100% silicone because it doesn’t smell.

In addition to choosing sex toys that are safe for your health, proper care is also important.

Even if you have paid extra attention to non-porous material specifications for your new toy, a good cleaning is the be-all and end-all to prevent infections. Especially if you already have a sexually transmitted disease or vaginal infection, it can be passed on to your partner through the sex toy. I recommend using an antibacterial toy cleaner for cleaning with warm water and soap, especially for anal plugs. Bacteria transferred from the rectum can cause urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal diseases in the worst case.

Conclusion

Thankfully, choosing a body-friendly sex toy isn’t longer a problem. That’s because many brands have made it their mission to focus on the safety of your body. In my opinion, just like with everything else in life, you shouldn’t make any concessions regarding the processing of sex toys and, consequently, your health. Quality is superior to quantity; ultimately, only one thing matters; your experience, your moment, your body, and the right feeling of sharing something beautiful and healthy with yourself.