The Lovehoney Guide to Butt Plugs

What does a butt plug do?

Moulded to fit your body and created to help you explore the hidden pleasures that lie beyond your booty, butt plugs are among the few insertable toys that are designed to be popped inside you and left in place.

Generally speaking, butt plugs are conical-shaped, starting small and gently graduating in size. They usually feature a slimmer 'neck' at the bottom and a flared base for safety.

Using a butt plug should never be painful, and with proper preparation and slow progression, they can be a great introduction to a new and potentially more intense way to climax. Read on to discover our top tips for exploring the dark side of your moon in the most satisfying way possible.

Sitting pretty in your backdoor during partnered or solo sex, a butt plug (whether it's vibrating or not) can completely change the game for your orgasms.

Why use a butt plug?

How to use a butt plug

If you’re feeling stuck on how to use an anal plug, don’t sweat, our butt plug instructions should take you from no to pro.

1. Love your lubricant

Unlike vaginas, anuses do not self-lubricate, so it’s even more important that you use a thick, anal-appropriate lubricant when you’re using an anal plug. No matter what kind of plug you’re playing with or what size it is, anal lube is an absolute must.

“After a brief time of manual stimulation to relax myself and a generous application of lube I found I had no trouble in inserting the product.” - Mafro

The type of lube you use will depend on the material your butt plug is made of plus your own personal preferences, but a good quality water-based anal lubricant should be compatible with any butt plug you own.

2. Get clean

With your bum's day job being what it is, it doesn't take a genius to work out why anal exploration takes a little extra prep to make sure you're clean. Being clean isn't just for hygiene or common courtesy for a partner – knowing that you're squeaky clean down below helps you (as the butt plug wearer) relax and enjoy the experience more, too.

“[The douche] is simple yet effective, it holds enough water to do the job right and to leave you feeling clean as well. The tapered nozzle fits easily, and it's all easy to clean when finished with.” - Chunkyb93

For most people, being clean is as simple as making sure you’ve been to the toilet that day (so there’s no poop waiting to evacuate) and having a good wash in the bath or shower prior to using your plug. If you’d like to take extra precautions, you can also use an anal douche to flush your anus about 45 minutes before you’d like to enjoy your butt plug.

3. Warm-up and start slow

In terms of warming up, you can try stroking around your anus with a well-lubed finger, a little penetration with the same finger, or rimming if you're playing with a partner. Climaxing before inserting your plug can really help you relax, too.

“Small enough not to be intimidating but big enough to see if anal play was something I was interested in. The plug is very soft and doesn't hold any kind of odor. I have since graduated to bigger, but this was definitely a great place to start!” - Rachery22

Cover your plug in water-based anal lubricant, then position yourself comfortably, either bent over on all-fours (aka doggy-style), on your back with a cushion under your butt and with your legs spread. or squatting over the plug on your feet or knees. Slide the plug inside, making sure to pause if you experience discomfort so your body can adjust to the new sensations.

4. Do what makes you feel best

Once your plug is in place, you should feel a sense of fullness, and it’s time to get playing. You can engage in sex with your partner—either PIV or oral sex—masturbate with your favourite vibrator, play with your nipples, or do just about anything that stimulates you.

“When me and my boyfriend used this during intercourse, it did feel good. It made my vagina tighter, which squeezed on his penis and made the sex feel good for him too.” - PeppermintPerfection

By inserting a butt plug, the amount of space in the pelvis is reduced, and as a result, the vagina feels tighter. This can really change up the sensation of play with your favourite dildo or vibrator, and the additional texture provided by a butt plug can also make the vagina feel different for your partner.

At climax, orgasmic contractions around a butt plug feel more intense than without and stimulate the nerve endings around the anus that usually get overlooked.

If you've climaxed whilst wearing your plug, the muscles in this area will have just contracted. This means you'll need to wait a moment or two for your muscles to relax before gently pulling on the flared base to remove your toy.

How long can you leave a butt plug in for?

You can leave your butt plug in for varying periods of time, ranging from 30 minutes to several hours. However, we recommend that you take it out at least every hour to reapply lubricant. This way, you won't experience any discomfort when moving around.