How Can You Tell When a Toy Is Safe for Insertion? - from Em and Lo

Contributor: Em & Lo Em & Lo
We've learned a lot about sex toys over the years. But for someone new to such products, it can be overwhelming. And sometimes it's not always totally clear whether a vibrator is safe or made for insertion into the vagina. Maybe it's small in size, you know it's definitely made for clitoral stimulation, but perhaps it's also wand-shaped. The packaging isn't always clear about how it should be used. So how do YOU know for sure? What clues tell you that it should remain outside the body. Let's play devil's advocate for a second: take the Pocket Rocket -- if a young adult totally new to sex toys decided to get a Pocket Rocket because she heard it was a good beginner toy, started playing with it, and felt the urge to insert, how would she know not to, especially if the place she got it from didn't spell it out for her?
04/08/2010
  • Save Extra 50% On Sexobot Attachment
  • Long-distance pleasure set for couples
  • Upgrade Your Hands-Free Play!
  • Anal Sub Hook&Rope Kit for $28.99 Only
  • Complete strap-on set for extra 15% off
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
All promotions
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
I'm not sure that a pocket rocket *shouldn't* be inserted vaginally, just that it's not designed to be used vaginally. If the question is less about safety and more about finding toys that suit one's desired purpose, then that's where reviews come in handy. Most good toy reviews discuss the best ways to use a toy, and how well they suited that particular use.

But if it's about safety, then I would say that the most important thing to think about is whether anal toys have flared bases or not. I'm having a hard time thinking of vibrators designed for external use that would be dangerous to insert vaginally, but I'm sure someone can come up with an example.
04/08/2010
Contributor: sophie2229 sophie2229
If it's not waterproof/water resistant/has changing parts then I vote no for insertion (unless it clearly has a long straight attachment/head). If It doesn't have something to grab on to then I also say that's a no-go.

I would tell someone to see if there was some place to grasp. If a user can't fit at least half of a hand around a toy while it is inserted, then it's probably not designed for insertion.
04/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by EffinSara
I'm not sure that a pocket rocket *shouldn't* be inserted vaginally, just that it's not designed to be used vaginally. If the question is less about safety and more about finding toys that suit one's desired purpose, then that's ... more
The Hitachi? It just seems too big and exposed electrical (to me anyway) to be something that could be inserted safely.

That being said, I am fully willing to admit that I think the closest I've ever really gotten to a Hitachi was seeing Samantha use one to calm Miranda's crying baby on Sex And The City and therefore, am very naive, lol
04/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by sophie2229
If it's not waterproof/water resistant/has changing parts then I vote no for insertion (unless it clearly has a long straight attachment/head). If It doesn't have something to grab on to then I also say that's a no-go.

I would ... more
I fail at reading.

Everything you just said sophie is what I would have. Except the part about the half a hand, that I didn't know.
04/08/2010
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
The Hitachi? It just seems too big and exposed electrical (to me anyway) to be something that could be inserted safely.

That being said, I am fully willing to admit that I think the closest I've ever really gotten to a Hitachi was ... more
No, that's a good one! I didn't even think of it. I guess it didn't occur to me because it seems like it would be very difficult for anyone to even try.

It might be helpful to point out to consumers that many women find that the clitoris is the most pleasurable spot for vibration. Our culture is very focused on penetration = sex and sex = pleasure, therefore penetration = pleasure, when that isn't strictly true for all women under all circumstances. For someone completely new to sex toys and masturbation it might be easy to think that masturbation and playing with toys necessarily includes penetration, and a little sex-positive sex ed might be helpful!
04/08/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by EffinSara
No, that's a good one! I didn't even think of it. I guess it didn't occur to me because it seems like it would be very difficult for anyone to even try.

It might be helpful to point out to consumers that many women find that the ... more
Do you know how long I had been having sex before I figured out that it was ok to masturbate and have toys and want more than just vaginal penetration? It was pitiful, lol.

I agree about having some positive sex-ed, and I believe that if they're floating around this website, they're bound to find it.
04/08/2010
Contributor: Miss B Haven Miss B Haven
What a great topic! I actually had to have a sex-ed talk with my step-mother. She was blown away at the idea that sex could be about quality and not quantity. We got her her very first toy at the sweet age of 44 and she was basing her descisions on color rather than function. I think the best way to educate people who are new to the sex toy world is to get them to read and understand reviews by people who have already used the toys they might be interested in. It's amazing what different uses people find for toys and many reviewers seem to be able to answer that very important 'can that go in there' question.
04/14/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Quote:
Originally posted by sophie2229
If it's not waterproof/water resistant/has changing parts then I vote no for insertion (unless it clearly has a long straight attachment/head). If It doesn't have something to grab on to then I also say that's a no-go.

I would ... more
I agree with you, for the most part. Shape, design, material, waterproof portion.

As for vaginal insertion, ben wa balls, vaginal balls in general, and bullets, don't fall under the half a hand idea, but they are still safe.

I really think it's about design. If it feels ok and won't scratch you, get stuck, or ruin the toy - you're good to go.
04/14/2010