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Butt Plugs
A butt plug is a toy that goes into the anus and stays in place thanks to its shape and a flared base that stops it going in completely. To start, choose a small one in silicone or another smooth material, and always use plenty of lubricant.
A butt plug has a tapered tip, a body that widens, a narrow neck and a flared base. Once the widest part is past, the sphincter closes around the neck and holds it, and the base stays outside. That is why you don't need to move it or hold it with your hand.
It is used for pressure and a feeling of fullness while you masturbate, during sex with a partner or while you do something else. It is also used to get the anus used to having something inside, little by little, and some people choose one for how it looks, like jewelled plugs and tail plugs.
Types of butt plugs
Classic silicone plugs: teardrop shape, smooth and slightly flexible. Most plugs are this type, and they are the easiest to start with.
Jewelled butt plugs: almost always metal, stainless steel or aluminium, with a crystal or coloured stone on the base. They are rigid and among the slimmest.
Glass plugs: made of glass, rigid and very smooth. They weigh more than silicone ones.
Vibrating butt plugs: with a motor and several modes. Many come with a remote control, and some have an app, rotation or thrusting.
Tail plugs: the base ends in a tail of synthetic fur, such as a bunny tail.
Starter sets: three or four plugs from smallest to largest, so you can go up a size gradually.
Inflatable plugs: inserted deflated and pumped up inside, usually with a bulb, so you decide the size.
Beaded or ridged plugs: the body has several beads or ripples instead of a smooth teardrop.
Plugs with a cock ring: the plug is attached to a ring, and some vibrate.
XL and hollow plugs: very large sizes and tunnel-style models, for people who already have experience.
Sizes and materials, according to the product pages
In Loviux product specifications (October 2026), not counting sets, inflatables or models with a ring, the butt plugs that give the diameter of their widest part range from 2 to 14 cm. Half are no more than 3.5 cm and eight in ten are between 2.5 and 4.5 cm; those of 5 cm or more are one in seven. Metal ones range from 2.3 to 4 cm, and half are 3 or under; glass ones range from 2.5 to 4.5 cm, and silicone ones come in sizes from 2 to 7 cm. The insertable length is between 7 and 11 cm in half of the listings that give it. And in a three-size kit with all measurements listed, the diameters are 2.5, 3.25 and 3.75 cm.
Seven in ten butt plugs with the material listed are silicone, on its own or with ABS plastic. One in seven is metal and one in twelve is glass; the rest are TPR or other plastics and, in a couple of inflatables, latex. The listings give between 100 and 290 g for glass plugs, between 46 and 160 g for metal ones and between 25 and 130 g for silicone ones without a motor.
Nearly four in ten vibrate. Of those that state the power source, seven in ten are rechargeable, and of the plugs with a motor that mention water resistance, six in ten are fully waterproof (submersible).
How it differs from other anal toys
Among anal toys, the butt plug is the one that stays still. A prostate massager has a tip curved towards the prostate and often an external arm for the perineum, so it targets a specific spot. Anal beads go in and come out one bead at a time, and what you are after is that repeated passing through the sphincter. The anal douche is a bulb or nozzle for rinsing inside with water before play, and you don't need one to use a butt plug. If you want an in-and-out movement, look at dildos with a flared base.
How to use a butt plug the first time
Pick a time when you are not in a rush. Go to the toilet beforehand and wash on the outside, which is enough. Start by getting aroused and relaxed, because it is harder when you are tense. Put lubricant on the plug and on the anus, and try a finger first.
Rest the tip against the opening and push gently as you breathe out. When you reach the widest part, stop and wait for your body to adjust. Past that point, the plug slips in by itself as far as the neck. The first time, leave it in for a few minutes. To take it out, add more lubricant if it has dried, relax and pull the base slowly.
Common mistakes
Starting with a plug that is too big, or going up a size before the previous one goes in comfortably.
Not using enough lubricant, or not topping it up when it dries.
Pushing when it hurts. Pressure is normal; pain is the sign to stop.
Using something without a flared base in the anus.
Using silicone-based lubricant on a silicone plug.
Moving it from the anus to the vagina without washing it first.
When it is not for you
If you have inflamed haemorrhoids, a fissure, bleeding or pain in the area, or you have had surgery recently, wait until you are well and ask your doctor first. If what you want is to reach the prostate, a curved prostate massager will suit you better. And if you don't fancy it, you don't have to: anal toys are not a step anyone has to take.
What the studies say
As far as we know, there are no studies that measure what happens when you use a butt plug or that show that starting with one prevents pain. The ones we cite are about anal sex with penetration, and they give context for the most common worry for beginners, which is whether it will hurt.
In a survey of 1,893 heterosexual women, 79.1% said their first anal intercourse was painful, although for most the intensity and duration of the pain fell considerably over time (Stulhofer et al., 2013, Arch Sex Behav). Another, a nationally representative US survey of 1,738 women and men, found that around 72% of women and 15% of men reported pain during anal intercourse, and that many do not tell their partner (Herbenick et al., 2015, J Sex Med).
Among 975 people with a prostate surveyed online, those who had practised receptive anal intercourse more than 500 times reported pleasurable sensation more often than those who had done so fewer than 10 times (92% versus 41%) and less severe pain on insertion (13% versus 39%). It compares groups at a single point in time, without following the same people, so it does not show how sensations change with practice (Gaither et al., 2023, J Sex Med).
In a diary study of 2,453 women, using water-based lubricant was associated with more pleasure and satisfaction in anal sex with a penis than using none (Herbenick et al., 2011, J Sex Med). A systematic review carried out for the WHO concludes that, although the evidence is limited, lubricants appear to be an acceptable option for improving sexual health and wellbeing (Kennedy et al., 2021, Sex Reprod Health Matters).
What these studies describe is that pain at the start is common, that for most people it eases, and that lubricant is associated with more pleasure.
Lubricants and condoms
The anus doesn't lubricate by itself, so lubricant always goes on, and plenty of it. With a silicone butt plug use a water-based lubricant, because silicone-based ones can damage its surface; with glass or metal, any type will do. Anal lubricants tend to be thicker and last longer.
Putting a condom on the plug is practical if you share it or if it is made of TPR or another porous material. With latex condoms, avoid oils and petroleum jelly, because they weaken them. If you are allergic to latex, there are latex-free condoms, and check the plug's material too, because some inflatables are made of latex.
Safety
Only use butt plugs with a flared base. The rectum has no end to stop the toy, and anything without a stop can end up stuck inside. In US emergency departments, from 2012 to 2021, 55.4% of 885 cases of objects retained in the rectum were sex devices (Loria et al., 2023, Am J Emerg Med).
Don't move the plug from the anus to the vagina without washing it or changing the condom. If it hurts, you bleed or the area feels numb, take it out. And if a toy ever gets stuck inside, don't try to get it out with another object: go to A&E and tell them what it is.
Care and cleaning
Wash it before and after every use with warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner, and let it air dry before storing it. Silicone, glass and stainless steel are non-porous and clean thoroughly; TPR and PVC are more porous, and work better with a condom. Without a motor and made of silicone, glass or stainless steel, it can be boiled if the product page allows it; with a motor, never. On tail plugs, wash only the part that goes in. If it is glass, check first that it has no cracks or chips.
How to choose
Size: what counts is the widest diameter. To start, the smallest one or a size set.
Flared base: always. Never use anything in the anus that doesn't have one.
Material: silicone, glass or metal are smooth and clean well; glass and metal weigh more. If the product page doesn't give the material, ask before you buy.
With or without vibration: vibration adds sensations; without it, it is simpler and cheaper. If it vibrates, check the modes and whether it comes with a remote or an app.
Lubricant: plenty. With silicone, water-based.
Water and battery: “fully waterproof (submersible)” can be used in the shower; “splashproof” only withstands a little wetting. Check whether it recharges by USB or takes batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I start with?
The smallest you can find, or a set of several sizes so you can go up gradually, with no rush. As a guide, the slimmest in the shop measure between 2 and 3 cm at their widest part.
Why does it need a flared base?
So that it can't go in completely. It is the most important feature of a butt plug.
Which lubricant should I use?
Plenty, and water-based if the plug is silicone. With glass or metal you can also use silicone-based.
How do I clean it?
Before and after, with warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner. Let it air dry before storing it. If it has a motor, don't put it in water unless the product page says “fully waterproof (submersible)”.
Does using a butt plug hurt?
It shouldn't. Feeling pressure at first is normal, but if it hurts, there is usually not enough lubricant or calm, or the plug is too big for that moment. Stop and try with more lubricant or a smaller size.
How long can you wear a butt plug?
At first, a few minutes. After that you can extend it as long as you are comfortable, topping up the lubricant. Take it out if you feel pain, stinging, bleeding or numbness, and don't sleep with it in.
Do I need an anal douche beforehand?
No. Going to the toilet and washing on the outside is enough. If it puts your mind at ease, you can use an anal douche with warm water a little while before.
Can a butt plug help you prepare for anal sex?
It can help you get used to the sensation at a calm pace, and size sets are designed for that. As far as we know, there are no studies that measure how much it helps, so see it as a way of going gradually and not as a requirement.
Are there butt plugs for women and for men?
No, a butt plug works the same for any body. If you have a prostate, you may prefer a curved model that reaches it. You can also wear one during vaginal penetration.
What is a jewelled butt plug?
A plug, almost always metal, with the base decorated with a crystal or coloured stone that stays visible. You use it like any other.
What is the difference between a butt plug and a dildo?
A butt plug goes in and is left still, held by its narrow neck. A dildo is longer and designed to be moved in and out.
Are glass butt plugs safe?
Yes, if they are made for intimate use and have no cracks or chips. You can warm or cool them a little with water, avoiding sudden changes in temperature.
Original Spanish version reviewed by Antonia Gómez, founder of Loviux, on 12 October 2026
