Anal Toys: 101

Easy Wins The Race...

We’ve dealt with anal sex in a different article, but this one is specifically about using anal toys to pleasure yourself, or your partner. Anal play is something that few people are ever brave enough to try, but something that is enjoyed by almost all who do try it. This explains the massive variety of anal toys available on the market – at least half of which are marketed at straight women or heterosexual couples.

While anal sex remains a massive taboo, attitudes towards men using anal toys have relaxed significantly, and many straight men will admit to using anal toys on themselves while masturbating or with their partners. Anal sex itself can become an exciting and highly erotic addition to anyone’s sex life, when done carefully, respectfully and correctly. If you already own a regular vibrator, an anal toy should be next on your shopping list.

We’ll start with some basic tips about using anal toys, and then have a look at some of the more popular toys out there.

Anal Toy Preparation

Before you start putting anything you can find up there you should make sure that you have a toy that is suitable for anal, and that you have the right lubricant. A water-based lubricant is best, and a thick one works well for anal. Anal toys are usually smooth, or only with very large features like balls or big ridges.  Most importantly, they usually have a flared base to prevent it from being pulled into the anus accidentally.

Be very careful not to use a vaginal dildo with a lot of contours, as this will be too big for a beginner, and may cause internal tearing and scratches.  Always use a condom with anal toys – it’s just safer and saves washing up.

Before inserting anything, it’s entirely necessary to get yourself thoroughly aroused and relaxed.  Anal penetration will be most enjoyable if you begin it halfway through normal masturbation, rather than right from the outset. Begin by using lots of lubricant and massaging the outside of the anus, before gently slipping a finger in and rubbing the soft skin inside.

Be careful not to pull on the internal skin. A good guide as to where to touch yourself is: if you are lying on your back, picture your anus as a clock face.  At the hand positions of 10 and 2 are two bundles of highly sensitive nerves, which can produce very enjoyable sensations and relax your anal muscles.

Once you’re nice and relaxed, and you can insert a finger up to the second digit without any discomfort, you’re ready to start using a small toy.

Douches/Enemas

Some people prefer the peace of mind of knowing that everything is clean up there before starting any anal play – especially with a partner. For this, an anal douche or an enema kit is great.

An anal douche is simply a short tube with a rubber bladder on the end.  You fill the bladder with water, insert it into your anus and squeeze the water out so that it cleans inside your anus.

An enema is a slightly more complex procedure that involves a douche bag (bag filled with water) which has a long tube coming out of it.  You insert the tube into your anus, and then lift the bag above your anus, causing the water to flow from the bag through the tube.

While the health benefits claimed of colonic irrigation are dubious, the sanitation benefits are undeniable.

Choose Your Weapon

Anal toys come in a massive variety of different shapes, sizes and purposes.  It’s important to decide on what you want to achieve, and it also matters whether you are male or female.  Some options are:

1.    Prostate massagers (men only) – while women can enjoy these, they’re usually for men who want to massage their prostate while they masturbate.  They are around 5-6 inches long, and usually have a ball at the end or a tip curved at about 45 degrees

2.    Butt plugs – often the best for a beginner, and usually available in sets of three (called anal trainer kits).  These have wide flared bases to stop them from going in, and can be very pleasurable to wear during sex.

3.    Anal vibes – very different to g-spot or clitoral vibrators in that they are usually shorter and stouter, and they use much more powerful vibrations.  Only very good quality anal vibes are worth the trouble – look for ones made of metal, with large rotating ball bearings inside.  It sounds scary, but don’t knock it till you try it.

4.    Anal beads – these are a series of balls or beads on a string.  They are sometimes all the same size, and sometimes start small and end big.  They take a bit of getting used to, but the pleasure comes from when they “pop” in and out

5.    Regular anal dildos – not as exciting as all of the above, but still highly satisfying, especially when used for double penetration

Using Anal Toys

If you really want to explore anal pleasure, it’s good to have a variety of anal toys at your disposal. This is because the toy you start with will quickly become to0 small if it’s a slim butt plug or vibrator. Anal training kits are best for this – ones that include two or three butt plugs of different sizes, and a larger anal vibrator or dildo.

Use slower motions, concentrating on the sensation at the opening of the anus (the inside has few nerves).  Combine clitoral stimulation by using a small vibrator, such as a bullet or egg, on your clitoris and labia. This will provide the extra stimulation you need to keep yourself aroused and bringing yourself to orgasm.

Double Penetration

Penetrating your vagina and anus at the same time is highly recommended, but with the caveat that you use extreme caution – especially if a partner is doing the penetrating. Never switch a toy from anus to vagina, as this can cause infections. Even in the porn industry, double penetration is considered “high risk” behavior – but that is when performed for porn movie.

In the bedroom, double penetration can be extremely satisfying, and produce some of the best orgasms you are able to achieve.  If you can manage to stimulate your anus, g-spot and clitoris simultaneously (for example, by using a butt-plug and a rabbit vibrator together) you can bring yourself to orgasm in record time.