[ad_1]
Significant gaps in knowledge about sexual behaviors and hygiene around the use of sex toys appear to be experienced by their users. This was the conclusion of a study published in December 2021 in the Journal of Sex Research. According to the researchers, not everyone who uses them is aware of the risk they run from not using condoms, when they are not intended for personal use only, and from insufficient or improper cleaning.
The reason for the researchers’ interest in conducting this study was the significant increase in the use of sex toys in recent years, as these products are increasingly accepted by the media and become part of the sexual practice of men and women. However, although in developed countries there is talk about the importance of correct hygiene and safety behaviors in their use, few studies have dealt with whether and to what extent users share and clean their sex toys.
This recent study involved 824 women to better understand the sexual behavior, potential risks, and hygiene practices of women who have sex with men, women, or both sexes when using sex toys. The researchers found that the use of sex toys is common, with 79.9% of women using them. Among them, 31.8% said they share them with their sexual partners.
Condom use is rare during sharing, with only 14% of women using condoms regularly. Regarding their cleaning, the majority (81.8%) wash the toys, mainly with soap and water.
An earlier study carried out in Canada in 2017 on 1,435 people showed the same. Most participants reported cleaning their sex toys with regular (non-antibacterial) soap and water.
In part this is justified since recommendations for cleaning sex toys are few and far between even in the academic literature. However, doctors and sex toy retailers often recommend that toys be either boiled (if they are one-piece, non-vibrating, and made of silicone), cleaned using an antibacterial cleaner, or cleaned with soap and water if not there is another option. It is also recommended that they be cleaned after each use.
In the Canadian study, the majority of participants cleaned their toys either after each use, before each use, or both. However, almost a third of the sample did not clean their toys regularly. Of the participants who shared their toys, less than 12% used a condom or dental barrier.
A 2005 study found that women considered cleaning sex toys very important and often a condition that had to be met in order to share toys with a partner. However, they stated that during the sexual encounter the cleaning of toys between use by the partner was not done, because it “spoils the moment” or because they perceived the partner as “safe” (ie, he looked “clean”, free of sexually transmitted diseases ), without any previous discussion on the subject.
Participants in the Canadian study who shared their sex toys were more likely to report being diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and a candida infection. The findings may also be explained by whether participants covered their toys when sharing them with a partner. Condoms and dental dams provide protection against the exchange of genital fluids, which plays a role in acquiring vaginal infections.
Of course, it’s possible that other factors contribute to the association between sex toy sharing and bacterial vaginosis, such as the number of partners a person has and the type of sexual relationship they have with those partners.
The findings of all these studies suggest that those who have okay and enjoy sex toys in their lives should be careful to avoid infections that will make them suffer from poor hygiene and unsafe use.
And clinicians caring for sexually active individuals should emphasize the importance of cleaning (or covering) sex toys between use by partners in a way that does not interrupt the flow of sexual activity, such as with sterile disposable wipes (made for the cleaning of medical devices) that ensure the freedom of sex toys from bacteria.
[ad_2]
Source link
