Depending on your budget or what you and your partner(s) are comfortable with, either use a separate toy for each partner or use condoms. "To maintain the cleanliness of the toy it’s best to cover insertive toys with a condom and switch out the condom when switching orifices," Bard says. You’ll want to lube up your anus and the butt plug for insertion and removal. You’ll also want to lube up throughout the day to avoid irritation. Dahlberg, M., et al. (2018). Retained sex toys: An increasing and possibly preventable medical condition. Lube is nonnegotiable when it comes to butt play. Without it, you can quite literally tear yourself a new one and do some very painful damage to your anus and your rectum — if you can even manage to get it in. A person can use butt plugs of varying sizes to help stretch their anus. This can be beneficial for a person who wants to try anal sex.

Butt plugs can help a person prepare for anal sex by allowing them to become used to the sensation of having an object inside their anus. Additionally, they can help stretch the anus to allow for easier penetration. I’d stay away from any that have a smaller plug, as this may get lost in your anus after a day of running errands or heading to work,” says Saynt.

If you have a vagina, the butt plug is also a wonderful way to experience double penetration: Slide one in after applying lube and wear it during vaginal sex with a penis or dildo. You can also simultaneously stimulate your clit with fingers or a vibrator. Many people love receiving oral while they have a butt plug in. That said, you don't need a partner to enjoy butt plugs — they make for excellent masturbation companions. In fact, solo sex is a lovely way to explore anal play. The bottom line is that anal pleasure through butt plugs is something anyone can enjoy. What should I know about lube? Lube doesn’t just help you get it in, it’ll also help make the butt plug more comfortable as it moves around in there. And it’s gonna move as you move. One of the most important rules to anal play, according to Dr. Grover, is to use as much water-based lube as you please for a smooth ride, every time. "The anus does not self-lubricate, so water-based lubricants are advised," she says. Water-based lubricants are a safe option since they can be used with practically any materials, including condoms. Silicone lubricants or oil-based lubricants should not be used with silicone butt plugs, since they can damage the toy. If you're playing with a metal or glass toy, any body-safe lubricant should be fine. Inserting a butt plug can put pressure on the prostate, which can lead to a pleasurable sensation. Some people may find that they can orgasm via prostate stimulation. A person with a prostate may also enjoy having a butt plug in while they have penetrative sex or during masturbation. Experiencing prostate stimulation during these acts may add to a person’s pleasure. To enlarge the size of the anus

To remove a butt plug, gently pull it out while taking slow and steady deep breaths, or have your partner hold the base and slide it out for you. O'Reilly also points out that removal can be easier if you've orgasmed during anal play, as orgasms relax the pelvic floor. What about cleanup? The anus is an incredible thing that’s super efficient at doing its job, which is to contract to hold poop in your rectum and flex when it’s time to let it out. Size: Based on our research and testing, our editors found that the beginners should look for butt plugs with an insertable length between two to three inches max. More advanced users who prefer a deeper penetration should go for butt plugs that have at least a four-inch insertable length. Butt plug kits are also useful for guys who gradually and safely want to go up a size.And finally, leaving sex toys unwashed and covered in dried bodily fluids can degrade or discolor the toy. You're not just protecting yourself and your partner(s) by cleaning — you're also protecting your investment. Butt plugs come in a range of sizes, and some have special functions like vibrating or heating up, but the defining trait of a butt plug is that you pop it in your rear end and leave it there for a feel-good "full" sensation. "There are tons of nerve endings in the anal canal," Alicia Sinclair, certified sex educator and founder and CEO of b-Vibe, says in Men's Health Best. Sex. Ever. "At the entry of the bum, there’s also the anal sphincter, which has 4,000 nerve endings, which is the same number of nerve endings as the head of the penis and about half as many as the clitoris."

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Next, start with something smaller than a plug: Lube up your finger, or ask your partner if you can borrow theirs. Circle the anus with the finger, glide it gently in and out of the anus, then add another finger. Butt plugs have a smaller tip and wider base to keep a toy from penetrating too far. Choosing one with a T-bar is recommended for extended wear, especially if you’re going on about your business and moving around a lot. Dr. Fleming suggests choosing a small metal or glass butt plug, specifically, because they’re nonporous (so pathogens, like certain bacteria, have a more challenging time settling into the plug) and easy to clean. Both materials are also safe to use with any type of lube, whether water-, oil- or silicone-based. What are some tips for trying anal play for the first time? Finally, Dr. Fleming stresses that anal play isn’t something you get right into. “I can’t recommend enough the importance of only introducing any anal play when you’re already highly aroused,” she says. When you’re aroused, your body relaxes—including your anal sphincter. So the more turned on you are, the more enjoyable anal sex will be.

The Best Self-Thrusting Butt Plug: Doc Johnson A-Play Thrust Adventurous 

Don’t let the shape fool you, keeping a butt plug in could set you up for some painful side effects and lasting complications.

Yep, when it comes to your butt, a toy can get away from you and end up too high in your rectum to reach. This is rare, but possible, which is why the shape of an anal toy is crucial. According to sex and relationship expert Jessica O'Reilly, the key to anal play is relaxation. As she writes in The New Sex Bible: The New Guide to Sexual Love, there are two muscle rings known as the sphincter around the entrance to the anus. You want to be gentle with them when inserting anything into your butt. "Relax, breathe deeply, and bear down slightly with your sphincter muscles as you insert [a toy] for the first time," writes O'Reilly.Size and shape are important, too. While you definitely don’t want to go with a massive plug that can get uncomfortable real fast even for an experienced anal toy connoisseur, too small a plug can be problematic, too. To find the best butt plugs to buy now, our panel of two sex experts and our own sex editor tried over 50 butt plugs in the past year, and field tested them during solo and partner play. They judged each butt plug based on its size, extra features (like vibrating or weighted butt plugs), and how much pleasure each one produced. Ahead, we found the 22 best butt plugs to buy online now. Hensel, D. J., et al. (2022). Women’s techniques for pleasure from anal touch: Results from a U.S. probability sample of women ages 18–93. Size, shape, and material matter, but so does choosing a toy you’re familiar with, explains Daniel Saynt, founder and chief conspirator of the New Society for Wellness, a sex- and cannabis-friendly members-only club in New York City.