Sex Toys: Categories, Materials and Background

Sex toys are objects designed to be used during solo or partnered sexual activity. The category is broad, and publications that cover it for couples and individuals tend to organize it by function, by material and by how a device is powered or controlled.

Objects described as sexual aids appear in historical records from many cultures. Electromechanical vibrators emerged in the late nineteenth century, at first marketed as medical appliances, and the modern retail category grew out of changing attitudes toward sexuality across the twentieth century.

Common categories

• Vibrating devices, which range from small battery models to larger rechargeable ones
• Insertable toys in a variety of shapes and sizes
• Rings and similar accessories worn during activity
• Restraints and sensory items associated with play between partners
• Remote-controlled and app-connected devices, sometimes called teledildonics
• Lubricants and related care products

Materials

Body-safe silicone, hard plastics, glass, stainless steel and various rubber-like compounds are all used. A common distinction is between non-porous materials, which have a smooth surface that does not absorb liquids, and porous ones, which can hold moisture and are harder to clean fully. Product descriptions in the trade often use this distinction when comparing items.

Lubricants

Water-based, silicone-based and oil-based lubricants are the main types. Each has different properties. Oil-based products are known to weaken latex condoms, and silicone lubricants can damage silicone toys, which is why compatibility is a standard topic in product literature.

Retail and labelling

Toys in Canada are sold through specialty shops, general retailers and online stores. They are often marketed as novelty or personal-care items, so the level of detail on material content varies between manufacturers. General consumer product legislation applies in the same way it does to other goods, and reviews, books and educational workshops have become a common route by which buyers compare products.

Why the topic is discussed

Sex educators and writers describe toys as one of several ways that partners explore intimacy. Others see them as a purely personal matter that needs little commentary. The range of views, and the mix of humour and practical detail found in popular guides on the subject, reflects how widely attitudes to sexuality differ.