Dildo
A dildo is a penis-shaped device intended for bodily interaction to cause sexual stimulation.
Not all phallic objects are necessarily dildos; dictionary definitions of 'dildo' require some physical bodily context.
What is a dildo?
Various authors who have written about sex have their own ideas about exactly what is and is not a dildo. There is general agreement that a nonvibrating device, resembling a penis in shape, size, and overall appearance, is a dildo. Some authorities include vibrating devices. Some might exclude penis prosthetic aids, also sometimes called "extensions." Some might include penis-shaped items clearly designed with vaginal penetration in mind, even if they do not look very penile. Some authorities include devices designed for anal penetration (butt plugs), while others do not.
Materials
Rubber dildos, usually incorporating a steel spring for stiffness, became available in the 1940s. 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.
Chrome-plated steel dildos have been made, and have a small following, especially in BDSM circles. They are not particularly comfortable because they do not flex.
In the 1990s, silicone rubber dildos became more popular, a trend that has continued as the price has come down. These are easier to keep clean and do not have the characteristic plasticy 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.
More recently, dildos made of borosilicate glass (Pyrex) have come on the market. They are expensive, inflexible and dangerous if they crack, but have a following, thanks in part to the fact that they can be heated to body temperature in warm water, and sterilised via boiling.
Uses
Vaginal penetration is the obvious use. Dildos have fetishistic value as well, and some couples use them in other ways, running them over the skin during foreplay for example. If of appropriate sizes, they can be used as gags, for oral penetration or a sort of artificial fellatio, or for anal penetration.
Dildos are used by people of all genders and sexual orientations, alone or with others.
Safety and health
Some larger dildos are intended for visual appeal only and should not be used for penetration.
Dildos can transmit disease between users in the same way as other forms of sexual contact, and should not be shared among users where this is a concern. This is particularly true for dildos made of porous or micro-porous materials, such as most soft synthetics. On the other hand, smooth stainless steel or Pyrex dildos are easier to clean, non-porous, and can be more easily sanitised, either chemically or by boiling. Silicone dildos can also be sterilised via boiling. However, no unprotected dildo should be used by more than one person without being sanitised. An effective remedy is to use a fresh condom on the dildo.
Dildos without a flanged base or other mechanism to control the depth of insertion should not be used anally, because they can be difficult to retrieve without medical assistance.
Variations
Some dildos are inflatable, so they can be inserted easily then enlarged once inside.
A dildo to be inserted in the anus is called a butt plug. There are also double dildos, with different-sized shafts pointing in the same direction, used by women to accomplish both anal and vaginal penetration at once.
There are dildos designed to be worn in a harness (sometimes called strap-ons), or to be worn inside, sometimes with vibrating devices attached externally.
See also
| This article on "Dildo" incorporates text from from Wipipedia. |
