The Lovehoney Guide to Butt Plugs

What does a butt plug do?

Shaped to fit your body and more than happy to help you explore the pleasures that lie beyond your backdoor, 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 butt plug tips for exploring the dark side of your moon in the most satisfying way possible.

Why use a butt plug?

If you’re new to the world of butt plugs, you’d be forgiven for wondering what the purpose of a butt plug is.

A butt plug gently stretches the anus, creating a sensation of fullness and pressure while stimulating the sensitive internal and external nerve endings.

When the pelvic muscles contract during an orgasm, a butt plug can intensify the sensation, as you're squeezing against something. Using one as part of your sexual repertoire can lead to intense anal fulfilment and amazing orgasms. Yep, you can thank us later!

A butt plug is a fabulous way to explore anal play for the first time, either through solo masturbation or with a partner.

First things first, you’ll need to choose a butt plug that’s right for you. Watch our handy video guide below to help you make that all-important decision. Plus, you can watch a further video for the lowdown on some butt plug basics. Discover more about the different types of butt plugs available further down.

You can shop Lovehoney’s full range of butt plugs here.

As with any sexual activity, safety is key, so it’s important you know how to properly use a butt plug and how to insert an anal plug or butt plug correctly too.

Get clean

Like anything that goes on with your booty, it’s best to make sure you’re clean and comfortable. It might take a bit of extra prep pre-anal exploration, but knowing you’re squeaky clean down there means you and your partner (if you’re playing together) can relax knowing everything is a bit more hygienic.

For a lot of people, being clean is as simple as making sure you’ve been to the toilet that day (so you know there are no unwanted guests waiting to show up) 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.

Here’s what Lovehoney customers have to say about anal douches: “It's simple yet effective, and 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

Love your lubricant

Unlike vaginas, anuses do not self-lubricate, so a nice, thick anal-appropriate lube is important when inserting a butt plug. No matter what kind of plug you’re playing with or what size it is, lube is an absolute must.

Take it from Lovehoney customers: “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,” says 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.

Inserting a butt plug: Warm up and start slow

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

Of course, it helps to start small, as Lovehoney customer Rachery22 found: “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 odour. I have since graduated to bigger, but this was definitely a great place to start!”

Cover your plug in water-based anal lubricant, then position yourself comfortably, either:

1. Bent over on all-fours (aka doggy-style)
2. On your back with a cushion under your butt and with your legs spread
3. Squatting over the plug on your feet or knees.

Slide the plug inside, being sure to pause if you experience discomfort so your body can adjust to the new sensations.

Holding both the base and shaft, position the tip at the opening of the anus, angled slightly towards your stomach, then gently push. You should feel the very tip enter you.

If you’re struggling to relax or your anus feels too tight, take your time, breathe deeply and try bearing down (as though you are trying to go to the toilet) as you push in.

When you feel comfortable, push a little more of the plug in, moving your hand off the shaft and using just the base of the butt plug to provide any motion. If you’re still feeling comfortable, push further and let the slim neck of the plug sit inside you with the flared base resting externally.

Butt plugs are designed with a flared base so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to insert it all the way in but it’s best not to try unless you’d like an uncomfortable trip to the hospital.

Now you’ve successfully inserted your butt plug, it’s time to get to the real fun...

Do what makes you feel best

Once your plug is in place, you should feel a sense of fullness – now it’s time to get playing. You can enjoy other forms of stimulation or intercourse whilst the plug rests inside you, or you might like to try grinding against it for new and exciting sensations. Alternatively, try moving the plug in and out of you, using the flared base for grip and as a guide for how deep you are going.

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.

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 your vagina feel different for your partner.

At climax, orgasmic contractions around a butt plug feel more intense than without one by stimulating 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.

What Lovehoney customers say:

“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

Take things to the next level

So you've tried beginner's butt plugs, and now you're ready for the next level in anal play. Take a look at our fun butt plug tips below...

1. Add sensational vibrations with a buzzing butt plug like the Lovehoney Butt Tingler 10 Function Vibrating Butt Plug 3.5 Inch.
2. Stimulate your P-spot with the Lovehoney Booty Buddy Silicone Butt Plug, which delivers pleasurable pressure straight to the prostate gland.
3. Progress to bigger things with the Lovehoney Booty Bound Anal Training Silicone Butt Plug Set (3 Piece) or the Lovehoney Large Classic Silicone Butt Plug 5.5 Inch.

Plus, if you’re interested in using a butt plug as a precursor to anal sex, take a look at our beginner’s guide to anal below:

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.

If you’re looking for the ideal first butt plug, then look no further. These ones are fab options for a starter butt plug...

What's the best beginner’s butt plug?

The best butt plugs for beginners are made from bendy, flexible material like silicone, with a smooth tapered tip for gentle insertion, and a slender girth.

The Lovehoney Classic Silicone Beginner's Butt Plug is ideal for first-timers as a starter butt plug as it is small, flexible and easy to use. Another good option is the BASICS Slimline Butt Plug which is long and slim, making it ideal for easy insertion.

If you're hoping to work up to something a little bigger, a butt plug training kit is great.

The BASICS Triple Butt Plug Training Set starts with a teeny 2.5 inch plug with a circumference of 3 inches at the widest part, and builds up to a larger plug with 4.5 inches insertable length and 3.5 inches in circumference.

Take a look at our Beginner's Butt Plugs section for lots of other anal play options.

And remember - ALL anal toys should feature a flared design to prevent over-insertion. No exceptions.

Need more help?

Contact Customer Care, who will be able to help you find the perfect anal sex toy. You can email, telephone or live chat to a friendly and experienced advisor.