American researchers from Duke University examined four sex toys: two types of vibrators, anal beads and a prostate vibrator. They concluded that sex toys are not nearly as safe as manufacturers claim. What’s the issue? Are sex toys indeed unsafe?
The research
The study in question was published on March 23, 2023, but was only recently picked up by the press and social media. The news headlines did not lie: sex toys cause cancer, kidney failure, can make you infertile … For me, several alarm bells immediately started ringing. Certain materials are known to be unsafe, such as those containing plasticizers (phthalates). For years I – and with me just about all sextoy reviewers around the world – have been warning that you should not use products that contain plasticizers. You can understand that my curiosity was piqued.
However, the study in question did not focus on phthalates, but mainly on microplastics. And that – as far as I know – has never been done before. The researchers were curious as to whether mechanical movements (say: rubbing the material against your body) would lead to abrasion that might allow microplastics to come into contact with soft tissue in the vagina or anus. Good legitimate question.
To that end, they examined four sex toys: a tarzan or rabbit vibrator (Deluxe Rotating Wall Bangers Rabbit vibrator), anal beads (Cal Exotics X-10 Beads Blue), an anal prostate toy (Stubby Nubby G-vibe pink) and an external vibrator (Luna rechargeable personal stimulator). All products were purchased in triplicate, with each of the three samples purchased at different times to account for sample and batch variability.
To confirm or refute the presence of endocrine disruptors, the researchers used a machine that rubbed against the toys. According to the authors, the abrasion tests released microplastics and nanoplastics. By analyzing these particles, they concluded that the anal toy was made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the anal beads of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the external vibrator of a silicone mixture (polydimethylsiloxane [PDMS]) and the tarzan vibrator of rubber (polyisoprene). However, they also found that some of these toys contained phthalates, even if the manufacturer had indicated on the packaging that the toy was free of plasticizers.
The researchers’ conclusion is that sex toys can break down into microplastics and that some materials contain phthalates. Whether this is cause for concern the researchers do not know. It is not clear whether the risks in a child who puts toys containing plasticizers in the mouth are as great as in an adult who puts a sex toy in the vagina or anus. This has never been studied scientifically.
The researchers stress that they did not want to prove to them that all sex toys are unsafe. However, they do call – based on this unrepresentative sample – for further research.
As a consumer, what can you do with the results of this research?
The researchers are absolutely correct in saying that surprisingly little research has been done on the health risks of certain materials for sexual use. Sex toys kind of fall between the cracks because regulations are not focused on these items. As a result, standards from cosmetic products and very occasionally from medical products are often used. A number of manufacturers, have now begun to develop their own industry standards for these.
Concerned scientists and activists have been calling for years for the potential health risks of sex toys to be investigated and for specific strict regulations to be required for intimate products. This involves not only the materials used, but also (sometimes misleading) marketing texts and claims on packaging.
Still, there is no reason for great concern. An estimated 1 billion sex toys are sold each year, and there is no reason to believe that this leads to direct harm. Otherwise, people would be much more likely to have health problems. This is partly because the concentrations are low and because your body only comes into contact with the toys for a short time each time.
Also, the abrasion test used in the study is not comparable to the mechanical abrasion that occurs during normal use. Thus, not as many microplastics are released during normal use as you might infer from the study.
Moreover, only four products were tested, which one might question whether they are most relevant or even representative of the range.
Also, the rules in Europe are stricter than in Asia, for example. Therefore, always buy your products from a European provider because they must comply with European laws and regulations.
Never buy products made from jelly. These contain high concentrations of phthalates. Other materials contain no plasticizers or very low concentrations of them. How do you know if something contains plasticizers? Plastics that are soft almost always contain phthalates (plasticizers are a material that makes hard plastics bendable and soft: think plastic bags).
Furthermore, it is always recommended to clean toys thoroughly before use and after use. If you see wear and tear on your product, it’s time to replace your toy.
In short, there is no reason to panic and there is always reason to use your common sense. Find reviews of products you are considering purchasing and examine the manufacturer’s claims with some suspicion.
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