spunout’s sex toy A-Z

Sex toys are objects that are designed to give sexual pleasure, and some can also be used for medical reasons. Sex toys can be used alone for masturbation, and also with others as part of sex. Anyone can use sex toys, and they can be helpful in enhancing sexual pleasure if you masturbate or have sex with others. 

There are many different types of sex toys, and finding the type of toy you like can take time and practice. Deciding whether or not you would like to use or try sex toys is completely up to you, and you should not feel pressured by anyone to try them unless you want to. 

If you think you would like to buy a sex toy, doing your research beforehand can help you better understand the options available to you and what you might like best. It is also important to make sure any sex toy you buy is safe to use and to know how to use them safely on yourself or with others also. Read our Sex Toy Safety article to learn more about the types of materials that are safe to put inside your body. 

Below is a list of some of the common types of sex toys, but new types of toys are being made regularly. If you are under the age of 18 you are not legally allowed to buy sex toys in Ireland. 

What are the different types of sex toys?

There are lots of different sex toys out there. Some of the most common ones include: 

Air Pulse Vibrators

Air Pulse Vibrators are often advertised as vibrators (see below), but they are slightly different. They do not buzz, rumble or shake to stimulate the clitoris, but instead, they use gentle airwaves that surround the sensitive nerve endings of the clitoris with a soft pulsing action. They are meant to mimic oral sex and give an intense orgasm for people with a clitoris. 

Anal sex toys

Anal toys are sex toys made specifically to give pleasure in and around the anus (your bum) and to provide stimulation to the prostate gland if you have one. Anal toys can include plugs usually called butt plugs, anal beads, and dildos with a wide base. You should only ever use sex toys in the anus that you are sure you will be able to safely remove again, such as ones with a flared base. Having a flared base means that the base is wider than the rest of the toy in order to prevent it from going all the way inside you and getting stuck or lost. Having a flared base is important because if a dildo went inside your anus it could get stuck, and would have to be removed by a medical professional. Because of this, it is important never to use homemade anal sex toys. Use lube when using anal sex toys to make it a comfortable and enjoyable experience. 

Ben Wa balls or kegel balls 

Ben Wa balls (aka Kegel balls, Kegel trainers, vagina balls, orgasm balls) are round objects that you put inside your vagina. They can help you do exercises that tone and strengthen your kegel muscles (pelvic floor muscles) and some people use them during and after pregnancy. Kegel balls are usually weighted so you have to squeeze your vagina to keep them inside your body. Some are hollow with smaller balls inside that roll and bounce when you move, making a jiggling sensation. You don’t need these balls to do kegel exercises, and not everyone uses them for that purpose, many people just like the way they feel inside their vagina.

Dildos 

Dildos are sex toys that are used inside the body. They can come in lots of different shapes and sizes and many are shaped like a penis. Dildos can be made out of lots of different materials, like silicone, rubber, plastic, metal, or break-resistant glass.  

When using a dildo it is important that you feel relaxed and comfortable putting it inside your body. Using lube can be a great way of making using a dildo pleasurable. It is important that if you are using a dildo with someone else you always wash it properly before putting it from one person into another, this is to reduce the risk of STIs and HIV as well as yeast infections and other concerns. You can also use condoms on a dildo when sharing them with another person.

It is also very important to make sure the dildo you buy is made from a safe material. Sex toy production is not regulated, meaning some may be made of unsafe materials. Read our Sex Toy Safety article to learn more about the types of materials that are safe to put inside your body. 

Harnesses 

Harnesses (aka straps or strap-on harnesses) are garments that hold a packer (see below), dildo or other sex toys against your body and allow the wearer to penetrate a partner with that sex toy. Some are worn like underwear and others may go around other parts of your body, like your thigh, hand or face.

Packers 

Packers (aka prosthetics) are objects that look and feel like a realistic penis (usually soft) that create a “bulge” in your underwear or clothes. Some packers also let you pee standing up (called stand-to-pee or STP packers). Anyone can use a packer and trans, genderqueer, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people may use packers to help affirm or express their gender. Like with anyone’s genitals, packers aren’t always sexual or used for sex. But some packers can be worn bent down or sticking up, so they can resemble both a non-erect (soft) penis and an erect (hard) penis and can be used for sex.

Penis extenders

Penis extenders are toys that fit over the wearer’s erect penis (kind of like a strap-on for people with penises) in order to provide extra length and girth for the partner they are penetrating. Some may also have different textures or shapes on the outside to give extra sensation to the penetrated partner. 

Penis rings 

Penis rings (aka cock rings, erectile dysfunction rings, or constriction rings) are rings that go around the base of the penis shaft or the penis & scrotum (ball sack) depending on preference. Penis rings work by slowing blood flow out of the penis when it’s erect (hard), which can increase sensation, and make your erection harder and longer-lasting. The safest penis rings are made from soft, flexible materials that you can easily remove, like silicone, rubber, or leather with snaps. Some penis rings have little vibrators on them, to stimulate you and/or your partner. Penis rings restrict your blood flow and are not meant to be worn for longer than 10-30 minutes. If you feel any pain or discomfort when using one it is important to take it off right away. If you have a bleeding disorder or are on blood-thinning medicine it is important to talk to your GP or a sexual health professional before using one.

Pumps 

Pumps (aka penis pumps, vacuum pumps, or vacuum erection pumps) are vacuum-like devices that use a hand or battery-powered pump to create suction around your penis, clitoris, vulva, or nipples. Penis pumps work by driving blood flow to the area, which helps increase sensitivity and sensation. Some people also like the feeling of suction from the pump. Penis pumps can help you get an erection, but they don’t make your penis permanently bigger. Some medical penis pumps are designed to help treat erectile dysfunction, genital arousal disorder, and orgasm disorder. Most of the pumps in sex stores or adult shops are not medical devices, they’re just meant to enhance pleasure during sex and masturbation. When using a pump, make sure to follow the instructions on the packaging, and don’t pump for longer than the instructions say. If you have a blood disorder or are on blood-thinning medication, it is important to speak to a sexual health professional before using a pump.

Masturbation sleeves 

Sleeves (masturbation sleeves or strokers) are soft tubes that you put your penis into. Sleeves come in all shapes and sizes and often have different textures on the inside for more sensation. Some penis sleeves are made from silicone but they can be made from other materials also. Some also have vibration or suction. There are also strokers that are specially designed for a larger clitoris or smaller penis, particularly for intersex people or trans men on hormone therapy.

Vibrators 

Vibrators are sex toys that vibrate or buzz to cause sexual pleasure. You can use a vibrator anywhere on the body that feels good. You can use one on your genitals and some vibrators can also go inside the body such as in the vagina or anus. There are many types of vibrators that come with different settings to cause them to vibrate in different ways. They can be battery-powered, rechargeable or mains powered.

9 safety tips when using sex toys 

If you are going to use sex toys it’s important to make the experience as enjoyable and safe for yourself as possible. Here are some useful tips:

1. Always wash your sex toys after using them and before sharing them with anyone else
2. Sex toys can pass on infections like STIs and HIV if they are not cleaned properly when using them with others. It is important to wash them thoroughly to help keep you and those you have sex with safe
3. Use a lubricant that is compatible with your sex toy. For example, silicone lubricants can damage silicone toys. When in doubt, use a water-based lubricant that is compatible with all condoms and sex toys
4. Use a condom or dental dam with your sex toy when sharing toys with others. This will help to keep them clean and reduce the risk of transmitting STIs and HIV
5. Always make sure to use a sex toy with a flared base for anal use 
6. Avoid using homemade sex toys. It’s always best to use sex toys that are specifically made to be sex toys, especially if you’re putting them inside your body. DIY sex toys might not be safe, especially if they can break, have rough, sharp, or loose parts, or are made of materials that are unsanitary or can cause a reaction or genital damage
7. The production of sex toys is not regulated, and some sex toys can often be made from products that contain harmful chemicals or that are made to a lower standard. If sex toys are made poorly, parts of them can break off or not function properly. Be careful when buying sex toys from unregulated sites like Amazon or Ali Express
8. Researching your sex toys before you buy them is the best way to make sure you get one that is safe to use
9. If a toy has a particularly strong or chemical odour, this might be a sign it was poorly made and is unsafe to use

Using sex toys should not cause you pain or discomfort. Some sex toys may cause small cuts to the genitals, which is why using a water-based lubricant and stopping use if there is any pain is important. If you have any medical concerns about your sex toy use, speaking to GP or a sexual health professional can be a great way to make sure what you are using is safe. 

Practising consent when using sex toys

Using sex toys can be a great way to experience pleasure, but no one should ever feel pressured into using them. If you would like to use a sex toy with a partner it is essential that it is something they actively want to do, and that they do not feel under pressure to do something to make you happy. Similarly, you should never feel that you have to use a sex toy with someone if you do not want to. 

If you and your partner agree to use a sex toy, it is important to check in with them regularly to make sure that they are enjoying the experience and are certain that they want to continue. If at any stage you or your partner are not enjoying what is happening or do not feel fully comfortable, stop. During all sexual activity, consent must be continuously practised. This means that everyone involved knows that they can stop at any time, that they never have to do anything they do not want, and that they actively want to take part in what is going on.