When you are sexually active, you have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). But as you may know by visiting our website and reading our other blog posts, you can get STDs in a number of ways – not just through sex.
Sex toys are great tools to help couples experience pleasure and increase intimacy. However, like sex, sharing sex toys comes with a certain risk.
STDs can remain on sex toys – that’s how they’re transmitted when you use them. But how long can an STD stay in a sex toy?
Keep reading to find out!
Worried about STDs? Make an appointment at a clinic near you.
What are STDs?
STDs (also known as sexually transmitted infections or STDs) are infections that are transmitted primarily through sexual activity, such as vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
But that’s not the whole story. You don’t have to have full intercourse to get it. You can get STDs through skin-to-skin contact during sex, by sharing injection drug needles, and by sharing personal hygiene products such as razors and toothbrushes. Some STDs can even be passed from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.
Sharing sex toys is also a common way of transmitting STDs.
What are sex toys?
Sex toys are objects or devices that help facilitate sexual pleasure. They can include vibrators, artificial vaginas, anal beads, nipple clamps and vibrators. You can usually buy them in sex shops or online. Sex toys have been used for thousands of years around the world in many different cultures.
The term “sex play” does not apply to things like birth control, pornography, or contraceptive methods like condoms.
The different types of sex toys
As with most products, there are many different types of sex toys. Whether you transmit an STD with a sex toy can depend on the materials the toy is made of.
Porous vs non-porous sex toys
Some sex toys are made of materials that may have small, tiny pores – or holes – in them, giving bacteria and viruses places to hide. These materials can remain infectious even if washed and cleaned.
Porous materials may include:
- Thermoplastic rubber
- Thermoplastic elastomer
- Gum
- Polyvinyl chloride
- Jelly rubber
Non-porous materials do not have these pores. This means that bacteria, viruses and parasites have nowhere to hide on the surfaces of these materials and can thus be washed away.
Non-porous materials may include:
- Stainless steel
- Glass
- ABS plastic
- Silicone
- Pyrex
So if you use a sex toy, make sure the materials are not porous.
If you have any doubts about the type of materials your sex toys are made of, it doesn’t hurt to contact the manufacturer to get more details about a particular product.
For example, some types of glass can be non-porous or brittle, making them a little dangerous to use during sex. Also, some metals can corrode over time, so it’s best to buy sex toys made from surgical-grade stainless steel.
If you’re not sure about a product and can’t get information from the company that makes it, consider buying something else.
How are STDs contracted in sex toys?
Any STD you can get from sex can be spread by sharing a sex toy.
When bodily fluids such as blood, semen, pre-cum, vaginal fluids, and other body fluids enter sexual play and these fluids come into direct contact with another person’s mucous membranes (such as the penis, vagina, rectum, eyes, or mouth ), the uninfected person can contract the infection.
For example, if a person has a genital chlamydia infection and uses a sex toy to stimulate themselves, and then their partner uses that sex toy minutes later, they can get a chlamydia infection.
Protect your sexual health with Better2Know’s Platinum Screen. Get tested for 11 different STDs from the comfort of your own home.
Other infections that can be transmitted by sex toys
You can also get other infections from a shared sex toy, including:
- Bacterial vaginitis
- Yeast infections
- urinary tract infection
There is also a particular risk when using a sex toy for anal stimulation.
Faeces can get into the sex toy and if this toy is used without being cleaned, the next user of the toy can be at risk of infections such as:
You can give yourself an STD
Yes, it is possible to give yourself an STD.
Some STDs can be found in certain parts of the body. This means that the infection stays in one place and does not affect others. This is especially true for many bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas. (Not applicable to bloodborne infections such as HIV.)
So how does this work?
Let’s say you currently have a genital gonorrhea infection and you decide to use a sex toy on your genitals. If you then use this same-sex toy to, say, stimulate your anus, you’re likely to cause a gonorrhea infection in your rectum.
How long can an STD stay in a game?
How long a particular STD can last in a sex toy depends on the infection in question.
Chlamydia can survive outside the body, in moist conditions, for several hours, while the bacteria that cause gonorrhea and syphilis will not survive more than a few minutes. Some pathogens, such as the virus that causes hepatitis B, can last outside the body for several days.
Are sex toys safe?
As with most things, how safe or unsafe something is depends on how it is used.
If sex toys are used in an unsafe manner, they can help spread infections. That’s why it’s important to always use sex toys responsibly.
How can I use sex toys without getting an STD?
If you share your sex toys with your partner, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure that no infections are passed on while using them.
If a partner is using the toy, cover it with a condom before using it again. This barrier method will help reduce the risk of infection transmission. If you use the condom toy once and want to use it again, take out the used condom, wash your hands and put on a new condom.
Also, be sure to thoroughly wash and clean your sex toys when you’re done using them. Your product should come with instructions on how to clean it, but soap and warm water can usually be very effective at cleaning most non-porous sex toys. Store it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
What do I do if I get an STD from sex play?
If you think you have contracted sex toy from sex toy, both you and your partner should be tested.
If you don’t know which infection to test for, you should consider Better2Know’s full screen, which checks for the seven most common STIs in the UK:
If you wish, you can also add tests for other infections at a special discount. This is useful if you want to be tested for other infections such as genital herpes or hepatitis C.
Are STDs less dangerous than sex toys?
No. Once you have an infection, you have it and it doesn’t matter how you got it. You should follow the same steps as if you had an STD from full intercourse.
Final thoughts
Sex toys can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers of using them.
If you’re worried you have an STD, you can get tested with Better2Know. Click the button below schedule an appointment at a sexual health clinic near you or call the number at the top of this page to speak to our friendly Patient Services team.
