Last Updated on June 4, 2020 by Nancy Carteron, MD, FACR
This guest post was written by Jessica Winter, one of the founders of Sex Toy Education, a website dedicated to providing professional information about adults toys for all people.
Humans are one of the few species on the planet who happily engage in sex for the sheer pleasure of it. While it may seem like luck was on our side when we drew the 24/7 mating season straw, the freedom that comes with having sex whenever we feel like it is accompanied by an annoying little caveat: the dreaded risk of infection.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs) have been plaguing mankind since times of antiquity, but what was once viewed as divine punishment for a life too well-lived is now understood to simply be viral, parasitic, or bacterial in nature.
While there’s nothing dirty or shameful about catching an unwanted infection, it’s obviously best to avoid getting them in the first place.
Safer Sex Doesn’t Have to be Boring
We all know that we’re supposed to play it safe anytime we hop into bed with a new, or even familiar, partner. But, while condoms are great at stopping unwanted pregnancies, they’re not 100% foolproof against the spread of every STD that’s out there.
When used consistently and correctly, latex condoms can and do provide an effective barrier against diseases like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV, which are transmitted through bodily fluids.
However, condoms are no match for skin-to-skin transmission of infections such as genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV). If you’re the touchy-feely type that loves skin-to-skin contact, a condom won’t necessarily stop those buggers from literally rubbing off onto you.
The most obvious way to protect yourself against STIs and STDs is total abstinence. But, let’s get real! If you’re reading this, you probably have a healthy libido and the no-sex option is not actually an option at all.
So, what’s a sexually-charged person supposed to do?
Two words: SEX TOYS!
It’s one of the best ways to get intimate with another human, while also avoiding the risks associated with close physical contact.
Adult Toys Have Gone Mainstream
When Oprah Winfrey endorses the Rabbit vibrator as the “Rolls Royce of sex toys,” then you know adult toys have gone mainstream.
Vibrators are now a $1 billion-dollar industry, and that’s just in the United States alone! There’s no doubt that countless people all around the world are hopping on board this buzzy feel-good bandwagon.
It’s taken a long time for adult toys to finally get a chance to come out of the closet and play. Yet, you might be surprised to learn that our ancestors have been getting help in the bedroom for centuries! Aristocrats from the Han dynasty in China got their rocks off with jade butt plugs. And, according to The Joy of Sexus: Lust, Love & Longing in the Ancient World, author Vicki Leon, ancient Greeks got frisky by baking up some doughy delights with bread dildos.
Thankfully, modern-day sex toys are a little bit less yeasty, but there’s still one very important fact to keep in mind: STDs don’t discriminate. They can infect your sex toys, too.
Even Toys Can Practice Safer Sex
Sex toys are synonymous with good times, and they’re certainly fun to “dick around with.” However, when it comes to sexual health, it doesn’t matter if you identify with heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, or anything and everything in between. STDs love human flesh, but they also adore plastic and silicone.
Yes, we now live in a day and age where it’s important to know the sexual history of both your partner and their toys before you invite them into your bed!
To Share or Not to Share
Sharing sex toys can be risky, but it happens. If you absolutely must, clean them thoroughly and use a condom with them where appropriate.
According to the NHS, sex toys can pass on:
- Chlamydia
- Syphilis
- Herpes
- Bacterial Vaginosis
Sex toys that pierce, scratch, or otherwise draw blood from the skin should definitely NOT be shared under any circumstance. They can spread:
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV
Cleaning Sex Toys
Toys that are inserted into the body and come into contact with bodily fluids are more likely to spread infections. That’s why cleaning them is just as important as playing with them!
How you clean your sex toys can depend on what type of material the toy is made of, and whether or not it has batteries or other parts that can’t be washed.
It’s best to refer to the instruction manual that came with the sex toy for care and storage instructions. Although warm, soapy water works on a lot of different materials, it may not be a safe option for your particular toy.
Be sure to wash the toy:
- After each use
- Before sharing them with partners
- When switching between different body parts (mouth, anus, vagina)
Don’t forget to regularly check for dings and scratches on the surface of your sex toy, as these can be breeding grounds for all the infections you’re trying to avoid.
Many popular sex bloggers and informational websites like Sex Toy Education have detailed articles about cleaning your toys if you need more information.
A Test for Sex Toy STDs?
In general, it’s not really necessary to get tested for STDs if you found yourself at the pleasurable end of a sex toy encounter. Otherwise, the STD testing industry would be just as booming as the vibrating one!
However, it’s always a good idea to test yourself after any new partnered sexual encounter, or before a new one.
Now that you know everything there is to know about how to play it safer with sex toys, it’s time to enjoy the ride!
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This guest post was written by Jessica Winter, one of the founders of Sex Toy Education, a website dedicated to providing professional information about adults toys for all people.
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Did this help you make a decision about playing with a new sex toy? Do you still have questions about the risks involved in using sex toys, or would you like to share how your experience was similar/different? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
