| Home | Shapes/Uses | Safety/Health | Variations | History| Links | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
There is some disagreement about just what precisely defines a dildo. There
is general agreement that a nonvibrating device, resembling the penis in shape,
size, and overall appearance, is a dildo. Some people include vibrating devices
in this definition. Others exclude penis prosthetic aids, also called
"extensions." Some include penis-shaped items clearly designed with vaginal
penetration in mind even if they are not true approximations of a penis. Some
people include devices designed for anal penetration (butt plugs) while others do
not. Dildos come in various sizes and can be used by both men and women.  
Early dildos were made of stone, wood, leather, wax or pottery. Of these, leather dildos with a fairly solid filler of cotton rag remain popular with some people. Rubber dildos, usually incorporating a steel spring for stiffness, became available in the1940s. This was a less than satisfactory arrangement because of the potential for serious injury from cuts from the spring when the rubber finally cracked and came apart. Later, PVC dildos with a softer PVC filler became popular. Most of the inexpensive dildos sold today are made this way. PVC and jelly-rubber toys have often been found to be problematic because they contain unsafe phthalates, softeners added to many plastics that are also found in some jewelry, food containers, and other soft rubber toys. Phthalates have been linked to health problems such as cancer and prenatal defects. Products made of PVC or jelly rubber cannot be sterilized. Manufacturers recommend using condoms with these toys if users share them. In the 1990s, silicone rubber dildos became more popular, a trend that has continued as the prices have lowered. These are easier to clean and do not have the characteristic plastic aroma of PVC. They were expensive when introduced but are now reasonably priced, making them an excellent choice for the first-time user. Silicone holds body heat well, and is an excellent conductor of vibrations, allowing users to hold a vibrator at one end. Silicone is also a robust material (especially when compared to the cheap, unsafe jelly rubber that many dildos are made of) that can be sterilized by boiling or bleaching. High-end, chrome plated steel dildos are available. Users might prefer steel because of its hardness firmness, durability, electrical conductance and low friction, especially when used in conjunction with lubricant. Because they are heavy, they can be used to exercise vaginal PC muscles. (Betty Dodson's "barbell" is an example.)  A steel dildo may be warmed or cooled in water before use to elicit a range of temperature sensations. It may also retain body heat of the user. Because of its polished nonporous surface, it may be sterilized in boiling water, or in an autoclave.  Glass dildos have similar features to steel ones. Glass toys are solid, not hollow, and usually made of Pyrex or borosilicate glass, although this may vary depending on manufacturer. Like steel, glass toys may be used to apply firmer pressure than silicone can to a female's G-spot (urethral sponge) or male's prostate gland. Cyberskin is a synthetic material that looks and feels like human skin. Many feel that Cyberskin feels quite realistic. It is a porous material and cannot be sterilized. It often gets sticky after washing (which can be remedied by a dusting of cornstarch) and is much more delicate and prone to rips and tears than silicone dildos. "Packing dildos", which are not designed for penetration, are often made of this material.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
This template was provided free by www.free-templates.org |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||