My girlfriend and I bought this toy together on Valentine's day, and it was an ideal way to begin exploring anal sexuality.

I think this toy is for beginners only. It's less than an inch wide at its largest point. If you've played with two fingers before, I would recommend something slightly larger. The small size makes it very comfortable and barely noticeable--ideal for the tastes of some beginners--but it also makes it harder for it to stay in.

Toys with a larger portion that sits beyond the sphincter will stay in place easier than this toy because the sphincter grips the more narrow portion while the girth of the larger portion that's deeper inside prevents its moving out. And, during orgasm, your sphincter will contract and almost definitely push this little toy out, which may or may not be a concern for some people. (But, by the way, if you haven't yet experienced and orgasm while being anally filled or stimulated, you don't know what you're missing.) The base is rectangular because it's designed to sit between your two butt cheeks, which is usually more comfortable than a round base.

If you’re a true beginner, and/or wary of anal penetration, this is an ideal and easy initiation. Also, at under $20, the price is right. I actually bought it at a store and paid $10 more for it. But then, this site usually has much better prices than any store.

I think that it's imperative that any anal toy be capable of being fully sterilized. Using condoms with porous dildos is fine, but using condoms with a butt plug|Little flirt - Butt plug by Tantus is a bit awkward. This toy from Tantus (the company that makes Echo|Echo - Strap-on dildos, one of my favorite dildos) is made of high-quality flexible silicone that can be boiled, bleached, or put in the dishwasher to sterilize it. You can even heat it up in the microwave if you wish.

I forgot to add that 1) lube is absolutely required for anal penetration, especially for beginners and 2) you can only use water-based lube with this silicone toy.