INS AND OUTS- DILDO EDITION
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My friends,
I have come to you today to talk about a subject very dear to my heart: Dildos. First of all, it’s a great word. Dildo. Dill Doe. Good alliteration on them syllables. Also, notably, of unknown etymological origin. Who doesn’t like a good mystery?
Our first record of a dildo proper comes to us in the form of a twenty centimeter siltstone phallus, from the Upper Paleolithic period (aka over 30,000 years old!) Many of the earliest dildos were made of stone or wood, but throughout the ages, anything that can be molded or shaped into a phallus has most likely been used as a dildo.
So in today’s modern era of space age materials, how goes it for the dildo?
The ‘original’ modern dildo design of rubber outer layer supported by an internal metal spring has its obvious drawbacks (which I do NOT want to picture), and have been updated to materials like PVC, TPR, and Silicone. There are also stone, metal and glass dildos, all of which have their unique qualities! They also come in a variety of shapes, sizes, bases, and methods of use!
Material:
PVC
PVC, or, polyvinyl chloride, is a ubiquitous, flexible plastic with tons of applications. For dildos, it’s a great material for an inexpensive, starter dildo, especially if you’ve never had one and want to try a couple things out. PVC is naturally quite rigid, and so when used to make dildos, it often has softeners called phthalates added to make it softer and more flexible, this gives you the “jelly” material that a lot of dildos are made of. While there is no definitive consensus on the safety of phthalates, one certain thing is that the material winds up being a bit porous. This means that there are nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in, and so this material is not safe to go from butt to vag, or to share among partners. However this is can be mitigated with the simple addition of a condom!
Silicone
100% medical grade silicone is the answer for squishy penetrate toys that are non-porous and completely body safe. Silicone can be completely sterilized and is durable, meaning the material won’t degrade and off-gas like cheaper squishy materials. Silicone can come in a variety of firmnesses, from very firm, to life-like, to very soft and flexible. When choosing a silicone toy, it is important to ask if it is 100% silicone, as some companies will use the word silicone in their marketing, while actually being made of a non-sterilizable blend of silicone and other materials. Silicone toys are not compatible with silicone lube (the lube will, in effect, melt the toy) but if you really have to have silicone lube (and I really can’t blame you), then this can also be mitigated with the use of a condom!
Glass
Glass or pyrex is another totally body-safe material that can be sterilized or boiled. Glass toys are often very beautiful and handcrafted, and look like little works of art. Because it’s so rigid, dildos made of glass will tend to feel bigger than their size, so consider this when choosing one. Glass is also great for temperature play, and can be warmed or cooled for new sensations, and is safe to use with any kind of lubricant!
Metal
Metal is another non-porous material that can be completely sterilized. Like glass, metal toys will feel larger than their size, and are great for temperature play. Metal toys also tend to be quite heavy, which gives an added feeling of fullness. There’s also something very sexy about the aesthetic of gleaming stainless steel!
Stone, Wood, Cucumber, Gold!
If it can fit in an orifice, it can be a dildo. Just always keep hygiene and safety in mind, and never share toys without sterilizing and/or using condoms. Also always be aware of allergies and lube compatibility!
Shape
While originally the dildo was a way to simulate phallic penetrative sex, dildos can now be found in a broad range of shapes and sizes, ranging from life-like to totally abstract. VixSkin’s Johnny is a great example of a super life-like dildo, with an incredible realistic skin texture and firmness, and on the other end of the spectrum there’s the Njoy Eleven, an absolutely beautiful monster stainless steel dildo that is a pretty far cry (and maybe improvement?) on a real life human penis. There are also all kinds of options in between, from the sort of life-like Perk Vibe dildo, to the semi-abstract Bouncer (this one also has three awesome shifting weighted balls inside that move and bounce with you!) Some toys will be ergonomically designed to stimulate the G or P spots. These will usually have an upward curve and bulbous head (those spots tend to love pressure!)
Base
Dildos can be a stand-alone type deal, ending where the end of the shaft ends and gripped wherever. But that’s far from the only option. Dildos can have suction cup bases, which are often super powerful and can stick to smooth surfaces like shower walls, tile floors, mirrors, or if you’re really bold, windows! This gives the user the ability to control the thrusting themselves, or put on a hot show for someone else. Some dildos have an ergonomic handle grip for easier thrusting, like on the Anaconda from Tantus, or a ring that a hand or finger can fit through. Many will come with a flat circular, or flared base. These toys are safe to use for anal penetration (as the base prevents them from getting sucked up the butt’s powerful muscles!) or can be used in a harness. (A note about dildo-anal penetration, anything that prevents it from getting lost up there is fine too, some come with a nice set of balls for that!) Some of these harness compatible bases will have a ridged or textured underside, giving pleasure and sensation to the wearer (like the Harmony!) And some dildos have at their base….another dildo! Double-enders are exactly what they sound like, and allow people to enjoy penetration, or can be bent around for double penetration on one person. There are also “strapless strap-ons” like the Feeldoe which allow both the wearer and the receiver to have the feeling of being penetrated.
A note about dilators:
Dilators are a special type of dildo used to promote vaginal health. They often come in a set of varying sizes, and are used to slowly stretch the vaginal walls, helping with painful intercourse and other issues of vaginal health. These can be used alone or with a partner, and should be used with a healthy dose of glycerine and paraben free lubricant.
So there you have it. Is it penetratey? It’s a dildo! But there are tons and tons of specially, artfully, healthfully designed dildos made of durable material just exactly for that use. Happy exploring! AND HAPPY PRIDE!!!