Believe it or not but sex toys have been a mainstream thing for a few centuries now. Even before that, our ancestors found a way to enhance their sex lives with the help of different types of sex toys many millennials ago. Yes, we are talking about the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians who used dildos made out of wood, leather, gold, silver, and even glass.
Fast forward to today, sex toys come in different materials that suit the body in every aspect. These materials often include silicone, metal, glass, lucite, and ABS plastic. While these are considered to be body-safe materials, it’s important to note that each material has its own pros and cons when it comes to health.
If you’re not sure about what material is the most suited for you and your health, stick to find out more. In this article, we are diving into the types of sex toy materials out there and their health effects on users. This info will aid you in purchasing the best non-toxic toy for your body.
What are body-safe sex toys?
Like we said earlier, not all sex toys are safe for your body. Body-safe sex toys are specifically made from materials that do not or do little to no harm to your body. The manufacturers focus on choosing materials that do not contain common allergens or harsh chemicals. So, if you keep your body-safe sex toys clean and dandy, they are most likely to cause you no harm whatsoever.
What are porous sex toys?
All body-safe sex toys are non-porous. Non-porous surfaces are smooth and will not soak up body fluids that will lead to infections later. On the other hand, a porous surface is rough, including edges and holes that will soak up fluids. This makes you highly prone to infections.
Types of materials and their health effect
Now that you know what body-safe sex toys are, let’s look into what they are usually made of.
Silicon
There are two types of silicon they use when making your favorite sex toy. These are medical-grade silicon and body-safe silicon. The sex toy industry commonly uses both these items when manufacturing sex toys.
Medical-grade silicon – As the name suggests, medical-grade silicon is as safe as instruments that medical professionals use in hospitals. This is a tad bit pricey, but it’s the best out there, so no wonder!
Body-safe silicon – Body-safe silicon is great for your skin and ideal for sex toys made for internal/external use.
Both types of these silicons are suitable for use, given that they do not contain allergens. They are also non-porous, meaning that you can clean them pretty easily.
Stainless steel
You are probably using stainless steel in your day-to-day life. This material is body-safe, non-porous, and long-lasting. You can clean these easily as well, either by washing them with soap or putting it in boiling water.
These are also affordable, so if you are investing in your first sex toy, you can go for metal. However, most metal toys include nickel, which is a common allergen, so make sure to look for nickel-free toys in the market.
Borosilicate glass
Toys made out of glass sound like a big no-no. But worry not; borosilicate will not smash while you are at the business down there. These glasses are not only non-porous but non-toxic as well. These also do not change shape in high temperatures, making them ideal for sex toys. They are easy to clean, and you can sanitize them using boiling water.
Lucite
These look like pretty glass toys, but they are not exactly glass. These are a type of plastic, and the bright side of it is that they are non-porous, non-toxic, and insanely durable. These toys are ideal for kegel exercises since the firm texture of lucite is ideal for it. Lucite is also pretty easy to clean; you just have to wash it with soap after using it.
ABS plastic
Short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS plastic is a non-porous and body-safe thermoplastic. The texture is hard, so it’s often used in vibrators. ABS plastic is also easy to keep clean with regular washing.
What to avoid when shopping for a sex toy?
Now that you are aware of what is safe for you, it is time to look into what isn’t quite good for your health. It is important to remember that not all sex toys are safe and are made from body-safe materials. Keeping that in mind, avoid sex toys with the following materials.
Rubber
Many low-end manufacturers make sex toys out of rubber. While it is flexible to use, rubber is not body-safe since it can cause allergic reactions. It is also porous, meaning you are prone to getting infections with each use. If you are investing in a rubber product, make sure to put a condom in for further protection.
Jelly
As good as it sounds, jelly in sex toys is just a no-go since jellies contain phthalates. When absorbed into the body, phthalates can cause blockage of male and female hormones. These can also cross the placenta, so if you are pregnant, be extra careful with your choice of sex toy.
PVC
This type of plastic is cheap but contains phthalates, meaning it’s harmful to your body. Low-end manufacturers use PVC since it is affordable.
Bottomline
There are plenty of sex toys in the market; however, these manufacturers do not guarantee your safety. So being knowledgeable about body-safe materials will help you if you want to purchase a sex toy. It’s always important to remember that your safety is more critical when it comes to sex toys.
