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Sex toys can be a wonderful addition to enhance your sexual experience, whether solo or with a partner. When starting out a Beginners Sex Toy Guide can identify the vast array of options, from vibrators to dildos, anal toys to cock rings, otherwise they can be a bit overwhelming.

Beginners Sex Toy Guide

We’re here to help though, with our top ten tips to help navigate the world of sex toys, ensuring a safe, enjoyable, and satisfying experience.

1. Start with Research

Before purchasing your first toy, it’s essential to do some research. Understand the different types of sex toys available and what they’re used for. Read reviews and perhaps seek out reputable blogs or forums for recommendations. Knowledge about materials is also crucial; look for body-safe materials like silicone, glass, or stainless steel.

2. Consider What You Enjoy

Think about what kind of stimulation you enjoy. Do you prefer external, internal, or both? Are you interested in exploring anal play? Your answers will guide you in choosing the right toy. Remember, there’s no right or wrong choice, only what feels good for you.

3. Quality Over Quantity

It’s better to invest in one high-quality toy that’s made from body-safe materials than several cheaper, potentially unsafe ones. Quality toys are not only safer but also tend to provide a better experience and last longer.

4. Start Small

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the choices, it might be a good idea to start with something small and straightforward, like a bullet vibrator or a small silicone dildo. These can be less intimidating for beginners and are versatile enough to help you explore different types of stimulation.

5. Use Lubricant

We asked Lady Luna, an escort working out of Sydney, about why lubricants are more of a ‘must have’ than a ‘nice to have’ when it comes to sex toys. “Lubricants really enhance my experience with sex toys, reducing friction and making play more comfortable and pleasurable. Make sure to choose a lube that is compatible with your toy’s material though, for example, water-based lube for silicone toys.”

6. Cleanliness is Key

Keeping your sex toys clean is essential for your health and safety. Wash them before and after every use according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves warm water and mild soap, but it can vary depending on the material.

7. Take Your Time

Exploring sex toys should be fun, not stressful. Take your time to explore and understand what you like. It’s okay if your preferences change over time; the goal is to enjoy the journey of exploration.

8. Communication is Important

If you’re using sex toys with a partner, communication is crucial. Discuss each other’s boundaries, interests, and what you’re comfortable trying. This conversation can enhance intimacy and ensure a positive experience for all.

9. Privacy and Storage

Consider how you will store your toys. Keeping them in a clean, dry place will protect them and ensure they’re ready for use when you are. Also, think about privacy if that’s a concern for you.

10. Experiment and Have Fun

The world of sex toys is vast and varied. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different toys, sensations, and experiences. What’s most important is that you have fun and enjoy the exploration of your sexuality. Starting your journey with sex toys can be both exciting and a bit daunting. By following these tips, you can make informed choices, ensuring a safe and enjoyable exploration of pleasure.

Remember, the key is to go at your own pace, prioritise safety and comfort, and most importantly, enjoy yourself!

Maintaining Your Sexual Wellness

Your sexual health is a vital part of your overall wellbeing. Here are three critical tips that can help you protect your sexual wellness:

Tip #1: Be Informed About Your STI Status

Knowing your health status, particularly concerning Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), is paramount if you are sexually active. STIs are often elusive, silent, and harmful. In numerous instances, they do not manifest symptoms for an extended period. As a result, you may feel healthy, while your body could be silently battling infection-related complications like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), secondary and tertiary syphilis, or AIDS.

Engaging in sexual activity with even a single partner can expose you to potentially harmful infections such as:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• HSV (herpes)
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis

While some STIs are curable (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis), others are manageable (hepatitis B and C, HIV, and HSV), and almost all can be hazardous to your health if ignored or left untreated for an extended duration.

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and PID

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the leading causes of PID in women, a condition where bacteria infiltrate your reproductive system, causing substantial damage. If not diagnosed and treated early, patients can become permanently infertile.

Additional symptoms of PID include:

• Abnormal and unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge
• Severe, painful periods
• Non-menstrual bleeding or bleeding immediately after sex
• Pain during sex
• Pain while urinating
• Abdominal or pelvic pain

Both infections are detectable and treatable with antibiotics.

Syphilis’s Four Stages

A syphilis infection undergoes four stages: the primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages.

• Primary – The primary stage of infection rarely causes symptoms, but if they appear, it’s typically in the form of a painless sore on the vagina, penis, anus, rectum, mouth, or lips.
• Secondary – In the secondary stage, you may notice red or brown rashes develop in various places on your body, most likely on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. You may also experience fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms will fade over time.
• Latent – Next is the latent stage, where you will experience no signs or symptoms of infection for years.
• Tertiary – The tertiary stage can begin 10-30 years following infection. You can experience organ complications and even failure. Organs can include the liver, heart, and brain. Systems like the vascular system or nervous system can experience significant damage. Untreated syphilis at the tertiary stage can lead to death.

If a syphilis infection is left untreated until the tertiary stage, it can still ultimately be treated. However, any damage caused by that point cannot be reversed with just STI treatment.

Chronic Hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis B and C can either be acute or chronic, and both can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Acute infections often become chronic and require lifetime management to prevent major complications. Both infections target the liver and can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Without proper management, infected patients will experience significant liver issues.

HIV and AIDS

HIV is an STI that, if left unmanaged, will progress to become AIDS, an incurable condition where the body’s immune system is significantly weakened. Symptoms of initial infection last 2-4 weeks and can feel flu-like.

HIV Symptoms

• Body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Mouth ulcers
• Night sweats
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes

AIDS Symptoms

• Excessive night sweats
• Extreme fatigue
• Lasting diarrhea
• Lasting lymph-node swelling
• Neurological disorders
• Pneumonia
• Sudden weight loss

HIV is not curable, but it is possible to live with HIV and prevent it from developing into AIDS or spreading it to other partners.

Herpes (HSV)

While a herpes outbreak, especially the initial one, can be painful and uncomfortable, HSV does not pose a threat to your health the way that the other mentioned STIs can. If you contract either strain of HSV (HSV 1 or HSV 2), there is a daily medication you can take to minimize the possibility of spreading the virus or experiencing outbreaks.

Knowing your STI status allows you to treat curable infections or start an effective management treatment to salvage your health. Or, you can gain peace of mind knowing you are STI-free.

Tip #2: Be Aware of Your Partner’s STI Status

Just as it is crucial to know your STI status, it is equally important, if not more so, to know your partner’s status before engaging in sex with them. As mentioned, STIs do not always show signs of infection. Your partner may assume they are clean because they have never noticed a sore or unusual symptoms, but the reality could be that they are carrying an infection without knowing it.

Before engaging with a new partner, ask them to get tested like you have so that you can remain safe and protected against infection.

If you are with a current partner, but you aren’t sure about their STI status, both of you should get tested for knowledge and peace of mind.

Knowing your partner’s or potential partner’s STI status allows you to make educated decisions to safeguard your health.

Tip #3: Employ Protection Against STIs

All eight of the STIs discussed earlier are easily transmissible or contractable, especially if you or your partner is unaware of being infected. Barrier protection, especially a male or female condom, is your best defense against spreading or contracting certain STIs. Most STIs spread through bodily fluids, but a condom prevents fluids from either partner from mixing with the other, thereby potentially preventing the spread.

STIs that condoms can help shield against include:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Trichomoniasis
• HIV
• Hepatitis

However, it’s important to note that condoms are not effective against ALL STIs. Those that spread through skin-to-skin contact are contractable whether you use a condom or not. These include:

• Herpes
• Genital warts (HPV)
• Syphilis

Not All Barrier Methods Provide Effective Protection

While barrier protection is vital to help protect against pregnancy, not all options are effective at stopping the spread of STIs. A male latex condom is the best option when it comes to STI protection, followed by a female condom.

Less effective (or completely ineffective) options that you should avoid using for STI prevention include:

• Condoms made of anything but latex or latex-free rubber
• Cervical caps
• Diaphragms
• Spermicide
• Contraceptive sponges
• Oral Contraceptives
• Nexplanon
• IUDs

These options may help prevent pregnancy, but they allow STIs to travel from one partner to the other.

Using barrier protection, namely a latex condom, each time you engage in sex can help prevent you from contracting or spreading STIs.