How To Use Anal Sex Toys

Regardless of your gender or sexual orientation, everyone has an anus which is filled with sensitive nerve endings that can make you feel amazing when stimulated.

Anal play is great and most people like it. It also should never hurt and, with proper preparation and slow progression, it can be a whole new (and possibly more intense) way to climax.

Read on to discover our top tips for exploring your dark side in the most enjoyable way possible.

Healthy

With your daily anal work being what it is, it doesn't take a genius to understand why anal exploration takes a little extra preparation to make sure you're clean. Being clean isn't just for hygiene reasons or common courtesy to your partner. Knowing that you are spotless under your feet helps you (as the receiver) to relax and enjoy the experience more.

For most people, being clean is as simple as making sure you've been to the bathroom that day (so there's no feces waiting to be emptied) and giving yourself a good wash in the shower or bath before using your toy. If you want to take extra precautions, you can also use an anal wash to rinse your anus about 45 minutes before playing.

Use lubricant

Unlike the vagina, the anus does NOT lubricate itself. This means that you MUST use lubricant when exploring any type of anal penetration.  We recommend that you use anal lubricant in every instance of anal penetration.

A water-based lube is not only compatible with all sex toys and condoms, but a special anal-specific formula is thicker and longer lasting than regular lube for greater comfort and enjoyment.

Preheat

Warming up for anal play means starting with small, shallow penetration before moving on to something longer and deeper if you choose.

When you're ready for penetration, use a finger with enough lube to explore slowly and gently. This helps relax your anal muscles and prepares them for penetration, in case you decide to go for something bigger. Many people like to use a small, tapered anal toy at this stage. A beginner's plug is perfect.

Playing around

Playing with an anal toy can be extremely enjoyable in itself, and using one doesn't necessarily mean that anal sex will follow. Explore the full range of anal toys available to you, including stoppers, anal beads, prostate massagers and anal vibrators, to really discover what you like.

If you find it difficult to insert a toy to its full depth (and you'd like to), a top tip is to add more lube and lightly (yes, like you're on the toilet) press the base of your toy. Just remember that the best beginner toys have a tapered tip and thin girth, and ALL anal toys should have an inflated base to prevent excessive insertion.

After the toy

If you've climaxed while wearing an anal toy (especially a butt plug), the muscles in that area will have just contracted; this means you should wait a minute or two for the muscles to relax again before removing your toy. You may find that adding a drop of lubricant helps your toy come off more easily.

If you have prepared yourself properly and have gone to the toilet before the toy, then it is highly unlikely that you will experience a mess. However, if you do happen to find something "new" in your toy, don't fret about it. Faeces is an occupational hazard of anal play and this is just a fact. Clean yourself and your toy thoroughly and move on.