ARE SEX TOYS SAFE?
If you use sex toys, it’s important to do so responsibly and to keep them clean. Sex toys can pass on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne infections (infections passed on through the blood).
If you use sex toys, you can avoid STIs by:
- keeping sex toys clean: wash them after each use.
- covering penetrative sex toys, such as vibrators, with a new condom before someone else uses them
- not sharing sex toys or having a different set of sex toys for each partner
Sex toys can pass on STIs such as:
Avoiding blood-borne infections
Do not share any sex toy that may draw blood from the skin because this type of sex toy can pass on blood-borne infections. If there are any cuts or sores around the vagina, anus or penis and blood is present, there’s an increased risk of passing on infections such as:
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
Cleaning sex toys
How you clean a sex toy depends on:
- what the sex toy is made of
- if the sex toy uses batteries and has parts that cannot be washed
- Sex toys should come with advice about how to clean and store them. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
- For sex toys that can be washed, make sure you wash them thoroughly with warm water and soap after each use.
- Also wash them between use
Check sex toys regularly for any scratches or breaks in the surface material where germs could be present and spread, increasing the risk of infection.
IS IT SAFE TO USE A VIBRATOR IN PREGNANCY?
There are no scientific studies which address whether using a vibrator in pregnancy is safe or not. Vibrators are used by women to help them achieve an orgasm.
For most normal, healthy pregnant women, orgasm is a good release and often easier to achieve due to the increased vascularity of the perineum. Having an orgasm does usually not negatively affect the vast majority of normal pregnancies.
Using a vibrator is usually considered safe in pregnancy, but you want to be sure not to penetrate too forcefully since the vibrator is more rigid than a penis. If you are at risk for preterm labor, or you have a placenta previa or issues where having an orgasms is contraindicated then you may want to discuss it first with your doctor.