What Are Butt Plugs For

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The Best Butt Plugs Will Open Things Up for More Fun

All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When you realize you’re into anal play—or at least that you’re curious about it—you really should own some butt plugs. These versatile sex toys can be used on their own or combined with masturbation, oral sex, or other toys. They can serve as foreplay for anal sex, but using them can be a deeply pleasurable experience even without that goal in mind.

There are a few key qualities to look for in a butt plug. It should have a flared base (i.e. a base that is wider than the widest part of the plug) so that it doesn’t get stuck inside you—because no one wants to explain that at the emergency room. Plugs should also have a tapered tip, to make the insertion process as comfortable and easy as possible. You should also think about material—silicone is often best for beginners because it’s soft and squishy, but many people like the firmer pressure provided by plugs made of glass or metal.

And of course, don’t forget the lube! Some kind of lubrication is non-negotiable for anal play, both for safety reasons and for comfort reasons. Silicone-based lubes last the longest, but can stain your sheets and shouldn’t be used with silicone toys; water-based lubes, on the other hand, may need to be reapplied more often but can be used with any toy material.

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Ready to try your first butt plug (or fifth, or fifteenth)? Here are some of our faves to incorporate into your sex life. Then, you can give anal beads a try.

The Best Beginner Butt Plug: Tantus Little Flirt

Tantus Little Flirt

Materials: Silicone

This silicone toy has pretty much every quality a beginner-friendly plug should have: it’s slim (about as wide as a finger), has a tapered tip for easier insertion, and has a comfortable base that won’t dig into your cheeks. It’s affordable, too, so if you discover you’re not that into anal play, you won’t have wasted a ton of cash.

Pros: Good size and shape for beginners; comfortably curved base; easy to clean; affordable
Cons: Can’t be used with silicone-based lubes; not particularly curved to hit the prostate

Alex Koliada, PhD
Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for his studies of ageing, genetics and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics NAS of Ukraine. His scientific researches are printed by the most reputable international magazines. Some of his works are:

Differences in the gut Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio across age groups in healthy Ukrainian population [BiomedCentral.com];
Mating status affects Drosophila lifespan, metabolism and antioxidant system [Science Direct];
Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Increases Lifespan, Stress Resistance, and Metabolism by Affecting Free Radical Processes in Drosophila [Frontiersin].

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