Explore the Back door

An anal-safe toy is smooth--never rough, sharp, breakable or scratchy. It has a base (sometimes called a flange) large enough to prevent the toy from slipping all the way inside the rectum, where it would be very difficult to retrieve (and if it's vibrating in that instance, it would be a medical emergency, since vibrating toys without a flange can get stuck and may heat up to a dangerous degree). Although a large anal toy is not dangerous per se, some people are not able to accommodate them and a toy is always most safe when it's a size and shape that works for the person who wants to use and enjoy it. Finally, lubricant makes a toy anal-safe! Never use an anal toy without lube unless it is to be used strictly on the outside of the body. (Even then, lube might improve the sensation!)

Almost everyone has an anus... So almost anyone might love anal play! This doesn't guarantee that everyone does, or will. But adults of all genders and orientations might love anal toys. There's a myth that anal is only pleasurable for people who have prostates-- not true! Though prostate stimulation is especially enjoyed by many people. Basically, anal toys are good for anyone who likes, or wants to explore, anal play. 

If the toy is safe and it is used with knowledge of, and respect for, anal anatomy—​no! ​Anal play must be done with care because the rectum is made of delicate tissue and can easily be damaged, but when people understand anal safety and health and play with that awareness, we invite them to proceed to pleasure!

Things to AVOID that can make toy play less safe include:

• Trying to use a toy without lubricant
• Inserting a toy with no base or flange
• Failing to relax, and trying to push past pain
• A large toy used by a person who cannot relax enough to accommodate it
• Trying to insert a rough, sharp or scratchy toy
• Playing when impaired by party substances, including alcohol
• Inserting toys if they have rectal conditions that might make that unsafe

If you're still unsure, check out our Anal Sex Tips for Beginners for even more safety advice.