Butt plug: Encyclopedia - Butt plug

Butt plug

Butt plugs are sex toys that are designed to be inserted in the anus and rectum for sexual pleasure. In some ways, they are similar to a dildo, but they tend to be shorter, and to have a flared end to prevent the device from being lost inside the anus.

Butt plugs are popular with and can be pleasurable for both men and women, both heterosexual and homosexual.

Unlike the vagina, which is closed off by the cervix, the rectum leads to the sigmoid colon. Objects which are inserted into the rectum can therefore potentially travel up into the bowel: the flared end on a butt plug exists to prevent this.

In addition, the lower bowel above the rectum is easily perforated. For this reason, butt plugs tend to be shorter than dildos, and their range in size tends generally to be a variation in circumference. They must also be very smooth to avoid damaging the rectum or bowel. In order to get them into the rectum, they most commonly have a general profile of a round-ended cone which then narrows to a "waist" which locates itself at the anal sphincter, with the flared part outside the body, preventing the butt plug from slipping further into the body.

As with other anal sex activities, large amounts of sexual lubricant and a slow gentle approach is needed to insert or remove a butt plug.

Butt plugs are often used covered by condoms for hygiene, and to allow the easy disposal of any feces that they may come in contact with. Nevertheless, they should not be shared with other people, due to the risk of blood-borne diseases, including HIV that can arise from the transfer of body fluids from one person to another.

Butt plugs come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. Some are designed to look like penises, while some are ribbed or wavy. The majority, however, shaped as shown in the picture above, with a thin tip, which is wider in the middle, a notch to hold it in place once it is inserted, and a flared base to prevent complete insertion into the rectum.

Butt plugs may be made of a variety of materials. The most common material is latex, but many are also made from silicone and other synthetic materials. Other choices include neoprene, wood, metal, stone, and many other materials. The choice of materials is largely a matter of personal taste, although those who have a latex allergy certainly would not be wise to choose a latex butt plug.

There are butt plugs that "ejaculate" by squirting water or other viscous fluids into the rectum. There are also vibrating butt plugs, and butt plugs that can inflate and expand. There are also butt plugs specifically designed for men to stimulate the prostate. Some butt plugs are manufactured with long hair or simulated animal tails attached to the base for use in human pony play or other animal fantasy role play.

Butt plugs can range in price from about USD $10 for basic models to hundreds of dollars for specialized or custom-made types. Silicone, inflatable, ejaculating, metal, wood, ivory and stone models tend to be more expensive than basic latex butt plugs. They can be bought at adult bookstores, adult toy stores, and a variety of Internet retailers.

Butt plugs can be moved in or out for pleasure; for this type of activity ribbed butt plugs can increase pleasure. They can also be worn continuously for long periods of time, and some enthusiasts wear one continuously during their daily lives. This may be part of a BDSM practice or fantasy. When wearing butt plugs and holding the anal sphincter open for very long periods of time one should take care that this practice could potentially decrease the elasticity of the anal sphincter muscles. The BMEzine risks glossary states that "The process is similar to earlobe stretch except that the 'jewelry' is not worn all the time" and that there is no harm done to the function of the sphincter when stretching is done carefully.

See also

• anal beads
• anal masturbation
• anal stretching

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Butt plug", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki