So that condom is no big deal, right?  Safe sex is just a matter of being selective?  If you agree with either of those ideas, you really should read on.  And if you’re a fan of safe sex, we have some facts you might want to know as well.

When an airline pilot is preparing for takeoff, he goes through a rigorous checklist of his aircraft’s mechanics and functions.  Your odds of being in a fatal crash on the top 25 safe Airlines in the world is 1 in 13.57 million (Source).  Would you be surprised to discover that unprotected sex gives a woman 1 in 2 odds of catching Gonorrhea and 4 in 10 odds of catching Chlamydia (Source)?  That’s in just one unprotected encounter!

In 2007, slightly over 1 in 1,000 people contracted Gonorrhea, and that’s just the reported cases (Source).  So 1 in 13.57 MILLION people are involved in a plane crash with fatalities on highly safe airlines, 1 in 1,000 people contract Gonorrhea.  I think maybe it’s time we contemplate a safe sex checklist.  Those pilots may be on to something.

The right lubricant is critical to safety

So here is a checklist we suggest you try out to improve your sexual health by engaging in safe sex and play.

First, if you are with a partner, do you have your condoms?  Think about it, if one unprotected encounter exposes you to a 50/50 chance of catching a nasty infection, each subsequent encounter almost guarantees that you’ll catch something that you’d really rather not have to treat.  And if you’re among the hearty sorts who doesn’t fear disease, perhaps you should have a look at the new resistant strains.

Unless you are in a long term, completely monogamous relationship with a partner who is disease free, you shouldn’t ever be without a condom when you’re ready for fun.  For everyone else, make sure the condom is number one on your safe sex checklist.

Second, if you plan to use lubrication (and if you’re planning on anal play, plan to use lubricant), make sure your lubricant is compatible with the condom or toy you’re using.  I was curious about how fast a latex condom would deteriorate with a silicone lubricant, so I ran a test using a condom on a rubber dildo.  I stretched a condom over, and applied silicone lubricant by hand.  The condom began to disintegrate on contact.

When I say disintegrate, I mean that in the literal sense of the word.  The condom was melting into goo in front of my eyes.  The dildo wasn’t doing well either.  Always use water based lubricants with latex condoms.  As you can see, checklist point two is critical to the safety of checklist point one.

The rest of our checklist relates specifically to toys.

Third, when using a sex toy like a dildo, make sure that you get into the habit of washing it before and after use.  A clean sex toy prevents the spread of infections.  Also, some materials can pick up small debris, which can lead to uncomfortable, unsanitary play.  A simple wash eliminates this problem.

Fourth, inspect your toy for any damage.  A chip on a glass toy can lead to painful issues.  A damaged retrieval mechanism on an anal toy can be dangerous as well.  If your toy has wiring (like a vibrator with a wired remote), make sure the wiring is not damaged.  Never play with a damaged sex toy.  The risk isn’t worth the sensation.

Fifth, make sure you intend to use your toy in the way it is intended to be used.  This is a simple rule that can save you from potentially dangerous play.  If you aren’t sure about your toy’s uses, contact us with our Ask an Expert button in the top right corner of this blog.

Finally, safe sex requires that you know your body.  Know your allergies and select toys that won’t affect them.  Silicone dildos and vibrators are great hypoallergenic choices for play.  Make sure the lubricant you select is body safe for you.  Know what size of dildo you can safely use.  Body safe toys are critical to safety, and for that matter, fun!

This is just a rudimentary checklist.  You may have even more items you want to add to yours.  But if you have a safety checklist, and you follow it well in advance of your next play time, when it’s time to have fun, you can focus on the whole point of adult play – HAVING FUN!  So take the time to make sure you’re prepared, then go out and have fun!

And follow your checklist.

Scrudy by Fun Factory

Having fun with a dildo is really not a difficult thing to do.  But, having a knee shaking, earth quaking session with a dildo requires just a little more attention to details that will create a perfect experience.  Experienced sex toy aficionados will tell you that following these three simple steps will improve your dildo play and make it even more fun than you can imagine.

Step 1 – Select the dildo that accomplishes EXACTLY what you want it to do.  Many times, people select the dildo that they find most visually appealing.  That makes sense because having a dildo that is unappealing isn’t conducive to fun.  But, visual appeal only goes so far in the orgasm department.  Good looks don’t compensate for good feel, or good function.

Know what you want your dildo to stimulate, and how you want to achieve that stimulation before you make a purchase.  Do you want a dildo that fits in a strap on harness?  Do you want G-spot stimulation from a dildo you can attach to the wall while you shower?  Those two notions can’t necessarily be accomplished by the same dildo.  With this decision, you have to remember that form and function are equally important.

Step 2 – With dildos, size matters.  This may seem like an obvious statement, but many people make the mistake of buying a dildo that is either too large, or too small.  Think “just right” when you are shopping for your dildo.  Getting a dildo that is too large can be a painful experience.  Getting one that is too small will deprive you of all of the stimulation you are hoping for.

Getting a dildo that is the right size will give you a satisfying experience that you’ll enjoy over and over.

Step 3 – Maintenance is the key to long term happiness with your dildo.  Washing it before and after use (according to manufacturer’s instructions) will prolong the life of your dildo.  Proper storage is important for preventing damage, or decay.  Another part of this equation is what we call maintenance through proper usage.

Avoid using a dildo for both vaginal and anal play.  If you want both sensations, buy two and keep your body safe!  Avoid sharing dildos made from porous materials, this can lead to infection in some cases.  Also, never use a dildo for anal play that is not designed for anal play.  You don’t want things going in that you can’t get out!

Using these 3 simple steps, you can get the most from your dildo and play time.  Your play time will be more fun and your dildo will last longer.  Both of those benefits are definitely worth a tiny bit of extra care and effort!

Curious about flavored lubes?  I know a lot of people are, so I thought it would be a good idea to write about them specifically.

Of course I should say that, in general, I’m not a big fan of flavored lubes. That doesn’t mean I don’t use them,  I just tend to shy away from them for a couple of reasons.

First, a lot of them have ingredients that I try to avoid. Any time you see that a lube has sugar in it, no matter how good it tastes, do not put it near your junk. Sugar = yeast infection nine times out of ten and that’s bound to put a damper on your sex life. Fortunately, there are a number of companies out there who are looking out for your well-being and make quality products without sketchy lists of ingredients a million miles long.

Of course, if you have a bottle of Sugar Momma’s Strawberry Sex Lube and LOVE the way it tastes, there’s no reason you can’t make good use of it – just keep it away from everyone’s genitals! Please don’t let me stop you from licking anything off of your lover’s nipples!

The second reason I don’t usually reach for my flavored lubes is that I like the taste of pussy. That’s probably the most vulgar way I could express that sentiment, but it’s the truth. Why mask something I enjoy with 46 chemicals that mix together to taste like “cherry.”

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to learn a bit about these popular products. The appeal of these products is pretty obvious. I mean, who doesn’t love a little extra sweetness in any aspect of life. Think of flavored lube as the sugar in your coffee…

One of my favorite lines is Sliquid’s Swirl. I love the company and their products because they obviously put a lot of thought into their products. Swirl’s water-based lubricants are 100% Vegan friendly, glycerin free and paraben free. Of course, they don’t have any sugar in them, so there’s no need to worry about throwing off a woman’s PH balance.

I have the Cherry Vanilla flavor and think it’s great. It has a really subtle flavor that doesn’t leave a bad taste in your mouth. The sweet hint is a nice addition to any oral games and I have to say that as a lubricant it works pretty well. Like most water-based lubes, you do have to reactivate occasionally, but I don’t have any major complaints about it.

Another company making safe and sexy lube is O My. Like Sliquid, their flavored lubes don’t contain any sugar and are paraben free. Another great thing about them is that they don’t contain any dye, so you don’t have to worry about having Blueberry Cheesecake lube stains on your expensive sheets! I had a chance to use the Passion Fruit flavor and really liked it.

To be honest, both O My and Sliquid are great products and I recommend both highly if you’re looking for a little something sweet.  I guess it just comes down to personal taste and what kind of flavor fun you’re looking to have because the variety is pretty astounding.

Flavored lubes can be a lot of fun and definitely add a new playful element to your sex life.  Just take the time to look at what ingredients make up any lube before application and always stay away from sugar and glycerin!

Find out what does it for you and roll with it

Every once in a while I get blindsided by a type of question that makes me stop and wonder if people really over contextualize sex to the point where it is no longer a part of their natural life.  It’s almost as if eating, drinking, sleep, exercise and social activities are one part of physical activities, and sex is this grand mystery that is separated from normal biological function.

Last night I had a medical professional – who gave me permission to use the question as an example – ask me a question that floored me.

Fortunately, I don’t need to use the complete question.  It began with “Should every guy…”  Here’s a tip to remember when you think about purchasing a sex toy: If you begin a question to yourself with “Should all,” or “Should every,” or any other variation of that theme, the answer is almost always no.  I racked my brain looking for exceptions to the rule.  I found one in “Should everyone use a condom when having sex with a stranger?”  I’d answer yes to that one.  I’d also advise “everyone” to avoid using an electric toy with a cord in the shower.

But those are common sense questions.  When it comes to issues of desire and taste, “every” and “all” should be excluded from any question you ask.  So if you want to know if every guy should have a vibrating cock ring handy for sex, I’d answer no.  Some guys find it difficult to concentrate on having fun when their testicles are buzzing.  Other guys can’t achieve a great orgasm without one.

Should every woman have a dildo?  Some women love them.  They love big, life like replicas of a real penis.  Other women find that type of dildo none too attractive.  And what about the woman who simply loves clitoral stimulation?  Should she have a 12 inch porn star replica?  No.

So when you are ready to shop for the toy you want, remember the “want” in that sentence.  There is no “cool kid” clique when it comes to finding the right toy.  If you’re a Vegan, would you order a steak from the menu? Use that same approach when you shop for a toy.

Have a look at our menu, find the toy that suits your taste and then enjoy it.  You’ll be much happier in the final analysis.  And, you might even find yourself sampling other flavors once you figure out what works for you.  We love seeing people get what they want.  That’s the whole point in getting a toy anyway, right?

Trojan ENZ

If you want to add an extra level of protection to condom use, one sure winning idea is to get a condom with spermicide.  Not only do you get good protection against disease, you also get protection against unwanted pregnancy.  Trojan ENZ condoms come with a spermicide for that extra level of protection.

From Trojan:

“This product combines a latex condom and a spermicidal lubricant.

The spermicide, Nonoxynol-9, reduces the number of active sperm, thereby decreasing the risk of pregnancy if erection is lost before withdrawal and some semen spills outside the condom. However, the extent of decreased risk has not been established. This condom should not be used as a substitute for the combined use of a vaginal spermicide and a condom.

If used properly, latex condoms will help to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection (AIDS) and many other sexually transmitted diseases.

-12 Pack”

And be sure to check out our complete selection of featured products for men for more great ideas.