Across the world, and especially in the US, anal sex is incredibly popular. Both men and women seem to enjoy backshots and anal play more than ever before. Furthermore, it no longer bears the stigma of yesteryear. Namely, both gay and straight men seem to find pleasure in stimulating the rectum from time to time.
While anal sex is good and all, sometimes it’s hard to find a willing partner to try the proverbial “butt stuff”. If we’re into that and we want to pleasure ourselves in the best way possible, we will try one of many different anal sex toys on the market today.
Now, we have to stress the “many” in that previous statement. In 2023, we can literally buy hundreds, if not thousands, of different self-pleasure tools for anal stimulation. Therefore, we’ve prepared a handy little guide to anal sex toys for the uninitiated. Hopefully, it will help our readers pick the best gadget for their rear-end enjoyment.
Table of Contents
Different Types of Toys
Plugs
By far the most popular anal toys, butt plugs are a staple of the bedroom in the modern age. A single plug is fairly easy to recognize. It has a tapered tip, a fairly wide middle section, and a narrowing end that connects to a flared base. And while the shapes and sizes of butt plugs vary, the basic concept remains the same.
There’s a fairly good reason behind such a uniform design. Namely, the sphincter isn’t used to constant penetration and, as such, tends to contract all the time. Therefore, if the butt plug was smooth like a bullet vibrator, it would slip right out.
But more importantly, if we were to insert a baseless plug into our rectum, it would get stuck in there and we would have extreme difficulty removing it by ourselves. In other words, the wide midsection and narrow ending are there to keep the plug in, and the flared base serves to easily take it out.
Plugs are not necessarily the type of toy we actively move back and forth, like dildos. Instead, they simply stay inserted throughout the intercourse to provide pressure and arouse the wearer from the inside.
Beads
Design-wise, anal beads look different from most other sex toys, anal or otherwise. Instead of being one continuous toy made out of a single solid piece of hard material, they look like a chain of bulbs. The wearer inserts them into their anus and, based on their preference, either keeps them there throughout intercourse or pulls them out one by one.
The idea behind this design comes from the contractions of the anus. Due to the number of nerve endings, the sphincter can be quite sensitive to insertion. So, a continuous chain of objects going in and out of the crevice can result in increased sexual pleasure.
Dildos
Anal dildos are fairly easy to explain. Namely, they look like regular dildos, with maybe minor differences in design. And yes, that means they can be much bigger than butt plugs, sometimes even extremely so.
Of course, using an anal dildo will require some experience. We always recommend starting off with small toys before moving onto dildos, because misusing a big toy can result in tears and injuries.
Prostate Massagers
The prostate is a gland that sits underneath the bladder, right in front of the rectum. It is a major part of the male reproductive system, and as such, can be very sensitive to the touch. Normally, we could stimulate it with our fingers, but there are also specialized toys called prostate massagers that can do the trick for us.
Usually, prostate massagers have a smooth, curved end specifically designed to reach the gland once we insert it into the anus. There are even models that vibrate, providing us with extra pleasure. And similarly to rabbit vibrators, we can also find models with an additional section that stimulates the perineum, doubling the sensation.
Probes
The best way to describe an anal probe would be to call it a dildo-like insertion toy. Unlike dildos, however, probes are usually incredibly thin and ribbed. Their whole angle is not to expand the anus, but to reach as deep as possible after insertion. More often than not, they’ll be made out of soft materials, but we can easily find models made out of plastic or glass that also get the job done.
Pumps
At first glance, an anal pump looks like a typical butt plug, but with a little pump extension. Using this pump is excellent for people who want to practice anal expansion, but can’t afford multiple plugs of different sizes.
A typical anal pump works as follows: we first insert the phallic section into the rectum. Next, we take the pump section and softly squeeze it, adding air to the main portion. As a result, the plug bit expands, making the anus feel fuller. As a sex toy, the anal pump is perfect for couple play, with one partner inserting the toy and the other pumping away.
Hooks
At the extreme end of the toy spectrum, we have anal hooks. As their name suggests, these metal sex toys look like actual hooks and are rigid and stiff for the more BDSM-inclined crowd. Thanks to their design and material, they are perfect if we enjoy heating up or cooling down our sex toys prior to use. Moreover, they are incredibly easy to clean, though they can be prone to rusting.
A Few Bits to Consider
Now that we know a little more about the different types of sex toys for anal pleasure, we should discuss a few key points before recommending anal play to anyone.
Firstly, as is the case with any intimate products, we must do our research and pick the toy that best suits our needs. Buying the wrong kind of tool can result in lackluster masturbation sessions. In extreme cases, it can even harm us. On the other hand, if we take it slow and work our way up to the heavy hitters, we will get more enjoyment out of our toys.
Next, we must use proper lubrication. Unlike the penis or the vagina, the anus doesn’t self-lubricate during arousal. Instead, we have to use external products such as lube before we insert anything in our rectal cavity.
In terms of pleasure, plugs and beads aren’t necessarily only meant for penetration. Plugs, in particular, are excellent for passive pleasure. In other words, the wearer can insert one and go about their daily business with the plug remaining inside.
Finally, we can’t be too judgemental or jump to any conclusions with these toys. As we stated earlier, anyone, be they straight, gay, bi, male, female, or trans, can use anal sex toys to achieve an orgasm. Furthermore, these toys don’t need to only be used for solo masturbation. We can get our partner involved and spice up our bedroom time with the right kind of anal toy.
Anal Sex Toys in Summary
From small, smooth repositories to stiff metal hooks, anal toys run the gamut of different shapes, sizes, and types. But no matter what kind of item we choose, we’re guaranteed to add a new layer of pleasure to our daily sex lives.
