Why does it matter what
kind of materials are in my sex toy?
In Part 1 of this series, you
learned about the various issues to consider when deciding whether
or not to introduce sex toys into your relationship.
In the following two
sections, we'll focus on the materials
contained in sex toys and why they are extremely important factors
in your decision to purchase one or more sexual devices. There are literally
hundreds of different blends of different things that make up your
typical sex toy, each making the toy behave and feel a certain
way. Knowing what's in your sex toys will help you decide not only
which ones are right for you while shopping, but can also help you
avoid purchasing items to which you may be allergic. What,
exactly, are the different materials found in sex toys?"
 Well, that depends.
Sex toys are generally comprised of four different categories of
materials - rubber/latex, plastic, silicone, metal, glass, or some
combination of these ingredients. Each material has certain
benefits and drawbacks.
Silicone - King of the Sex Toy Hill
Probably the fastest
growing ingredient being used in sex toys today is silicone
(though latex and PVC are still most common due to their low
costs). And, while you may read articles extolling the wondrous
properties, we'd like to go a bit deeper to explain exactly what
silicone is, what types and grades of silicone are manufactured,
and why certain sex toys are better suited for this material than
others. After all, a sex toy is something you will be putting not
only in your body, but in the MOST sensitive areas of your body!
It makes sense to be aware and educated before you put it in, on,
or around your body, no?
What, Exactly, IS
Silicone?
 In
scientific terms, silicone is a synthetic polymer derived from
silica, which is a white or colorless crystalline compound that
occurs abundantly as quartz, sand, flint, agate, and lots of other
minerals. Silica is the second most abundant element of the
earth's crust (making up 28% of it, in fact) and by chemically
linking it to oxygen molecules, silicone in various consistencies
can be created - including liquids (oils), gels, rubbers, and even
hard plastics. Silicone is also able to resists extreme
temperatures and oxidation, making it ideal for making products
ranging from breast implants to gaskets to sealants to (yep) sex
toys. Indeed, silicone has now become so prevalent in the sex toy
industry that it's now commonplace to find products that contain
at least some silicone in their ingredients. Advances in silicone
technology have led to sex toys that actually mimic human flesh.
Finally, silicone sex toys (at least the high quality ones) are
easy to clean and disinfect.
Is Silicone Safe to
Put in My Body?
 The
truthful answer to this question is "who knows?" Silicone sex toys
have only been around since the late 1980's, so no thorough
studies have been conducted or published. However, since silicone
is technically "inert," it's reasonable to deduce that there can
be no chemical reaction with your body. Silicone (medical grade)
is hypoallergenic, hygienic, boilable, bleachable, and even
dishwasher safe. One major problem is that sex toy manufacturers
classify their products as "novelties" to avoid having their
products regulated as medical devices by the US government (which
would cause them to follow much more restrictive regulations). For
this reason, it's also rare to find user manuals on how to
actually use the products, as this would define their use as
something for sex (heaven forbid!), which again affects their
product classification. To date, there haven't been any recorded
cases of anyone dying from a silicone sex toy (we're not
talking bondage equipment here), but this doesn't take into
account minor injuries, such as rashes, allergic reactions, or
otherwise, which might occur but for which there's no conclusive
data. Since many manufacturers mix different materials with
silicone, one should be careful.
For practical purposes, however, one good rule of thumb, is to
ONLY PURCHASE SEX TOYS MADE FROM 100% FOOD OR MEDICAL GRADE
SILICONE! How do you know if a toy you want is in this category?
First, smell the toy in which you're interested; if it gives off
any odor whatsoever, DON'T BUY IT. Food and medical grade silicone
products have no taste or smell.
Next, check the packaging; companies who use high quality silicone
tend to announce this fact prominently.
Tantus
and Fun
Factory, for example, make it a point to put information on
their packaging, literature, and websites pointing out that their
products contain only 100% medical grade silicone. If you can't
find this information easily on your purchase (or potential
purchase), proceed with penetration at your own risk. Retailers
who sell sex toys should provide this information in a
straightforward and easy manner as well, so do your research
before plunking down your cash. If you have any questions, the
company selling the toy or the actual manufacturer should be
willing to promptly inform you of what's in each and every product
they sell. If they can't, you should be suspicious and hesitant.
What About
Silicone Sex Toys and Lubricants?
 There
is a common misperception that silicone sex toys cannot be used
with silicone-based lubricants AND that silicone sex toys should
not come into contact with other silicone sex toys. For years, we
had believed this fact, even witnessing a demonstration of two
silicone sex toys (iVibe Rabbits, actually) melted into a
gelatinous blob after being laid on top of one another for a month
or two. The reason for this reaction is that jelly toys are not
100% silicone, and the melting happens because of they are made of
lesser materials that have additives to make them soft. Those
chemical additives, called phthalates, emit from the toys over
time, and as this happens, they make each other even softer, seen
as "melting". We were able to duplicate this feat, in fact, with
two similar products, but strangely, when we arranged three or
four Worm/Paulchen vibes and various Tantus dildos in a pile
nothing of the sort happened. We even went as far as to squirt an
entire bottle of silicone lube onto the stack like one would pour
syrup on pancakes, still with absolutely no adverse reactions from
any of the toys taking part in our strange experiment. Sure, it
wasn't the most attractive exhibit we've ever created, but it was
nothing some soap and water didn't fix.
In fact, it's
perfectly safe to use silicone lubes with 100% FOOD OR MEDICAL
GRADE SILICONE SEX TOYS. Jelly toys (such as the Rabbit) are a
mixture of different substances and NOT 100% FOOD OR MEDICAL GRADE
SILICONE, so it's best not to expose them to other silicone toys
or lubes. It's also fine to use silicone lubes with condoms of
just about any kind or even to use condoms with silicone sex toys,
especially given some women's reactions to glycerin, which is the
primary agent used in non-silicone and water-based lubricants.
OK, I've Got My
Facts Straight, Now What Silicone Toys Should I Get?
 When
picking a sex product of any kind, you should decide on your
purchases based on the principals discussed in
Part 1 of this series.
Communication is the first step in exploring this aspect of your
sexual lives and we recommend you pursue this endeavor with the
full input and participation of your partner. Once the commitment
is made to move forward together, you should choose whatever
silicone sex toy in which you are interested based first and
foremost on the quality of the materials. For the greatest peace
of mind, go with food and/or medical-grade materials. If none of
the styles you want are available in this category or the price is
simply too high for your budget (better materials do cost more),
proceed with caution and try to only purchase from reputable
retailers and manufacturers who provide truthful and up-to-date
information on all their products in a timely and accessible
manner. Use the internet to find information and testimonials on
your product choices (search engines, message boards, and review
sites are plenty) and don't EVER buy something simply on its
attractive design or packaging. No matter what you choose, make
sure you've done your homework and, most importantly, have fun!
Click here to read Part 3 -
Sex Toy Materials Continued!
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