Your Ultimate Guide to Butt Plug Play

There are many types of butt plugs available, including:

Everything to know about butt plugs

A butt plug is a sex toy that a person inserts into the anus. People use them to provide sexual pleasure. Butt plugs are available in various shapes and sizes.

Read on to learn more about butt plugs, including their uses, safety, potential risks, and how to care for them.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.

A butt plug is a sex toy that people use for anal penetration and stimulation. Unlike dildos, butt plugs should stay in place after insertion. This can stimulate nerve receptors inside the rectum.

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Butt plugs are generally tapered or teardrop shaped. They should also have a flared base, usually with a stopper, to prevent people losing them inside the rectum.

Butt plugs come in many varieties, including vibrating or remote-controlled models.

There are a number of reasons someone may want to use a butt plug, including:

Preparing for anal sex

Butt plugs can help a person prepare for anal sex by allowing them to become used to the sensation of having an object inside their anus. Additionally, they can help stretch the anus to allow for easier penetration.

Without preparation, anal sex can be painful. It can also cause tearing of the anus or anal lining. This can make it easier for certain viruses and bacteria to enter the body.

A person should always try and relax before inserting anything into their anus. Feeling comfortable and relaxed will help the anal sphincter to loosen. A sphincter is a ring of muscle that can relax or tighten to open or close passages in the body.

To stimulate the prostate

The prostate is a gland that lies in front of the rectum. Some people who have prostates find it very pleasurable to experience prostate stimulation through their rectum.

Inserting a butt plug can put pressure on the prostate, which can lead to a pleasurable sensation. Some people may find that they can orgasm via prostate stimulation.

A person with a prostate may also enjoy having a butt plug in while they have penetrative sex or during masturbation. Experiencing prostate stimulation during these acts may add to a person’s pleasure.

To enlarge the size of the anus

A person can use butt plugs of varying sizes to help stretch their anus. This can be beneficial for a person who wants to try anal sex.

Over time, the anus will become used to the size of the butt plug. A person can then gradually increase the girth of the butt plug until they achieve the size they desire.

It is important for a person to increase the size of the butt plug slowly and gradually. Inserting butt plugs that are too big can cause pain and tearing.

Yes, butt plugs are safe when people use them correctly. A person should use a butt plug that is a comfortable size and shape to limit the chance of pain or tearing.

People should also only use butt plugs with a flared base. The rectum contains strong muscles that can create an effect of suction, pulling unsuitable objects into the anus.

If a person loses a sex toy inside their anus, they may have to have a medical professional remove it in a hospital. Information from 2018 found that dildos and butt plugs accounted for 41% of objects removed from the anus in a Swedish hospital between 2009 and 2017.

Although many people use them, some myths and misconceptions around butt plugs still persist, including the following:

Only males use them

Females can also receive pleasure from using a butt plug. Research from 2022 found that 17.4% of females who used a sex toy anally found it pleasurable.

The vagina contains various erogenous zones, including the G-spot and the A-spot. Thin walls separate these spots from the rectum. Anal stimulation may put pressure on these areas, resulting in sexual pleasure.

Only gay males use them

People of any gender and any sexuality can use butt plugs.

Using a butt plug does not indicate anything about a person’s sexual preference.

There are many types of butt plugs available, including:

• varying sizes, such as small, medium, and large
• vibrating
• textured
• smooth
• silicone
• glass
• metal
• inflatable
• remote-controlled
• tailed, which means they have a tail on the end that is outside the anus

A person using a butt plug for the first time should pick a small one. They may want to insert a finger or two into their anus to see how it feels before attempting to insert a butt plug.

A person may want to start using their butt plug for a few minutes at a time. Gradually, they may be able to keep the plug in for longer periods.

Some people suggest not having a butt plug inserted for more than 2 or 3 hours. However, this is purely anecdotal and there is no medical evidence to confirm this.

Once a person is used to the sensation of having an object inside their anus, they can gradually increase the size.

Before using a butt plug, a person should make sure they are in a state of relaxation. Outercourse, which some people may call foreplay, may help a person relax and increase their sense of arousal. This may include massage or watching pornography.

The anus cannot lubricate itself, so a person should apply plenty of lubricant to the butt plug. People should use water-based or hybrid-style lubricants with silicone butt plugs.

A person can then insert the butt plug slowly into their anus. Alternatively, they can get a partner to insert it for them.

Although a butt plug can cause mild discomfort, it should not be painful to insert. If a person experiences pain while inserting a butt plug, they should take it out. Pain when inserting a butt plug can occur due to:

• the butt plug being too big
• the person not using enough lubricant
• the person not being relaxed and tensing their anal muscles

A person should thoroughly clean sex toys after every use. They can clean their butt plug using warm water and mild and unscented dish or hand soap. A person can also clean silicone, stainless steel, or Pyrex butt plugs in a dishwasher.

After washing, a person can dry their butt plug using a clean paper towel or allow it to air dry. They can then place it into a clean container, such as a zip-locked bag.

A person should clean the butt plug again before the next use. This helps to ensure there are no lingering bacteria.

Your Ultimate Guide to Butt Plug Play

Gabrielle Kassel is a sex and fitness journalist who writes at the intersection of queerness, sexual health, pleasure, and sports.

Published on September 16, 2021 @ 01:17PM

The single sad side effect of anal intercourse gaining popularity as music and media fodder (sup, Nicki!) is that butt plugs have gotten left behind, misinterpreted as Anal Sex Lite. But such is not the case!

“While some people use butt plugs only as a way prepare the body for anal intercourse, LOTS of people find that plugs are a fun toy on their own,” explains longtime sex educator Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, a pleasure-product company in Chicago that ships world-wide. (Emphasis hers!). “With so many styles, shapes, and sizes to choose from, it is easy for the anal-curious and anal adventurous to find something fun and fulfilling,” she says.

Got Qs? Read on for an ultimate guide on butt plug play. Below, you’ll learn exactly what a butt plug is, as well as how to use one to maximize pleasure.

What is a butt plug, exactly?

Just as vibrators vibrate and nipple clamps clamp nipples, butt plugs plug butts. One category of sex toys designed for anal stimulation, butt plugs are designed to go in the butt and stay in the butt for a sustained period of time.

“They’re a toy anyone with a butt might enjoy,” says Deysach. Given that literally everybody and every body has a butt, a person of any gender or sexuality could enjoy butt plugs — or any other anal stimulation for that matter! (Hey, hi, hello this your friendly reminder that people, not sex acts, have sexual orientations!).

Why would someone want to use a butt plug?

To provide pleasurable pressure to internal hot-spots that can be stimulated directly or indirectly through the anal canal, such as the P-spot (prostate), G-zone, C-spot (cervix), or A-spot (anterior-fornix zone). In fact, some people report being able to orgasm from, or with the help of, a butt plug.

“Someone might want to try a butt plug or anal beads to experience pleasure,” says queer sex educator Marla Renee Stewart, MA, sexpert for Lovers, an adult wellness brand. “Some people have amazing anal orgasms and some folks prefer these over genital stimulation, so it’s worth it to give it a try.” Especially if you have difficulty orgasming from genital stimulation!

Some people use butt plugs to prepare for anal sex, either during that same sexual encounter or for a future sexual encounter. (This is known as anal training). “Plugs can be used for anal training, which is the act of preparing the body for anal sex with bigger objects,” says Goody Howard MSW, MPH, the resident sex educator for Royal, a vegan-friendly condom and lubricant company.

Butt plugs can also be used in a kink or BDSM scene or dynamic. A dominant partner might (consensually) force their submissive to wear a butt plug as a constant reminder of who “owns” their ass, for example. Butt plugs can also allow a kinkster to explore feelings of humiliation, vulnerability, and power, adds Howard.

Are butt plugs safe?

Yep! So long as it has a flared base or kink, crook, or curve that keeps the toy rooted firmly outside the body.

“The anus has sphincter muscles in it that are always closed. This closure creates a vacuum effect, so if you put something in your anus, it can get sucked up into the rectum,” explains Howard. “The flared base is larger than the anus, so it helps keep the plug from getting closed up in the rectum by the sphincters.”

In short, flared bases keep you out of the emergency room.

Wait, how are butt plugs different from other anal toys?

The world of butt toys is wide and vast. In addition to butt plugs, there are also anal beads, prostate massagers, anal-safe wands, and dildos. What sets anal plugs apart from other anal-safe toys is their shape and function. Anal plugs usually have a carrot-like shape, which allows them to comfortably slide past the internal anal sphincter and (safely) stay put in your body, while still providing the sensation of fullness.

Prostate massagers are also designed to go in the body and stay in — specifically, the bodies of people with prostates, which is most people with penises. Prostate massagers, however, look less like a carrot and more like a gourd. Meaning, they have a curved, hook-like shape. “The prostate is about four inches into the anal canal,” says Deysach. “Continuous pressure on this spot can increase pleasure and make orgasms more intense,” she says. Some people with prostate can orgasm from prostate stimulation alone!

Meanwhile, dildos and anal beads are designed to provide pleasure through movement. While butt plugs usually go in once, then stay in, both anal beads and dildos are designed to be moved in and out of the anal canal. Anal beads feature a series of spheres on a (usually silicone) string, which creates a pull on and pop of the anal opening that some people find pleasurable, explains Deysach. And while dildos come in all shapes and sizes, most dildos are longer and thicker than butt plugs, and are usually shaped more like zucchinis (they’re the same size all the way up, they don’t get thicker the way plugs do).

“You may have to do some experimenting with different toys to find the right butt toy(s) for you,” says Deysach. But generally, a butt plug is what you’re going to want if you want consistent pressure, she says.

Exactly how do you use a butt plug?

To put it simply: patiently and with a (ahem) butt-ton of lube. “Using lots of lube and going slow is the best way to make sure your anal adventure is fun and safe,” says Deysach. To make sure the plug is being inserted at a pace that feels good to the receiver, communicate!

Oh, and make sure the toy is made out of a non-porous material like silicone, stainless steel, glass, or ABS plastic. “A porous toy can harbor bacteria even after you clean it,” explains Deysach. Ick. Because silicone is softer than the other body-safe sex toy materials, beginners should start with silicone.

What are the best beginner butt plugs?

To start, opt for a plug that’s half as big as you think it should be. “You will miss out on all the delicious pleasure plugs can offer if the one you’re using is too big,” says Howard. For a sense of comparison, you don’t want anything much bigger than your pinky finger — at least to start. The Tango Butt Plug ($28), Inya Prince ($11, Babeland.com), or Gala Confetti Mini Anal Plug ($15, Babeland.com) are all good beginner options.

If you’ve previously explored anal fingering with more than one finger, you can size up to something slightly bigger, like the b-Vibe Snug Plug 2 ($60, Babeland.com) or the Play With Me Naughtier Candy Heart ($22, Babeland.com).

Worth mentioning: As you shop around for a butt plug, you’ll notice that some vibrate. Vibrating butt plugs like the b-Vibe Vibrating Snug Plug ($110, Babeland.com) and the b-Vibe Vibrating Novice Galaxy ($140, Babeland.com) are a great way to exponentiate the pleasure. As Deysach explains, the vibrations stimulate the anal hot-spots, as well as reverberate through to other pleasure zones in the body. However, because they’re so intense, vibrating butt plugs are best for intermediate — not beginner — status.