Phthalates In Adult Toys. What Are They? Are They Harmful? Information You Must Know

What are Phthalates you ask? They are a group of chemicals that plasticize and soften the vinyl that is used in everything from home goods, building materials, children’s toys, tubing and even clothing. And yes, they are even used to “soften” plastic adult toys to make them more pliable and lifelike feeling. Phthalates are cheap and easy to use and adult toys containing these chemicals have been in production for many years. The use of these chemicals is very difficult to regulate because any toy that is labeled a “novelty” toy is not subject to federal regulations.

In the past several years, healthcare leaders both in the U.S. and Europe have been pushing to discourage sex toys made with phthalates and in fact, these products have been banned altogether in parts of Europe. It seems that testing of these sex toys is producing data that suggests that there are potential health risks among users of these adult products. Studies on rodents imply that exposure to these chemicals could cause cancer and endanger the reproductive system. Other studies have shown possible sperm damage in men and danger to pregnant and nursing women.

As of now, however, these studies are still inconclusive. While some studies have shown harmful effects in laboratory rodents as noted above, it was only when they were given very large doses of the chemicals. Other studies have shown no adverse health risks from them at all. So it’s still a very controversial issue and it seems that more research needs to be done in order to get better, more accurate scientific answers.

What is my opinion on this? I say “It’s better to be safe than sorry”! Why take the risk? This is our health we’re talking about and there are MANY excellent sex toys that DO NOT contain Phthalates that can be purchased as alternatives to toys that might potentially harm your health. They do tend to be a bit more expensive but are usually made better and offer a higher level of quality.

How To Know If A Toy Contains Phthalates

It’s very important to educate yourself before you purchase a toy or to be able to understand and test the toys you already own. Phthalate molecules are not chemically bound to the plastic material they soften which means they can break free from the plastic and cause the rubber/jelly toys to deteriorate over time and cause a “leaching” of the chemicals. This leaching effect can also be caused by heat and agitation meaning it’s quite possible that the chemicals could be released into your body during use (I know - big “eeewwww” factor and scary too). I have even opened brand new sex toy packages and seen an oily substance sitting on the surface and at the time didn’t know what it was. I thought it was some sort of lubricant the manufacturer applied to the toy on purpose.

You will know your sex toys and vibrators contain these chemicals if they have that strong plastic smell (like a new shower curtain), especially when you first open the package they come in. Also, if you lick the toy and it causes a tingling sensation on your tongue, it probably has Phthalates. A lot of toy manufacturers are now listing on the package if the toy is “Phthalate-Free” so be sure to look for that.

What Are the Other Options?

One answer is to buy good-quality 100% (or near 100%) silicone sex toys and vibrators. These can offer the same softness and bendability that the jelly versions have but without the health dangers (silicone does NOT contain Phthalates). Watch out for silicone/rubber mixes. Some manufacturers might call their products silicone toys just because they contain a small percentage of silicone. Don’t be fooled by this claim. These toys do not have the same benefits as the good-quality high percent silicone products.

Silicone quickly warms to the body temperature and transmits vibrations better than the inferior jelly/rubber toys. It’s non-porous which is SUPER IMPORTANT for cleaning purposes. This means that there are no microscopic “nooks and crannies” for bacteria and germs to hide in and cause nasty infections later on. Silicone vibrators are easy to keep squeaky clean with a good anti-bacterial, anti-fungal adult toy cleaner. Silicone is also fabulous for people who tend to get irritated or have allergies to other sex toys. It comes in many densities and shapes and colors and some of these toys are really pretty.

Glass is another safe and beautiful alternative. See My Article on Glass Toys For More Information. There are stainless steel or hard plastic options as well.

If you already own a vibrator that is not Phthalate-Free (or you’re just not sure if it is or not), slip a condom over it when you use it to at least create a barrier between your body and the toy. However, again, no conclusive studies have shown to what extent condoms really protect you from the leeching chemicals in these toys. I say use a condom as an alternative until you can afford higher-quality Phthalate-Free safe toys.