Can using sex toys cause a UTI?
If you develop an infection after using a toy, the material of the toy may have caused the infection. Many toys are made out of latex, which can sometimes cause adverse reactions. If you know you have a latex allergy, you should only use products that are made of hard plastic or medical-grade silicone. Be sure to clean all toys according to the manufacturer’s instructions after every use.
It is difficult to say if the sex toy in question caused the infection without knowing what material is is made from, however there are good materials and bad.
The worst is PVC, commonly called jelly. These contain phthalates which are known to cause cancer to say the least – just plain terrible material for sex toys (and used a lot in the industry).
Secondly worst is latex and materials that use a mix of latex and pvc (or silicone). Many people react to latex and of course any reaction can turn into infections when the body is fighting it.
Both PVC and Latex are porous and can retain bacterial from prior use if you did not clean your toys properly (best to use a proper sex toy cleaner each time). So it is possible that an infection may be caused by bacteria and not the sex toy material. It is also a good idea to wash any brand new sex toy before first use to remove any lingering particles etc from the manufacturing process.
The best sex toy materials from a hygiene and hypoallergenic standpoint is glass, hard plastic, stainless steel and silicone (100% Pure Medical Grade – if it does not say this it could be mixed with PVC or Latex). These materials are not porous and are unlikely to cause allergic reactions or infections.
Storing sex toys in a clean environment is important too. If you just drop them in drawer and that drawer is dusty and a bit dirty, you could be introducing these particles to your private parts too and this could also be a source.
Over all, the best way to avoid these problems is to buy high quality sex toys made from good materials, clean them well right after use and store in a clean place (wrapped in a clean cloth etc). Also make sure to keep sex toys separated in storage as like materials do react with each other and can disolve or have other chemical reactions (plastic, glass and steel excluded).
Some good name brands are Lelo, Tantus, Fun Factory, nJoy and Screaming O. There are others but these are some of the best – pricy yes, but worth the extra cost and life span of the toy – not to forget, made from quality sex toy materials.
It is very possible to catch infections from sex toys. It was recommended to me that you should wash sex toys with warm water and soap, or alternatively you can buy a wash that is specifically designed for sex toys which is available at most adult stores. I was also told you should wash it pretty much after every time you use it and just let ir air dry rather than wiping it dry.
I agree with this! You can definitly recieve an infection from using sex toys if they are not cleaned each and every time before using them. The toys will depending on where are are being stored have bacteria build up on them. Talk about not sanitary. Always remember to clean them after each use with hot water and soap and let air dry.
