All About Plugs

Ah, buttplugs!

When I was in gradeschool, “buttplug” was a total burn (insult), although I’m not sure that any of us really knew why (no Google then—I’m showing my age), except that it had the word ‘butt’ in it.

Now, knowing all the pleasure these little dandies can bring, well, I’m not sure we weren’t complimenting each other all along!

LOL!

There are two primary reasons to use a plug:

To feel full.

To train your sphincter.

In fact, these two different purposes lead to very different shapes of plugs.

Plugs designed to make you feel full have a thicker main body, especially in comparison to the ‘neck’ leading to the flared base (so it doesn’t “fall in” to your butt!). Once they are in, your sphincter will constrict around the narrower area, to both hold the plug in and relax from the strain of accommodating the full width.

NOTE: If you are a beginner, I suggest you start with a ludicrously small-looking buttplug (with a significant base size). Our eyes are almost always bigger than our assholes, and it’s easier to work up than to fit in something that your body is not yet ready for.

Also, start with a softer material.

Training plugs, however, will have a wider ‘neck’ area (will still have a flared base, of course), to keep your sphincter dilated, training it to relax and get used to being more open than a sphincter would ever be, except when evacuating the bowels.

Often, plugs for training will come in a kit, with gradated neck widths, to work yourself up to the larger size bit-by-bit.

Feeling Full

For those who love the feeling of being penetrated, butt plugs can offer a variety of options.

They can be inserted, and worn under clothing for brief periods (even in public), with more experienced users wearing them for hours, even.

For vagina-havers, slipping a buttplug in can give the sensation of double penetration when the vagina is also filled with a flesh dick or dildo. Add in clitoral stimulation for a trifecta of pleasure.

Anyone can potentially enjoy the pleasure of having a plug inserted during oral sex for added stimulus.

Many also like to feel filled during solo play.

Training

Using a training plug to prepare for anal play, and relax the sphincter is a good way to ease play.

By wearing a training plug during any relaxing or sexual/affectionate play before the main anal event, you are getting your sphincter used to being held a bit wider than usual, making way for a less stressful entry.

A Third Reason

Prostate stimulation.

Some plugs are shaped specifically to stimulate the prostate from both inside (usually with a swervy shape and a bump meant to rub against the p-spot) and the outside, with a “finger” designed to work on the taint, on the outside of the prostate.

For p-spot havers, these plugs are reported to be quite pleasurable, and come in a variety of sizes, materials, shapes, colors, vibration or non, and even with little “loops” on the outside bits to make it easier to rock and move the toy inside for even more possibilities.

Plugs Material

I’ve already talked about choosing toys in Lesson 5, Recommendations. I suggest you re-read or re-listen to that information before choosing your plugs.

As I noted, which materials you use should ALWAYS be a factor when choosing toys, but it’s even more critical with plugs—they stay inside you for prolonged periods, in direct contact with your rectum and sphincter.

Plugs are inserted into a VERY sensitive and soft part of your body.

The harder the plug, the better in many cases for specific pressure on the prostate during that sort of play. Also, the g-spot can be stimulated through the rectal and vaginal walls with a plug during play that does not involve penetration of the vagina.

The harder the plug, the more likely it will be uncomfortable for longer wear.

The heavier the plug, the potential for pain and “hot spots” due to the pressure from the weight. Both from “keeping it in,” which requires more flexion of your PC muscles, and from the lack of flex in the plug itself around soft tissue, important nerves (your pudendal serves your entire genital region), and bone—like your coccyx.

I recommend silicone (platinum grade, of course) for all longer term wear, especially any that involves normal movements like bending and sitting.

Silicone is ideal because its specific gravity ( a technical term to refer to how much a material weighs compared to water ) is essentially 1, which means it is the closest of all materials to your body’s own composition weight, making it more buoyant inside, further helping to reduce the risk of pressure spots from weight alone.

Cheaper Plugs

Platinum grade silicone is not cheap.

Of course, I could ask what price you put on your health and safety, but that’s pretty elitist, suggesting that you don’t deserve to play with butt stuff until you can afford the absolute best.

I’m not that girl.

So, if you go with a cheaper silicone or even (heaven forbid!) a vinyl toy of some sort, wrap it.

Yup, in a condom.

In fact, not one, but two or three. And tie them off under the base.

This can help keep your butthole safe from those nasty chemicals. On the other hands, some of the not-good stuff can actually make it’s way through latex as well. You’ll know if you can still smell the toy through the condoms a few hours later. That smell tells you that it will get into and be absorbed by your butt.

So, cheap silicone wrapped in condoms is going to be your best budget-aware option.

Tails & Other Attachments

These add weight.

It’s obvious, however, it needs to be said. Weight on a butt plug pulls on your rectum, and your sphincters could get quite tired from hold it in.

Add to that, the longer a plug is in, the more relaxed your sphincters get at having it there, so your own body will be working against you.

The heavier the tail or attachment (and remember, we’re talking in ounces here, your butthole is not meant to be a weight lifter), the more difficult it will be to keep inside and the more likely for dropping and other accidents to happen.

Which is why many choose a sort of “harness” to hold tailed or chained plugs inside during play.

Chained?

Yes. Like with a dog lease attached to a plug.

There. Now you know a thing. grins

Plugs & Lube

I’ve already talked about lubes in Lesson 1. You may want to re-read or re-listen.

Because the plug will be in the rectum for an extended period, you may want to use a lube shooter (see the recommendations) or freeze some lube in ice cube trays (like those for water bottle ice cubes or fun bullet shapes—see the recommendations) and put one or two up inside the rectum to keep it nice and slickery up there.

With prolonged wear, though, lube sometimes works it’s way out (that’s the natural direction for anything in the rectum, after all), or in the case of some natural lubes, will be absorbed.

So, you may need to have lube on hand to comfortably remove a plug after prolonged wear, not just during insertion.

If things do feel a bit dry when you wiggle the plug, simply add some more lube to the neck, wiggle it around a bit, and slide it out.

Plug Shapes

You have no idea how greedy or sensitive your butthole is until you play with toys that are not made for butts, or made poorly for butts.

And, frankly, I’d suggest that you find other ways to experience that greed (I refer you back to the Recommendations section in Lesson 5 for objects that have been lost up butts).

Plug Base

Because plugs are worn for longer periods, they have a nasty habit of working their way inside without you even knowing, even when they LOOK like they have a base that’s flared enough.

Thing is, a round base, while most common, can be problematic in design:

If it’s big enough, it can be uncomfortable, especially in stiffer materials.

If it looks pretty and feels good, it may be too small to stay on the external side of your sphincter. Just ask those who’ve had mishaps with pretty “jeweled” plugs (“entertainment purposes, you know).

There are reasons for round bases, especially on training plugs, however, whenever possible, I recommend plugs with oblong bases.

Shaped oblong bases are best.

The wonderful thing about oblong bases is that they can be more substantial (those less likely to get sucked in), while still fitting comfortably along your butt crack between your cheeks.

This is a very good thing.

Whatever you choose, there is a huge variety out there. Judge each on a per-item basis, and take into account the material used, and how that will feel during both short and long term wear.

For example, a purely decorative plug for a photoshoot will not need to be QUITE as comfortable and stable (since you’re not moving around as much, flexing your sphincter) as one you may wear for hours or a plug worn during active sex (when your sphincters might flex during orgasm—this happens to a lot of people).

Plug Body

The shape of the body or “bulb” of the plug can make a huge difference in comfort and pleasure.

The standard “Christmas Tree” shape is easily recognized. Maybe a bit too easily recognized…

But (butt! LOL! That never gets old!), this is not the only shape available. My favorite plugs come in an egg shape, which we love. And there are, of course, shapes made specifically for deeper penetration, to hold tails, and to stimulate the p-spot and g-spot.

Experiment with shapes and sizes to find what works for you for your maximum pleasure.

Plug Neck

Neck to body ratio is a critical consideration in comfort and in keeping that damn thing in.

The greater the difference between the bulb and the neck, generally the easier it is to retain, or keep inside your butt.

Of course, we’ve already talked about training your sphincters, or stretching them, which requires a wider neck. When shopping for training plugs, still keep looking for those with a wider bulb, as too close of a size will allow that plug to be expelled quite easily as your sphincter muscles relax during training.

Texture

Some people enjoy a texture on the neck of the plug to stimulate the anus while also filling the rectum. The nerves down there are incredibly sensitive, so this can feel quite good.

Do keep in mind that the more pronounced the texture is, the more quickly fatigue and soreness could set in. As soon as you feel ANY discomfort, remove the plug.

Smoother necks are generally better and more comfortable for wear over hours.

Texture on the bulb matters very little. The rectum has almost no nerve endings, so it’s really shape that makes a difference there.

And remember, we want SMOOTH toys for our butts. Even tiny imperfections, especially in harder, more aggressive materials can cause harm.

Push!

One of the things few people talk about in butt play is how it makes you feel like you want to go to the bathroom, by pushing or expelling whatever is in there.

Generally, the narrower the neck, the less likely you will feel that overwhelming urge constantly. Of course, while wearing training plugs with wider necks, you’re stimulating the peristaltic response, and you’ll also be training yourself, learning NOT to push out through instinct. However, if you are distracted, you may find that your body takes over and takes care fo that for you.

So, be aware.

That may be part of the fun and challenge for you. That’s OK. Just know the risks.

Remember RACBP—Risk Aware Consensual Butt Play.

Warning Labels

The same goes for adult toys that go in your butt. If the warning says “for external use only” on a toy OBVIOUSLY meant for internal use, heed that. There is a reason.

That warning of “for entertainment purposes only,” or for external use on a product or in the legalese on a toy manufacturer/seller website is a clue, and worth paying attention to.

Sure, they used to be necessary to dodge the morality police and conservative sexual culture, but now it really means something.

The adult toy industry is 100% self-regulated.

That means they can CLAIM that a toy is made of whatever they want to claim, and few will go against them. However, if they say not to stick it inside you, then you can bet it’s not 100% safe.

Your safety is worth more than the difference in price.