Sex Toys and STIs: What Are the Risks and How do You Stay Protected?

Sex toys are devices designed to boost sexual pleasure. They have long since had pride of place in our intimate lives, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, whether used alone or with others. However, an intimate object used by multiple people can also be a vector for sexually transmitted infections. With just a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your shared sex toy with minimal risk.

It’s important to note that scientific literature on STIs and sex toy use is limited. When comparing this with other modes of transmission, we can see that very few clinical and scientific studies exist on the subject. The recommendations in this article will therefore be based upon already recognised transmission methods for various STIs, rather than clinical studies regarding sex toy use.

This absence of scientific data doesn’t mean a complete absence of risk. On the contrary, what we know about each infection and how they spread should encourage us to be more prudent.

STIs are transmitted via contact between infected fluid and mucous membranes. According to Sida Info Service, if a sex toy comes into contact with mucous membranes and sexual secretions, and the toy is shared with multiple people, one of whom is a carrier, then the toy can indeed spread certain types of STI.

Sex toys, when they come into direct contact with vaginal secretions, sperm, cuts or mucous membranes can transport infectious agents from one person to another, or from one orifice to another in the same person.

• HIV is a unique case. Transmission via sex toy use is possible, but uncommon. HIV has a short lifetime outside of an organism, thus limiting the risk of transmission. As with any other intimate encounter, the motto Undetectable = Untransmissible applies here too. When a seropositive person is under effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load, the risk of transmission is nil. If you would like additional information on this subject, we have a whole article dedicated to PrEP.

An American study from 2011 on 2,275 seropositive men who have sex with men aimed to establish a link between sex toy use and the risks involved. No significant link has been established between sex toy use and STI rates or condom use (Satinsky et al., 2011). These findings must be viewed in the context of the specific characteristics of the population studied, but they do show that sex toys in themselves do not constitute an additional risk factor, provided that people follow the correct safety practices.

• Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) is a virus that can survive on humid surfaces. Contact with an open wound or infected mucous membrane constitutes a risk factor.
• HPV is contracted through direct contact with infected mucous membranes and skin.
  

• Chlamydia and gonorrhoea are transmitted via direct contact with infected secretions.
  

• The trichomonas vaginalis parasite only survives briefly outside of an organism, but quickly passing from one orifice to another, or from one person to another constitutes a veritable risk for transmission.

One of the common risk factors when it comes to STI transmission isn’t the sex toy in itself, but the absence of a protective barrier (e.g., condoms), plus failure to clean the sex toy between uses, orifices and individuals.

There are multiple different types of sex toys, made from different materials, that present various risks and necessary precautions. We can class them into two different categories: porous and non-porous materials.

Porous materials have micro-cavities, which bodily fluids and microorganisms can get into. These microorganisms can resist standard cleaning and thus proliferate. Sex toys made with porous materials are often chosen for their lifelike sensations.

• PVC sex toys.
• Latex sex toys (that also run an allergy risk).
• Elastomer sex toys — jelly, rubber, TPR (thermoplastic rubber), TPE (thermoplastic elastomer).
  

These materials have smooth, dense, micro-cavity free surfaces that reduce the risk of the multiplication of infectious agents. They’re easy to clean, simply use water and a mild soap, and some can even be sterilised to further reduce the risk of proliferation.

• Medical-grade silicone sex toys (hypoallergenic)
• Borosilicate glass sex toys (one of the most hygienic and easy to sterilise materials on the market)
• Stainless-steel sex toys
• ABS plastic sex toys
  

There are a few simple things you can do to reduce STI transmission.

It’s important to protect the sex toy using an external condom with each use. This step also means you can use any type of lube, as not all sex toys are compatible with all types of lube.

Your choice of lube depends on the material of the sex toy and whether you use a condom or not.

• Silicone-based lubes damage silicone sex toys as they make the surface sticky and porous after repeated use, making cleaning more difficult and less efficient.
• Oil-based lubes weaken the latex that’s present in the majority of condoms. This increases the risk of condom breakage, whether on a penis or a sex toy. This incompatibility therefore does not depend on the material of the toy, but on that of the condom used.
• Water-based lubes remains the most versatile option. It’s compatible with all types of sex toys (silicone, glass, stainless-steel, ABS etc.) and with latex condoms.

Condoms must be changed between each partner and each orifice.

A sex toy should be used for one orifice only during a single session (do not share sex toys between different orifices or partners, even when using condoms).

In the context of multiple people sharing sex toys during the same session, the risk of cross-contamination increases with the number of people and objects used. The usual risk-reduction advice applies, but their application requires added rigour and organisation. Make sure to have enough condoms so that you can change them between each individual and orifice. Appoint each person with a sex toy if needed, schedule cleaning time between uses if there’s only one object being used, or if certain sex toys are going to be reused in the same session.

A sex toy designed for purely personal use (never shared) means you can choose not to use a condom, so long as you clean it thoroughly. However, as soon as the toy changes hands or orifices, the previously stated hygiene rules apply.

It’s important to remain vigilant regarding hygiene and sex toy storage in order to reduce the risk of STI transmission.

Carefully clean your sex toy using a material-safe product after each use. Your sex toy must also be fully dry before you put it away. In general, humidity is a major factor in the proliferation of bacteria, mould and other germs.

Store your toys in clean, individual pouches as this will ensure they remain in optimal condition possible in between uses.

Besides reducing the risk of STI transmission, these small, simple gestures will keep your toys in optimal shape for longer.

Choosing the right sex toy from the get-go is also good practice. Things like the material, shape and intended use are all important factors to take into account. If you’d like more information on choosing the right toy, we have a range of Buyer’s Guides for you to explore.