A New Survey Reveals the Alarmingly Bad Hygiene of Too Many Sex Toy Users
It Turns Out 20% of Y’all Are Gross With Your Sex Toys & It Needs to Stop
It Turns Out 20% of Y’all Are Gross With Your Sex Toys & It Needs to Stop
The Story
As we’ve recently reported, sex toy usage has sky-rocketed, and while we generally think that’s a great thing, a sign of a long-held taboo around human sexuality gradually dying, there are definitely some growing pains that need to be addressed.
According to a recent study conducted by Ohdoki, makers of the extremely popular The Handy male sex toy, as many as 1 in 5 American sex toy owners are failing to clean their sex toys regularly, which is a major risk factor in contracting unwanted and unpleasant infections.
The Snapshot
First, according to experts, proper sex toy hygiene requires that you clean them after every use, using soap and water or, ideally, a designated sex toy cleaner. We’ll repeat that, for those of you with poor hearing: you need to be cleaning your sex toys after every single use. Unfortunately, according to the survey, fully 20% of American adult sex toy owners are failing to do so, and a further 73% were not able to identify how often sex toys should be cleaned.
Obviously, these hygiene rules apply even more strongly if you are sharing your sex toy with a partner or partners, but even if you are the only one using your sex toy, regular cleaning is the only way to prevent bacteria buildup. It doesn’t matter if you’re operating your sex toy on a penis, vagina or anus, either; all genital areas are sensitive to infection and basic hygiene is an absolute must to prevent infection.
Worried you may already have exposed yourself to unnecessary risk? According to Dr. Sham Singh, an authority on sexually transmitted infections, you should watch out for these warning signs: ““The symptoms of infections acquired from dirty sex toys vary significantly depending on the bacteria or viruses involved. In some instances, the indications may include itching, burning, redness, or an unusual discharge. Painful urination, fever, or pelvic pain may signify a more serious underlying condition, which might require medical attention, like urinary tract infections or pelvic inflammatory disease.”
The Lesson
The first lesson is also the most obvious, and hopefully the easiest to adopt: clean your sex toys, people! And not just once they get visibly dirty — clean them after every single use! Dr. Singh advises these steps and best practices to ensure the safest possible experience with your sex toys:
Use an antibacterial, fragrance free soapBoil or use a diluted bleach solution for non electric toys for extra cleanlinessUse a condom on shared toys to avoid cross contamination
But Dr. Singh shared another, overlooked tip about sex toy hygiene: sex toys don’t last forever, and do in fact need to be replaced from time to time. According to Dr. Singh, “Replacement of sex toys depends on materials, frequency of use, and proper maintenance. For example, silicone and glass toys might survive years of proper cleaning and care, while jelly and rubber might need replacements every few months. However, porous materials degrade even quicker.”
However, there are also obvious signs that it’s time to part with your beloved vibrator or sleeve: “If cracks, discoloration, or odors develop that cannot be cleaned, then that is evidence that bacteria might be growing within the toy, making it unsafe for use. A change in texture or a sticky surface indicates that the material is giving way, which may predispose the person to irritation or infection.”
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Source: AskMen
