Sex Toy Guide: Anal Dildos

A lot of people enjoy the pleasures of anal stimulation. For many, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, the sensitive nerves surrounding the anus are a source of erotic stimulation and sexual pleasure. Most anal play begins with a finger or a tongue, and for some that stimulation is all they'll ever need or want. For others, however, anal stimulation is so intensely pleasurable and enough of a part of their sexual routine that taking it to a higher level is a logical next step. For those people there is good news. There are many sex toys designed to stimulate the anus. On one hand you have anal vibrators that allow you to apply vibrations to the anus, while on the other hand you have anal dildos, also known as anal plugs, which are simple objects designed to be safely inserted into the anus. The direction you go, if any direction at all, is strictly a matter of personal preference. You don't have to be particularly experienced with adult toys to find anal vibrators or dildos pleasurable. All you need is a willingness to experiment, a certain level of curiosity and a basic enjoyment of anal stimulation.

Size Matters

Size is an important consideration during any adult toy selection process. There is no other category, however, where size matters more than it does with anal toys. By nature, the anus is a tight sphincter with a tolerance for opening that varies between individuals. This may be due in part to biology, and in part psychology. A person who enjoys anal stimulation will be much more receptive to having an object inserted into their anus than someone who does not enjoy anal stimulation. Those with a physically smaller opening and a natural desire for anal play may be able to tolerate a much larger toy than someone with a larger opening who does not want to use anal toys. Whatever the case, it's important to find the right size anal dildo for you.

Most beginners find that a finger is just about the right size for them, based on their own sexual experience. If this is true for you, an item like the Anal Exciter might be a good choice. It has a soft yet somewhat firm outer skin with an even softer inner core that adds additional comfort - something that beginners usually find very important. It's a relatively small plug and it can contract slightly to fit easier into small spaces. Another item that comes to mind for beginners or for those who prefer a smaller dildo is the Silicone T. It's slightly less cushy and flexible than the Anal Exciter, but it's still considered soft and is small enough that those who prefer a small anal dildo find it enjoyable. Each of these dildos vary slightly from each other, but for those who consider size the most important factor they are just about the same.

If you have some anal toy experience under your belt or you think a small plug might be too small, you may want to consider a medium size dildo. Medium anal toys can still be comfortably handled and enjoyed by virtually everyone, but they offer a bit of a different experience from their smaller counterparts. The larger size provides a more full feeling during use, which can be a sensually rewarding feeling in and of itself, and many people will need to warm up a bit to fit these toys in. This may mean a little initial finger penetration to relax the anal sphincter and get it ready to accept the larger object. The Blaze Anal Plug is a medium dildo that both beginners and advanced users enjoy. It has a long, slender shaft that's decorated with a couple ridges that are very similar to anal beads, which provide stimulation as they are inserted and withdrawn. Another example of a medium size dildo is the Pretty Ends Medium Plug. It has a soft inner core that, as mentioned before, adds comfort during use. There are a variety of materials available that vary the look, feel and softness of a particular dildo. After you've decided on a size we recommend that you read the descriptions for each toy and decide from there which material best suits your needs.

Material Consideration

When it comes to anal dildos, the second most important consideration after size is usually the material it's made of. The look, feel and performance of an identical dildo made of different materials is substantial. Adult toys made of jelly are typically soft to the touch and have a fair amount of give to them, which increases comfort and ease of use. On the other hand, sex toys made of plastic usually have very little give. Plastic transfers vibrations very well and may be the best choice for a vibrator, but unless you want that hardness it may not be your choice for an anal dildo. There are other material choices that range from soft materials like silicone and jelly to hard materials like glass and steel. Your choice should take the look and feel, cleaning requirements and lubrication requirements into consideration. For more in-depth information you may want to read our article about sex toy materials, which breaks down the different options and describes all the sex toy materials in detail.

Lubrication

Any discussion of anal sex toys wouldn't be complete without touching on the topic of lubrication. It's always a good idea to use lubrication with anal toys, and more often than not it's a necessity. Sometimes you can get by with a little bit of saliva as lubrication, particularly with a small size dildo, but it can never hurt to have a bottle of sexual lubrication handy just in case. Products like Astroglide and I-D Glide are designed for sexual use and they're also water-based, which means they're safe for use with all sex toy materials. If you plan on using your anal dildo in the hot tub, bath tub or pool, you might want to look into a silicone-based waterproof lube like I-D Millennium or one of the other waterproof products. It's not always necessary to use a waterproof lube with anal dildos because they aren't usually used as thrusting devices like vibrators are, but if you plan on using an anal dildo in this way it's advisable to find a lube that will not degrade under water. Keep in mind that some lubes can not be used with some materials. Silicone lubrication, for example, will disintegrate toys made of silicone. A good rule of thumb is that water-based lubrications are safe for all adult toys, and if you have any doubt about a different type of lube we recommend reading our sex toy materials guide.

Another type of lubrication commonly used with anal dildos contains a desensitizing agent that slightly numbs the anus, making insertion easier. One such product is called Anal-Eze. We tend to recommend using anal dildos without Anal-Eze because the numbing sensation it provides also slightly decreases the enjoyment of the toy, but it can be used if necessary and it works very well.

Anal Toy Safety

We want to mention that while anal play is usually safe and fun, it can also be dangerous. All dildos specifically designed for anal use are flared at the base, which is necessary to prevent them from becoming stuck inside the anal cavity. The situation sounds funny, until it happens to you! The anal sphincter contracts powerfully during orgasm, which tends to either draw an inserted object in or push it out depending on the shape of the shaft. Once it's in it can be difficult to get out. Don't let that happen to you - always use items that are flared at the base for anal play.

Other sex toy guides that may interest you:

Anal Vibrator Guide
Bullet Vibrator Guide
Clitoral Vibrator Guide
Combination Vibrator Guide
G Spot Vibrator Guide
Traditional Vibrator Guide
Waterproof Vibrator Guide