Dildos have come a long way since the early incarnations of the phallic-shaped sex toy saw ancient civilisations use unripe bananas or camel dung dipped in resin to satisfy sexual desires. Now you can find dildos that inflate, deflate, strap on, glow in the dark, stick to the shower wall… the list is endless and the choice is wonderfully expansive
When choosing your dildo one of the first and most important considerations is size and while the cliche ‘big is best’ still abounds, it’s a maxim that doesn’t hold true for sex toys (or penises for that matter).
Rather, start with modest aspirations and turn your attention to the balance between girth and length. “Often we talk about length but actually if you’re talking about someone with a vagina, the G-spot is located just a few inches inside and you don’t actually need something that’s 10 or 12 inches long to reach it. A lot of people have started saying girth matters more than length but I would say it’s not universal. If you like the feeling of being stretched, or having a challenge, going for something girthier is a good idea but otherwise I would advise something a bit more slimline to moderate for a first timer.”
WHAT’S THE BEST MATERIAL FOR A DILDO?
Metal, glass, silicone, wood, ceramic… the choice of material not only affects the experience you have but it can pose some serious safety issues, so listen up!
PVC and latex and TPE/TPR are not going to leak toxic materials into you but they’re porous, which means they will harbour bacteria, you can never get them 100% clean and so they’re best avoided or used with a condom
One hundred per cent pure silicone is the best way to go,It’s completely body safe, it’s non porous, it’s easy to sterilise and it lasts forever. If people want to experiment with other sensations, other options are borosilicate glass, stainless steel, wood and, if it’s properly treated, glazed and sealed, hard ABS plastic, which is cheaper.
CAN A DILDO MAKE YOU ORGASM?
60-90 per cent of people with vulvas can’t orgasm just from penetration and need clitoral stimulation as well, So some people can orgasm from a dildo and some people can’t, either way that’s fine and normal. If you enjoy the feeling of penetration and want to orgasm just combine it with clitoral stimulation using your hands or with your partner using their hands or mouth, or a vibrator.
DO I NEED TO USE A CONDOM OR LUBE WITH A DILDO?
It’s so important with dildos because the harder materials can be quite rigid if not properly lubricated and it can be a bit painful; if you’re using silicone sometimes the material can be a bit ‘grabby’ against the skin. So using lots of lube can make it smoother and more fun.
