The Pro-Pal from Doc Johnson is a hand-held hard plastic prostate massager that combines an internal stimulation arm with an external arm that presses up against the prostate from the outside perineum. The Pro-Pal can be used in either solo or partner play, but it is definitely designed for men, as it does little when used vaginally or anally on women.

The handle is a nice touch, big enough to give you a good grip on the Pro-Pal and also large enough to enable limited furniture assisted solo use. Unfortunately, the handle (combined with the difficulty in holding the Pro-Pal in using only the anus) makes it a bit more difficult to use on your own. I found that standing, kneeling, bent-over, doggie style, and using a chair were the easiest positions for solo use. Partner use opened up a wider range of opportunities. Since P-spot stimulation takes time, it's best to pull out the Pro-Pal when you (and your partner if applicable) have plenty of playtime.

While the Pro-Pal doesn't have a vibrator function, the handle allows for much stronger stimulation than many handsfree prostate massagers. An external vibrator can also be used, although it slightly complicates matters.

For solo use my favorite method was to use a chair. After some experimentation I discovered that putting a square of the rubberized shelf covering material on a chair followed by a towel (to keep things clean) allowed me to brace the handle of the Pro-Pal against the chair and bump, grind and wiggle my way to prostate stimulation. Note that since the Pro-Pal is very rigid you do need to be careful to not bruise yourself, but I found that the design minimized the risk of bruising.

This toy is a large, bulbous chunk of hard ABS plastic. ABS is a good choice for sex toys - it's compatible with all the major lubes (water-based, oil-based and silicone-based), nonporous so it is easy to clean, and it is free of phthalates and the other chemicals currently suspected of being health issues, and it is durable and inexpensive. In the Pro-Pal, the ABS is has smoothly rounded edges with only a hint of mold lines from the manufacturing process.

One thing to keep in mind when looking at the Pro-Pal is that the two colors have two very different finishes. The black Pro-Pal, which I reviewed, has a velvet texture finish that grabs the lube well but tends to be a bit uncomfortable if you don't have enough lube on it or when the lube dries out. The white Pro-Pal has a smooth finish that will probably be a bit slicker, although the lube will tend to bead up on it.

The unyielding firmness of the Pro-Pal combined with the large size means that the Pro-Pal might not be the best choice for someone new to anal or prostate stimulation.

The Pro-Pal is definitely a hand-held or furniture-assisted prostate massager. The weight of the toy combined with the short neck make it very hard to keep it in using only the anal muscles, and even when you are, stimulation is minimal. The Pro-Pal does draw on some of the design features used in hands-free prostate massagers, most notably the perinium stimulator, to good effect. The shape of the Pro-Pal allows the tip to easily lock onto the prostate during use and prevents too much wandering, even when the users are distracted by other activities.

So if the Pro-Pal isn't hands-free, how do you use it? The packaging doesn't give you much help, but there are a number very enjoyable ways to use the Pro-Pal both with and without a partner.

The secret is in the large loop handle that allows you or your partner to get a good grip on the toy. As a hand-held toy it is very easy to vary the stimulation - you can use firm pressure or gentle pressure. You can hold the toy steady or rock it around either front-back or side-to-side.

The Pro-Pal is a great warm-up and foreplay toy. It easily finds the prostate and locks onto it, keeping the stimulation right where it should be. The Pro-Pal is a large toy, but the curves make it comfortable to insert and use, and since it is hand-held, it is easy to vary the stimulation. The biggest downside to the Pro-Pal is the necessity of holding it in and wiggling it. The Pro-Pal feels great when used by a partner or solo hand-held use, but muscle fatigue and boredom (in your partner) can limit the amount of time you can enjoy the Pro-Pal, unless you use the chair trick. I find that is how I use the Pro-Pal most now, sitting and wiggling, and it is likely the only way that you can achieve a P-spot orgasm.

Caring for the Pro-Pal is easy, thanks to the ABS material. You can use any water, silicone or oil-based lube that you like without worrying about damaging the toy, and the nonporous plastic is easy to clean up after use using soap and water or toy cleaner. Storage options are many; the only things you need to watch out for are sharp objects (which can scratch) and a heavy impact which could break off the handle.

Hard plastics are a bit more difficult when it comes to sanitizing. While they are nonporous (and thus bacteria stay on the surface where cleaning removes most of them), many plastics are attacked by the chemicals or temperatures used in sanitizing with chlorine bleach or boiling. While the Pro-Pal should not be boiled, it seems to be durable enough to withstand occasional sanitization in 10% bleach solution (though you shouldn't leave it in bleach water longer than necessary).

The Pro-Pal comes in Doc Johnson's usual colorful plastic box. In common with the other Doc Johnson toys I have, there is very little in the way of use or care instructions included in the package. Use is simple - apply plenty of lube to the toy and your anus and slowly insert with the front of the toy (the short side of the "J") towards your penis. Hold the handle and wiggle. After use, clean with soap and water or toy cleaner.

Even though the need to use something to hold the Pro-Pal in and manipulate it limits the use a little, it's still a good toy. I found that as long as it was held in, it stayed right where it needed to be and didn't wander off of my P-spot, and the Pro-Pal's design makes it difficult to injure yourself due to misuse or overly enthusiastic stimulation. As a fan of big toys I did find myself wishing for another 1/2" of length to stimulate a bit more, but all things considered, the Pro-Pal is a very fun prostate stimulator for intermediate or advanced players.