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Oftentimes when we think of safer sex, we think only of latex or polyurethane barriers and disease history. Those are the biggest and most important components but there are other aspects to consider.
Recently, I have had quite a few people come up and ask me about adult toys. I could talk about which toy is better but would rather talk about toy safety.
Knowing your materials is a great start in this aspect of safety. Some materials trap bacteria, increasing chances of infection. Other materials result in a seam which could cause some cutting during use and be unpleasant. Other materials are very harsh on the body. These are all important things to keep in consideration when shopping for such a product.
Hard plastic is one material toys are made of. This material is going to be relatively safe as far as bacteria trapping. However, there are two downsides to this material. One is that it is hard and can be too harsh on the body. Keep in mind that certain areas of the body are delicate and should be treated as such. Another downside is that quite often there is a bit of a seam with toys made out of this material. It is not a seam that protrudes from the toy but can be just enough to cause some discomfort depending on how you use the product.
Then there is a host of materials that are rubber like. Sometimes these materials are hybrids (combining two different types of materials). Other times they are a jelly or cyberskin. Out of all materials a toy can be made out of, these are my least favorite. They are the most porous materials, making it very easy for bacteria to get trapped inside of them. Also, some of them get dirty very quickly and you will never be able to get them clean. Another problem with these materials is they can break. Due to how porous they are, some of them can rip quite easily and then the toy is ruined.
One of my favorite materials is silicon. When a toy is made from medical grade silicon it is non-porous so the trapping of bacteria is eliminated. It is one of the easiest materials to sterilize (you can put it in the top rack of a dishwasher) and it is hypo-allergenic. It is also very soft so it is not abrasive to the body. Basically, it can be used by everyone, easily sterilized, and has very little risk of bacteria transmission.
Another type of material that people often have a lot of reservations about is glass. Many people are scared of this because of the fear of the glass breaking during use. These toys are made out of Pyrex and cannot be broken during normal use (I have broken two of them, but that was through repeatedly throwing them against brick walls, which is not normal use). Glass is incredibly easy to sterilize (it can go into an autoclave). Glass also has some wonderful benefits, especially for women who have gone through chemotherapy.
While knowing the basic materials of toys is important, it is also important to think about the other aspects of them. Cleaning the toy is incredibly important. Depending on the toy, a specialized cleaner should be used (appropriately called Toy Cleaner). For other materials, as stated above, the toy might be able to go into the dishwasher or even used with a 10 percent bleach solution. Toys should be cleaned after each and every use. It is even more important to clean toys (perhaps even more thoroughly if the toy is shared). Also, if the toy is going to be shared, it is a great idea to put a condom on it. Not only does this help keep the toy a little bit cleaner but it also greatly reduces the chance of disease transmission.
If nothing else, do not be afraid to ask the clerk at the adult store about the toys. You will never know unless you ask. It is important to get a good product while also keeping yourself protected,
Have fun, be safe and happy playing.
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Chris Bidiman is a junior studying School and Community Health and a Safer Sex Outreach speaker.
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