A Beginner’s Guide To Butt Plugs

The phrase “butt plug” is guaranteed to put a smirk on the face of the kind of office bore who thinks it’s funny to deride anal pleasure. But the truth is, butt fun is good, and if you’re avoiding it, you’re missing out. Butt plugs are divine for anal arousal, and using one as part of your sexual repertoire will lead to intense fulfilment. You may well also find that they’re orgasm dynamite. Here’s everything a butt plug novice needs to know.

Butt plugs make an unintimidating way to initially explore the idea of anal sex, either through solo masturbation or playing with a partner. Getting used to having something in there – and loving it – has proved to be just the right first step for many couples.

What exactly is a butt plug?

A butt plug is a simple, conical shaped sex toy that goes in the anus and sits inside the rectum. Plugs have a tapered shape to help with insertion, and after the most bulbous bit, they narrow right down again to make it comfortable for your anus to sit around while the plug’s inside you. A flared base stays on the outside for safety, sometimes even having a finger loop to make the plug easy to pull out.

Lube: the essential ingredient

Lube is the key to butt plug pleasure, and it’s absolutely essential so don’t ever be tempted to play without it. The rectum and anus don’t provide any lubrication of their own (unlike the vagina), so there will be friction, serious discomfort and possibly even injuries if you don’t use it. Always lubricate your butt plug and your anus fully with a good-quality anal lube, and reapply as necessary.

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Women and butt plugs

One of the greatest sex myths is that women don’t enjoy anal sex and that they only partake in bum fun to make their partner happy. It’s simply not true. Using a butt plug can make all kinds of sex feel more pleasurable for a woman (and a male partner gets a side benefit too, lucky thing). A butt plug creates more pressure on the back vaginal wall, increasing the level of sensation and tightness a woman experiences when she also has something in her vagina, whether that’s a dildo, vibrator or a penis.

Many women also enjoy wearing a butt plug while receiving oral sex, or any kind of stimulation of her clitoris. Because the large internal part of the erect clitoral organ wraps right around the vaginal wall near the rectum (if you don’t know about the huge internal part of the clitoris, educate yourself here right now!), a butt plug can press against it and stimulate it. For some women this is enough to trigger orgasm in itself, especially if the butt plug is a vibrating one.

Then when a woman climaxes, her orgasmic contractions around a butt plug feel more intense than without, and stimulate the nerve endings around the anus that usually get overlooked. It all offers so many additional sensations to ‘regular’ vaginal sex.

Men and butt plugs

Men too are wired to enjoy anal penetration. The prostate is an incredibly sensitive gland that feels especially sexy when stroked and it’s located about two to three inches up on the front wall of the rectum.

Some men can experience an orgasm and/or ejaculation just from having the prostate stimulated. These orgasms are said to feel more intense than an orgasm from stimulation of the penis, causing the whole body to spasm with climactic energy.

Wearing a curved butt plug like the Lovehoney Booty Buddy helps make sure you’re hitting just the right spot. The added prostate stimulation also makes everything from enjoying masturbation to receiving oral sex to taking your partner doggy style (or any way!) feel more sensational.

It’s not just about the prostate, though. As the pelvic floor muscles begin to contract during orgasm, the anal muscles contract around the plug and make the spasms feel stronger and harder. Orgasmic contractions around a butt plug feel more intense than without, improving the strength and duration of your climax.

So, you’re all clued up, you’ve got your lube – what kind of butt plug should you go for?

Beginner butt plugs

Perfectly proportioned for anal play newbies, beginner butt plugs offer a comfortable introduction to backdoor fun. The slimmest are barely wider than a finger, so if you and your partner have already done some initial play with fingers it won’t feel much more of a stretch at all. Most beginner butt plugs are made from a jelly material so they’ve got some flex and are cheap to boot, but you can get firmer ones including more luxurious silicone styles.

Butt plug sets

Butt plug sets have graduated sizes so over time you can increase the length and girth of the anal toy you can enjoy comfortably. You might even find you enjoy using multiple butt plugs during one play session. A set is a great purchase if you’re not sure which size plug will be right for you, or you think you might become an advanced user quite quickly. There are usually around three or five plugs in a set.

Larger butt plugs

You’re spoiled for choice with the next step up in the size stakes. Larger butt plugs come in lots of different shapes, sizes, textures and materials. From glass plugs to inflatable ones, and rippled beauties to bulbous giants, there are lots of different stimulating varieties to explore and enjoy. Some look pretty with jewels in the base, and there are even butt plugs with tails, but that’s a story for another time…

Vibrating butt plugs

Offering all the fulfilling satisfaction of a butt plug plus the buzzing sensations of a vibrator, a vibrating plug gives you the the best of both toys. They too come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and finishes, with lots of vibration speeds and patterns. There are even remote controlled ones to make it easier for you to operate, or so you can add a new dynamic to your play by handing the controls over to a partner.

Helen Self is a blogger and sex toy expert who writes for Lovehoney Australia.