By: Jennifer McMillen Smith, MSSA, LISW-S, Division of Infectious Disease and medically reviewed by Ann Avery, Infectious Disease Physician at Metrohealth Medical Center
Well if you’re reading this because you’re interested in taking a deep dive into the fabulous world of sex toys, you’ve come to the right place.🎉😘 Trust us when we say buying your first toy can be exciting but also sort of frustrating, too.
Between the “which one should I get??” and the “is this safe for my body??” questions 🤔 that pop in your head – our hope is that this blog guides you in the right direction and answers some of these questions!
Now listen, my goal here is NOT to preach at you, but I do want you to be informed and make the best decisions for you and your body – that’s all. Now, that we got that out of the way, let’s get into it! 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾
Don’t Feel Pressured to Buy Anything on Your First Trip to the Shop
👏🏾It’s so important to be comfortable!👏🏾 You have plenty of time and shouldn’t be rushed to choose something. Go with a friend and just to look around. Or go by yourself – whatever you prefer! Take a peek at all the options you have (there is a lot, so soak it all in! 👀). That gives you time to figure out where you want to start. 😉
Ask Store Employees if they have Toys available for Demo
Before you ask, this isn’t like a clothing store where you go try one on before you buy. No, no, no. 👉🏿 Ask one of the store’s consultants if they have demonstration or display models of the toys you’re interested in, along with batteries to test them out.👈🏿 By feeling what the toy actually feels like in your hand or against your skin, you can decide if it’s something you think would feel good for you in private. There are different textures to each one and they don’t all feel the same. You can feel the power of vibration and the different gears and hear how loud it is. The people working in the store are a resource. They know a lot, so ask them all of your questions because they want to help you! And listen, we know it might be a tad awkward 🙈, but no one is judging you! There’s no shame in pleasuring yourself! Think about it, if they felt judgmental about sex toys, they wouldn’t be working in that shop!
Don’t Limit Yourself
The world is big, and your options are endless from a vibrator to a didlo to cock rings. The sky is truly the limit, and you’ll quickly learn that the second you walk in the store. Explore your options and your body! ☺️
Size Matters
Bigger doesn’t always mean better. Consider what works for you and your pleasure parts. Also, your toy doesn’t have to look like a dick. If you like dick shape sex toys, please go for it – we encourage you! But also make sure to explore the design-centric sex toys, too – both big and small. You actually might find way more comfort and pleasure using these types, too!
Choose Your Desired Stimulation
For anal play, you’ll need one with a flared base. If you’d like to start smaller, try a set of anal beads. Curved toys are ideal for G-spot or prostate stimulation. And of course, there are endless dildos that can be used! 🍆
Lube is Your Friend
Y’all know our motto here at Positive Peers: 💦the wetter, the better.💦 Lube comes in a wide variety from water-based to oil-based to silicone-based to bubble gum-flavored. 👉🏿 The most important thing to remember is that oil-based lubes should never be used with latex condoms, and that you should be careful using silicone-based lube with certain toys, as the toy may experience some wear and tear, making it more difficult to keep clean. 👈🏿
Be Sure to Clean It
I can’t stress this one enough but keeping your toy clean is extremely important! Clean your toys after each use. And if you’re sharing with a partner, clean between each exchange. Each sex toy has their own cleaning protocol; if you don’t know how to take proper care of your toy you can run the risk of infections. You can also buy specific cleaning sprays. Always ask or check the cleaning protocol on the package (maybe even take a pic of it before you throw away the package so you can go back and reference!)! It can be as simple as soap and water, depending on if your toys uses batteries.
It can turn out bad if you don’t clean your toys. I’m talking about bacteria build up on your toy or a STD in your privates. 😖😳🤯 Yep, you read that right. Simply avoid these headaches by properly cleaning EACH and EVERY time you enjoy your toys.
Here are a few of our toy recommendations:
Silicone Booty Beads: soft smooth and tapered Silicone beaded probe. It’s perfectly sized and has an easy retrieval ring.
Classic Butt Plug is firm and flexible. Specifically designed for anal play and comes in small, medium and large sizes for your pleasure! Using a series of butt plugs that gradually increase in size can be a great way to prepare yourself to take a big D!
Good Clean Love Almost Naked Organic Personal Lubricant is made with aloe vera and infused with a touch of lemon and vanilla. It is long-lasting and 100% vegan and gluten-free. It works very well for toys.
The Prostimulator is designed for intense prostate stimulation which may heighten the climax. Its probe is shaped and curved to massage the prostate. Probe measures 5 inches in length the perfect length for a good time.
Intrigued? We sure hope so! Keep exploring yourself and most of all, have fun while doing it! Your first vibrator not only should give you an earth-shattering experience, but it should be something you’re proud to own! 😍 😜