Dildos – or artificial penises – have been around as long as people have had sex. Since the beginning of time, people have been making penis-shaped objects. Judging from archaeological digs, thousands of years ago we humans were very inventive in making dildos. But what are dildos anyway? Is it even healthy to use them? Why do some have a suction cup or a scrotum? NBRplaza answers all your questions (and more).

What is a dildo actually?

A dildo is a phallus-shaped object that does not vibrate and that you can use for sexual stimulation. A dildo has no mechanical or motor parts and therefore does not use electricity or batteries. People of all genders and orientations can use a dildo to experience pleasure with. Alone, or with a partner.

You might best think of a dildo as an artificial penis. Because a dildo does not vibrate, it is primarily intended for penetration into the vagina or anus. In porn movies, you sometimes see people licking or sucking on it as well, but that’s more exciting for the viewer than for the person doing it. Frankly, I’ve never understood that (unless saliva makes you want to provide the dildo with some natural lubricant). So anyway, dildos are especially fun and nice if you like penetration.

Dildos come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, shapes, textures and materials. From lifelike skin-colored realistic penis shapes, to imaginative rods in all the colors of the rainbow, to anal plugs made of metal or glass, to even wooden and stone variants.

Why would you use a dildo?

Good question. You would say that nothing beats “the real thing”; a penis made of flesh and blood. But as my grandmother used to say:

“Why take a whole pig, when a sausage will do?”

Yet there are plenty of reasons to use a dildo, even (or maybe especially) if you have a partner with a penis. A realistic dildo can stimulate the imagination, for example to experience double penetration together with your partner, without having to allow an extra person into the bedroom. A realistic dildo not only visually resembles a real penis due to the veins, glans (and sometimes balls), but often feels like one. Therefore, they are also nice if there is no real penis available (for a while) at the time you need it.

Are dildos for straight men?

There is no reason to feel threatened as a penis owner if your partner wants to use a dildo (together, or alone) a dildo. Your penis is not too small, the dildo will not replace you in the bedroom. Your partner just wants something extra, or something different, or something to go with it.

If you would like to use a dildo yourself; do so by all means. It doesn’t make you gay (should you be afraid of that) or “different. Many straight men use a dildo together with their partner, or alone. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Are dildos harmful to the vagina?

Some women wonder if using a dildo is harmful to their vagina. The answer is simple: if you take a dildo made of a safe material (not porous, not jelly) then a dildo is perfectly safe for your vagina. It won’t stretch your vaginal walls and you can’t break anything inside with normal use.

Even if you like extremely large dildos, there’s no reason to worry. Except maybe where you can hide the dildo out of sight….

Why do some dildos have a scrotum?

The balls on a realistic dildo are there first and foremost to make the dildo look even more realistic. But while they are there, you might as well use them. For example, you can use the scrotum as a kind of handle, to have a better grip during use. They can also be used to stimulate the clitoris during vaginal penetration. By rubbing the balls against the clitoris you will be doubly stimulated.

If you want to use a dildo anally, the balls ensure that the dildo is safe to use. The scrotum prevents the dildo from disappearing into your rear.

A dildo made out of glass?

Besides dildos made of silicone and plastic, there are also very nice dildos made of materials such as glass and metal. A glass dildo is especially beautiful. Of course, there is no accounting for taste, but what is more beautiful to have on your bedside table: a flesh-colored plastic dummy, or a work of art, both in shape and color?

Besides the aesthetic benefits of a glass dildo, a dildo made of glass is also extremely functional. For example, a dildo made of glass is nice and hard and heavy. They are not porous and therefore very easy to maintain and hygienic. In addition, this material retains temperature for a very long time. That makes a glass dildo ideally suited for temperature play.

Contrary to what you may think, a glass dildo is one of the safest materials. Glass dildos are extremely strong. As a result, you can enjoy a glass dildo or butt plug for a lifetime.

Or would you rather use metal?

Metals, such as surgical steel or aluminum, may be the last materials you associate with intimacy, warmth and pleasure. Yet metal has some advantages that other materials do not. Like glass, metal is not porous. Its smooth surface makes them quite easy to insert, and it provides a sensational feeling during solo sex or games with your partner. In addition, dildos and buttplugs made of metal are nice and heavy. Furthermore, steel sex toys have something industrial and chic.

What’s the deal with suction cups?

The idea of a dildo with a suction cup is that you attach the thing to a wall or floor, and then you lower yourself over it and ride it. For example, you could secure the dildo to the wall in the shower or to a chair. If the surface is flat and even, then you can attach a dildo with a suction cup to it.

You can also combine dildos with a suction cup well with a strap-on harness, for example, for pegging.

Why are some dildos curved?

Some dildos do indeed have a small kink at the top. This makes the dildo ideally suited for stimulating the G-spot (or the prostate in men). If you use a straight dildo, it is more difficult to touch those extra sensitive spots.

So whether you should want a straight or a curved dildo depends mostly on your personal preferences.

Can all dildos be used anally?

No! The sphincter of the anus will cause things you put in the anus to be “pulled in” a bit. That’s why it’s super important that the end of a dildo or butt plug is flared (wider than the part you put in the anus).

Such a flared part not only ensures that the dildo does not disappear completely into the anus, but also that you have a kind of handle to take it out again.

Avoid an embarrassing trip to the emergency room and only use dildos and butt plugs with a flared end.

Do I need lube with a dildo?

Actually, the answer is always “yes. For vaginal use, lube helps to have less friction. Therefore, insertion and movement of the dildo will be easier. If you get wet easily by yourself, then lube is not a necessity, but it does make it more sensual.

Lubricant is indispensable in anal use. The anus – unlike the vagina – does not produce moisture that serves as a lubricant. Therefore, it is very important to ALWAYS use a lubricant. Preferably a lubricant specifically for anal use. If you use a toy that is made of silicone, it is better to use a water-based lubricant.

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Also read::

Why would you use a penis sleeve (and other questions about penis extensions and hollow dildos)

How to choose the best dildo (and our top 10)

Strap ons and tips for strap on sex

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