How To Use A Butt Plug

Butt plugs are a popular sex toy for anal stimulation. They were initially used in the early 1800s as rectal dilators (anal dilators) to ease constipation and other medical issues, including psychological ones.

In the medical field today, rectal dilators are occasionally recommended to treat fissures, tight rectums, anal muscle spasms, and hemorrhoids. Butt plugs do this by stretching the anus and anal canal to relieve pressure. Some rectal dilators (butt plugs) can be inserted into the rectum to help soothe hemorrhoids when placed in the refrigerator to cool them.

But plugs are shorter than other anal toys as seen below as they are designed to stimulate only the anus and anal canal and stay inserted without moving them. See our full Anal Toys Guide beyond butt plugs.

The Popularity Of Butt Plugs

When the books and movies Fifty Shades of Grey, written by E.L. James, came out, many people began purchasing the sex toys mentioned in them. This included butt plugs, specifically when the main characters Christian and Ana, use one on her and then proceed to have vaginal sex where she has multiple orgasms.

Sex toy parties and the increase in sexually explicit sites discussing anal toys have also increased their popularity and sales.

Are Butt Plugs Healthy?

There are healthy butt plugs, and many are not due to poor design and toxins in their materials. In fact, there are many sex toy retailers and sexperts that promote butt plugs that are potentially harmful to consumers. That is why we focus not only on empowering sexual health education but also on ensuring that the sex toys we sell are body-safe and carefully selected to provide the healthiest options.

Non-Vibrating & Vibrating Butt Plugs

Most butt plugs come in both vibrating and non-vibrating versions. If you want to learn specifically about choosing a vibrating butt plug, make sure to see our How To Choose A Vibrator article to help you explore essential factors when considering butt plugs that vibrate.

Why Butt Plugs Feel Good

• Butt plugs can stimulate the rich amount of nerve endings around the anus (opening) and the internal anal canal by stretching and putting pressure on them, thereby increasing sexual pleasure.
  
  
• Butt plugs can create pleasurable sensations on the prostate in men and the back vaginal wall (A-spot) in women.
  
  
• Butt plugs can be used while a woman is also penetrated vaginally with a penis, dildo, or fingers, thus providing simultaneous double penetration vaginally and anally for intensified sexual pleasure.
  
  
• Butt plugs can also be used for women who desire simultaneous clitoral stimulation through oral sex, finger stimulation, or a vibrator.
  
  
• Butt plugs can be used for men who desire to have simultaneous penis stimulation through anal sex, oral sex, handjobs, or sex toys such as masturbation sleeves or a male vibrator.

Butt Plug Safety

Butt plugs are sold as adult novelties, which means that the FDA does not regulate them for health. This means that there are toxins in some of the butt plugs sold to consumers. Toxins can leech into your body, especially the rectum, as it is a mucus membrane and cause health issues.

Because we value your health, we only carry phthalate-free, body safe sex toys. This includes all of our body safe butt plugs. We have done all the research for you in finding the healthiest, best quality sex toys available so that you can shop for butt plugs and other sexual products with peace of mind.

We have the highest health standards in the sex toy industry, so that means that any anal toy that we carry meets the following criteria to be considered anal safe:

• All of our anal toys, including butt plugs, have a flared base. This ensures that you can always safely remove it and keep it from becoming irretrievable. The rectum creates suction when an anal toy is placed inside it, which is why the anal toy's flared base is essential to keep it from traveling up too far.
  
  
• All of our butt plugs and anal toys are made from nonporous materials (silicone, metal, glass, etc.), which allows for healthy disinfecting and cleaning.
  
  
• All of our sex toys, including anal toys and specifically butt plugs, are body safe and phthalate-free. We ensure this as it is essential to keep harmful toxins from entering the bloodstream through inserting sex toys into your body.
  
  
• Our butt plugs and all of our anal toys are of a reasonable size. We avoid carrying huge anal sex toys that may damage the rectum and vagina's fragile tissue.
  
  
• Our butt plugs and all of our anal toys have a body safe shape.

Emergency Room physicians and nurses all have stories about people putting things up their behind that they should not. That is why choosing an anal toy designed to keep the bottom of it on the outside of the anus, is imperative. One of our physicians that we work with provided this real CAT scan below of a non-anal safe sex toy stuck in the rectum. This patient required an operation to retrieve the sex toy, so you should only buy anal-safe sex toys when you plan to use them for anal penetration.

Why Water-based Lubricant Is Popular

There is not enough natural lubricant in the anus and rectum for safe anal penetration, so it's essential to use an anal lubricant. We caution users about using oil-based lubricants as they may be more able to trap harmful bacteria in the rectum. That being said, the evidence is not entirely conclusive, so just keep that in mind when determining the lubricant you wish to use.

You may also consider skipping silicone lubricants if you have concerns about autoimmune and rheumatic responses (i.e., silicone-reactive disorder) much in the same way silicone breast implants are linked to such medical issues.

Why Oil Lubes Got A Bad Reputation

One reason that oil lubricants have gotten a bad rap is because a study by the National Institutes of Health peeked into the world of men who love men (MSM) and their choice of personal lubes. Here's the scoop: those gents who were all about silicone or oil-based lubricants tended to be a bit more relaxed about using condoms during backdoor play.

What's more, there was a noticeable uptick in gonorrhea cases among this group. But hold on, it's not all about the lube! The real talk here is about safe sex practices. So, remember, it's not just what you use but how you use it that counts in keeping things healthy in the bedroom.

In another study, it was found that many types of lubricants used with sex toys may harm the cells and tissues in the rectum. This is why choosing body-safe materials and the healthiest lubricants designed for anal sex are so important.

Coconut Oil For Anal Play

Coconut oil is usually a safe choice for slathering on your skin. But remember, everyone's different. It can be great for reducing friction and making things more comfortable.

But, here's a heads-up: if you're using latex condoms, oil-based lubes like coconut oil are not compatible. They can weaken the latex, which means less protection. Don't worry, though! Condoms made from polyurethane or polyisoprene are safe to use with oil-based lubricants.

As with any product, some individuals might have allergies or sensitivities to coconut oil. To learn more about the nitty gritty on coconut oil, such as what type to use, please see our guide: Types Of Personal Lubricants.

How To Insert Lubricant

To easily insert lubricant, you may wish to use a lube shooter, which is a lubricant injector (lubricant applicator). It is a syringe-type insertion tool that inserts lubricant inside the rectum or vagina, and it helps keep lubricant off hands and sheets.

Desensitizing lubricants may cause you not to recognize pain signals from your body. Listening to your body's discomfort is essential to good health, and by using a numbing lubricant to dull pain may keep you from knowing that you are causing damage to sensitive tissue.

How To Use A Butt Plug

When inserting a butt plug, you will want to use care. It is helpful to use a 45-degree angle with plenty of lubricant while slowly rocking it back and forth until you can get it in. This can take patience and practice, and keep in mind many people find inserting anal toys challenging at first.

Once the butt plug is in place, it will stay inserted as the sphincter muscle will naturally hold it. Butt plugs are not intended to be thrust in and out; rather, they remain in until you wish to remove it.

Butt plugs create a sense of fullness rather than a moving motion, although getting a vibrating butt plug will add to that stimulation. They can be used by themselves or in conjunction with other sex toys. They can also be used as a preparation tool for anal sex and thrusting.

Butt Plugs & The Importance Of Relaxing

Using a butt plug should always provide pleasure, not pain, so if you are experiencing pain, you should remove it to avoid causing health issues. Take your time, use mild stimulation, appropriately sized butt plugs, and learn how to insert them easily.

Relaxing when inserting a butt plug or any anal toy is essential as straining and tensing can make it nearly impossible to insert an anal toy, let alone enjoy it. Furthermore, it can cause tissue damage is forced, so always take your time and be patient until you get the hang of it.

The anal canal is part of the sphincter, a muscle controlled by your central nervous system. This means that it is involuntary, and you cannot mentally control it. Tensing during the insertion of a butt plug before you are ready can result in inadvertently injuring yourself. Being relaxed psychologically is vital, so calming your mind to soothe your central nervous system will allow your involuntary muscles like your anus and anal canal to relax.

How To Insert A Butt Plug

• Before you use a butt plug, you may want to clean yourself out first, meaning you may wish to defecate or use an enema or anal douche to remove any potential feces. Cleanse the anal area to reduce contact with fecal matter and bacteria in a shower or with disposable wipes is also a good idea.
  
  
• Advantageous positions for inserting a butt plug are to relax while bending over or lying down with your knees toward your chest to open up the anus. Sexual stimulation to your genitals can also help you relax and prepare you for inserting the butt plug.
  
  
• Position your butt plug downward at a 45-degree angle with ample lubricant while rocking it back and forth until it slides in. Do not insert it too rapidly or forcefully to avoid anal or rectal damage. Always start with butt plugs that are smaller in size as you begin, and exercise patience.
  
  
• Using a generous amount of water-based anal lubricant to lubricate your butt plug is recommended to ensure easy insertion.
  
  
• If you are alone and find that washing your hands after insertion is not practical, you may wish to have an antibacterial wipe available to clean your hands off, or you may want to opt to wear a rubber/nitrile glove that you can remove. This will help avoid transferring bacteria by touching things after your butt plug has been inserted.
  
  
• Do not put a butt plug that has been inserted anally into the vagina unless the butt plug has been thoroughly disinfected. You can go from vagina to anus but not vice versa unless disinfecting your butt plug in-between.
  
  
• It is not recommended to keep a butt plug inserted for longer than two to three hours. Do not prevent a bowel movement using one should you need to. Consult with your physician for specific health insertion times if you have concerns.
  
  
• We highly recommend using a waterproof throw if you are using a butt plug on a bed or couch to avoid fecal bacteria transferring to fabrics.

How To Choose The Right Size Butt Plug

One of the most critical aspects of finding the right butt plug is determining the best size for you. That is why we provide an extensive guide on How To Measure A Dildo & Sex Toys, which is a must-read when determining the right size for any insertable sex toy.

How To Clean Butt Plugs

An anal toy's material, including butt plugs, must be nonporous to be appropriately disinfected as it can carry harmful bacteria from fecal matter and transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, from the body fluids of one person to another. You can put condoms over butt plugs or any sex toy to protect them and make cleanup easier. Clean butt plugs using a sex toy cleaner to disinfect. What you use to disinfect and clean your butt plug or any sex toy depends on the material from which it is made.

Please see our How To Clean Sex Toys Guide for specific sex toy cleaning information to prevent damage to your sex toy and how to disinfect it properly.

Butt Plugs Can Be Healthy & Pleasurable

If you have any health concerns, we always recommend discussing them with your doctor. Because understand that doing so may feel uncomfortable, we have put together a helpful guide on How To Talk To Your Doctor About Sex.

Butt plugs and other anal toys can be sexually pleasing and safe to use when you are educated about using them. Always make sure to take it slow, be patient, and listen to your body when using anal toys. Make sure to contact us with any questions or concerns about anal toys and enjoy!

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