The other day, I received a question from a follower who was unsure about using a butt plug. She had read that a wrong butt plug design could be dangerous. Therefore, in this post I will tell you everything you need to know about the design of a good butt plug. If you know more about the design, you can also make a better decision about which butt plug suits you best and what you should pay attention to when you are going to buy one.

The four elements of a butt plug

Every butt plug basically consists of four parts:

1. The top. This is the part that first comes into contact with the anus.
2. The drop-off point. Together with the top, this is the part that enters the anus.
3. The neck: this part is enclosed by the sphincter.
4. The base: this part ensures that the butt plug does not slide in completely and also provides a grip when removing the butt plug.

Let us look at the different elements one by one:

The top – tapered is better

The anus does not like blunt objects. To be able to insert something easily, it must gradually become thicker. You can do that by first using a finger or a thinner butt plug. But buttplugs that are tapered work fine. Many buttplugs are shaped like this: a thinner, bulbous tip that gradually thickens in a tapered fashion.

Unfortunately, many buttplugs are too pointed at the top. This may be comfortable when inserting, or when lying down and walking. But if you sit down with a butt plug that is too pointed, it can feel like you are being stabbed from the inside. Especially with longer buttplugs, it is better to stretch your anus with a smaller buttplug or a finger first, than using a long pointed buttplug.

The drop-off point – essential

The drop-off point is the part from the thickest point to the neck of the butt plug. It is also important for this part to be tapered.

Your sphincter will always want to close. That is why it will squeeze shut after the thickest point. If the drop-off point is too flat, it will close your buttplug perfectly and quickly. That seems like a good thing for inserting the butt plug and wearing it. And it is. But if you want to remove the butt plug again, you have to apply a lot of force. At that moment, you are probably done playing and maybe not fully aroused either. Therefore it will be very unpleasant to have to remove a plug that does not have a tapered drop-off point.

A tapered drop-off point will help you to pull the butt plug out of your anus in a soft and comfortable way. The drop-off point does not have to decrease in thickness as slowly as the tip, but it should be slightly tapered.

The neck – longer is better

It is important to know that you have two sphincters: one internal and one external. The external sphincter can be relaxed and squeezed at will. But the internal sphincter is almost impossible to control consciously.

These two muscles take up space. You cannot cram them into a small space. If they don’t both fit on the neck of a plug, you can’t keep that plug in you for long.

Various experts say that the ideal neck length should be around 3 to 4 cm. My own estimation is that it should be at least 1.5 cm. If the neck is shorter, the internal sphincter will be partially on the bulb. Therefore that muscle cannot relax sufficiently and it will try to push the plug out of you.

The basis – T-shape

If you look at a cross section of a butt plug, it should look like an inverted T. This is very important, because it prevents the butt plug from being sucked in completely by the sphincter muscles. The base is a kind of “stop”. It is therefore very important that the base is sufficiently wider than the neck.

There are roughly two different bases: round and straight. A round base, as you often see with buttplugs with a crystal, rubs a little between your buttocks when you walk. The longer you wear these plugs, the more this can become a problem.

Other buttplugs have a more rectangular base. This is more comfortable between the buttocks and can be worn longer, especially if you want to walk with it. This type of base sometimes also contains extra structure to stimulate the perenium. But if you have a vagina – and want to have something in your anus as well as in your vagina at the same time – then this type of base is sometimes less nice. A rectangular base can get in the way of the vaginal opening. This can be especially unpleasant for Penis in Vagina (PiV) sex. The penis owner will therefore not find a rectangular base very pleasant, as his penis will rub against it.

Bulb, neck and base ratio

Whether you will like a butt plug depends mainly on the relative sizes of the bulb and the neck. If you want an easy session, you may prefer a thin neck. A thin neck allows your sphincters to relax after their performance in enclosing the bulb. The thinner the neck, the more likely you are to forget you are plugged in.

A thin neck makes long-wearing easier. By minimising the pressure on your sphincters, you maximise the time before your muscles fatigue.

On the other hand, a thicker neck gives you more of a feeling of being ‘filled’. A thick neck keeps your sphincter muscles tense, giving little relief after the bulb has passed through. The thicker the neck, the more it will constantly remind you of its presence. A thick neck is also great if you want to train yourself to take thicker toys.

In short, a thin neck makes long-wearing easier, but a thick neck makes it more challenging and fun. The proportion between the sphere and the neck is important to be able to hold the sphere well.

The ratio of the base to the neck is also important. To prevent the plug from slipping completely into the anus – and you having to make a trip to the emergency room – the base should be larger than the neck. So it should not be the same size, but larger. This is especially important for plugs with a round base.

Summarised

• The tip should be tapered, but not pointed.
• The transition from the bulb to the neck should also be tapered.
• The neck should be at least 1.5 cm long to fit your sphincter, but preferably 3 to 4 cm.
• A T-shaped base prevents the plug from going in completely.
• A rectangular base is more comfortable than a round one, unless you own a vagina and want to fill it too.
• The base should be larger than the diameter of the bulb.
• Thin necks are great for wearing for long periods, while thick necks are great for stretching and feeling full.

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