Anal Sex Toys: Types & Safety Tips for Beginners

Anal play has a reputation for being intimidating, but there’s nothing mysterious about it once you understand the basics. The area is rich in nerve endings, which is exactly why so many people — regardless of gender or anatomy — find it pleasurable. The key to a good first experience isn’t a special skill, it’s the right toy, the right prep, and going slow. This guide walks through the main types of anal sex toys, what actually makes a toy safe, and a simple step-by-step approach for trying anal play for the first time.

Types of Anal Toys

Not all anal toys are built the same way, and picking the right shape matters just as much as picking the right size.

Butt Plugs

Plugs are typically tapered, so they’re easier to insert than a straight shaft, and they’re designed to stay in place during play (or even during other activities, if that’s your thing). They come in a huge range of sizes, from slim beginner plugs to weighted or vibrating options for more experienced users.

Anal Beads

A string of graduated beads that can be inserted one at a time and removed slowly for a wave of sensation on the way out. Beads are a good middle step between a small plug and a longer insertable toy, since you control exactly how much goes in.

Prostate Massagers

Curved specifically to reach the prostate, these toys are designed for people with a prostate and often combine internal stimulation with external perineum pressure. Many have a slight vibration for added sensation.

Small Starter Toys

Slim, often finger-width plugs or probes made specifically for first-timers. If you’ve never tried anal play before, starting here — rather than with anything designed for advanced users — makes the first experience far more comfortable.

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Material & Safety Basics

Before anything else, two features separate a safe anal sex toy from a risky one:

A flared base.

Because the anus and rectum continue to draw objects inward, any toy used for anal play needs a base, ring, or handle wide enough that it can’t be pulled fully inside. Toys without this feature are one of the most common causes of emergency room visits related to anal play — it’s a non-negotiable, not a nice-to-have.

Body-safe, non-porous material.

Medical-grade silicone, stainless steel, and glass are the gold standards. They’re non-porous, meaning they don’t harbor bacteria in tiny surface pores the way cheaper materials can, and they’re easy to fully clean between uses. Materials to avoid include “jelly,” PVC, or unlabeled rubber blends — they’re more likely to contain phthalates, break down faster, and can cause irritation over time. If a listing doesn’t specify the material, that’s a red flag.

A quality anal toy should also be smooth and seamless where it makes contact with the body, with no rough mold lines, and should feel sturdy without being rigid enough to cause discomfort on insertion.

Why Lubricant Is Non-Negotiable Here?

Unlike other parts of the body, the anus doesn’t produce its own lubrication. Going in dry — with a toy, fingers, or anything else — isn’t just uncomfortable, it can cause small tears in delicate tissue, which raises the risk of irritation and infection. Planned Parenthood is blunt about it: lube isn’t optional for anal play, it’s essential for making it comfortable and safe.

Water-based lubricants are the safest all-around choice because they work with every toy material and are easy to clean up. Silicone-based lubes last longer and feel slicker, which many people prefer for anal play specifically — just don’t pair a silicone lube with a silicone toy, since the two can react and degrade the toy’s surface over time. Skip anything oil-based (including lotions or petroleum jelly) if you’re also using latex condoms, since oil breaks latex down.

Don’t be shy with the amount, and reapply as needed. There’s no such thing as “too much lube” here — only “not enough.”

How to Use Safely — Step-by-Step for Beginners

1. Start clean. Wash your hands and the toy before you begin. A quick shower or basic external cleanup can also help you feel more relaxed.
2. Warm up first. Spend a few minutes on external stimulation or a light massage of the area before any insertion. This helps the muscles relax rather than tense up.
3. Apply lube generously — to both the toy and the body — before you begin, and keep it within reach to reapply.
4. Choose your smallest toy first, even if you’ve used toys elsewhere before. Anal play has its own learning curve.
5. Go slow and stay relaxed. Insert gradually, pause often, and breathe through any initial pressure. Pushing past resistance is where discomfort and injury happen.
6. Listen to your body. Mild pressure is normal; sharp pain is not. If something hurts, stop, remove the toy slowly, and try again another time.
7. Size up only when ready. Move to a larger toy only once a smaller size feels fully comfortable — there’s no timeline to rush.
8. Never go from anal to vaginal without cleaning the toy (or switching toys) first, to avoid transferring bacteria.

Cleaning & Storage

Cleaning isn’t a chore to skip — it directly affects how safe your toys are to reuse.

• After every use: Wash with warm water and a mild, unscented soap (or a dedicated toy cleaner), working it into any texture or grooves, then rinse thoroughly.
• Deep clean, when needed: Solid, 100% silicone toys with no motor or electronics can typically be sanitized by boiling for a few minutes or running through a dishwasher’s top rack on a sanitize cycle — always check the manufacturer’s care instructions first, since not every toy can handle this.
• Dry completely before storing. Trapped moisture is what leads to odor and bacterial growth over time.
• Store separately. Keep silicone toys in their own breathable pouch, away from other toy materials — some plastics can react with and degrade silicone in storage.
• Retire damaged toys. Any cracks, tears, or stickiness in the material means it’s time to replace the toy, since damaged surfaces are much harder to fully clean.

FAQs

Conclusion

Anal play doesn’t have to be intimidating — with a body-safe, flared-base toy, enough lubricant, and a slow, communicative approach, it can be a comfortable and genuinely pleasurable experience for beginners and experienced users alike. Ready to start? Browse our full range of beginner-friendly anal toys below, and pair your first pick with a bottle of water-based lube to set yourself up for a good first try.