Dildo
- For the Canadian town, see Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador.
A dildo (or dildoe, a rare alternate spelling) is a sex toy, often phallic, intended for bodily interaction during masturbation or sexual intercourse.
Not all phallic objects are necessarily dildos. Phallic objects have been both worshipped (see lingam) and used as objets d'art throughout history, but dictionary definitions of 'dildo' require some physical, i.e. bodily, context.
History
Dildos have been used by humans for a very long time. Exactly how long is uncertain, but there is evidence of their use throughout the past 2000 years at least. It has been suggested that stone phallic batons found in the Gorge d'Enfer may have been used as Paleolithic dildos, although these artifacts are more often interpreted as spear-straighteners. A beautiful jade phallus, which may very well have been used as a dildo, and is reckoned by curators to be about 4000 years old, is currently on display in the Ancient Chinese Sex Culture Museum near Shanghai. Dildos are also mentioned, figuratively, in the Bible (see Ezekiel 16:17).
Stone dildos have been recovered during archaeological digs. Dildos in one form or another have likely been present in society throughout history.
Etymology
The word "dildo" is possibly a corruption of Italian "diletto" (for "delight"). [1]
The word may derive from the words "Dil Doul", literally meaning an erect penis. The phrase is used in an old song named "The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul". The song was among many in the Library of Samuel Pepys.
What is a dildo?
There is some general disagreement about what precisely defines a dildo. There is general agreement that a nonvibrating device, resembling a penis in shape, size, and overall appearance, is a dildo. Some people include vibrating devices in this definition. Others exclude penis prosthetic aids, also called "extensions." Some include penis-shaped items clearly designed with vaginal penetration in mind even if they are not true approximations of a penis. Some people include devices designed for anal penetration (butt plugs) while others do not.
Materials
Early dildos were made of stone, wood, leather, wax or pottery. Of these, leather dildos with a fairly solid filler of cotton rag remain popular with some people. Rubber dildos, usually incorporating a steel spring for stiffness, became available in the 1940s. This was a less than satisfactory arrangement because of the potential for serious injury from cuts from the spring, when the rubber finally cracked and came apart.
Later, PVC dildos with a softer PVC filler became popular. Most of the inexpensive dildos sold today are made this way.
Chrome-plated steel dildos have been made, and have a small following, especially in BDSM circles. They are not particularly comfortable because they do not flex.
In the 1990s, silicone rubber dildos became more popular, a trend that has continued as the price has come down. These are easier to keep clean and do not have the characteristic plasticy aroma of PVC. They were expensive when introduced but are now reasonably priced, making them an excellent choice for the first-time user. Silicone holds body heat well, and is an excellent conductor of vibrations, allowing users to hold a vibrator at one end. Silicone is also a high-quality material (especially when compared to the cheap, unsafe jelly rubber that many other dildos are made of) that can be sterilized by boiling or bleaching.
More recently, dildos made of borosilicate glass (Pyrex) have come on the market. They are expensive, and inflexible, but have a following, thanks in part to the fact that they can be heated to body temperature in warm water, and sterilized via boiling.
Another newer dildo material is Cyberskin, a material made to look and feel like human skin. Many feel that Cyberskin does feel quite realistic. However, it is a porous material and cannot be sterilized, often gets sticky after washing (which can be remedied by a dusting of cornstarch) and is much more delicate and prone to rips and tears than silicone dildos.
PVC and jelly-rubber toys have often been found to be problematic because they contain unsafe phthalates, softeners added to many plastics that are also found in some jewelry, food containers, and other soft rubber toys. Phthalates can enter the body through mucous membranes such as the mouth, vagina or anus and have been linked to health problems such as cancer and prenatal defects. Products made of PVC or jelly rubber cannot be sterilized.
Shape
Conventionally, many dildos are shaped like a human penis with varying degrees of detail. Many feminists find the use of the penis to be objectionable for a variety of reasons, and as such there are now more dildos in a variety of shapes. These may resemble goddess figures, or simply practical designs which stimulate women more easily than conventional designs. In Japan, many dildos are created to resemble animals or cartoon characters, like Hello Kitty, so that they may be sold as toys, thus avoiding obscenity laws.
Uses
Vaginal penetration is the obvious use. Dildos have fetishistic value as well, and some couples use them in other ways, running them over the skin during foreplay for example. If of appropriate sizes, they can be used as gags, for oral penetration or a sort of artificial fellatio, or for anal penetration. Some people also use specially designed dildos to stimulate the G-spot.
Dildos are used by people of all genders and sexual orientations, alone or with others.
Safety and health
Some larger dildos are intended for visual appeal only and should not be used for penetration.
Dildos can transmit disease between users in the same way as other forms of sexual contact, and should not be shared among users where this is a concern. This is particularly true for dildos made of porous or micro-porous materials, such as most soft synthetics. On the other hand, smooth stainless steel or Pyrex dildos are easier to clean, non-porous, and can be more easily sanitized, either chemically or by boiling. Silicone dildos can also be sterilized via boiling or washing with a diluted bleach solution (10 parts water: 1 part bleach), then rinsed well. This is not meant to say that any unprotected dildo should be used by more than one person without being sanitized. An effective remedy is to use a fresh condom on the dildo.
Silicone dildos and silicone-based lubricants are not compatible, so users should avoid combining the two. Silicone lubricant dissolves the surface of silicone toys, turning it sticky. Pre-lubricated condoms almost always contain silicone lubricant, so when covering a silicone dildo with a condom, only an nonlubricated condom should be used. Non-silicone, water-based lubricants work best for silicone toys.
Dildos without a flanged base or other mechanism to control the depth of insertion should not be used anally, because they can be difficult to retrieve without medical assistance.
Variations
A dildo to be inserted in the anus and remain in place for a period of time is called a butt-plug. Dildos used for repeated anal penetration, such as thrusting, are usually referred to as simply "dildos". There are also double-ended dildos, with different-sized shafts pointing in the same direction, used by women to accomplish both anal and vaginal penetration at once, or for two women or men to share one dildo.
The double-ended dildo is used by some lesbians during sexual acts. The dildo acts as a sort of "see-saw", each female takes an end and receives stimulation.
There are dildos designed to be worn in a harness, sometimes called a strap-on harness or strap-on dildo, or to be worn inside, sometimes with vibrating devices attached externally. Strap-ons are worn by people in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
Strap-on dildos may be double-ended, in which case they are meant to be worn by women who want to experience vaginal penetration while also penetrating a partner. They may be used in homosexual relationships, as well as in heterosexual relationships for the anal penetration of the male, in a kind of role reversal. In the latter case the act is known as pegging.
There are dildos designed to be fitted to the face of one party. There are inflatable dildos. There are dildos with suction cups attached to the base, this variation can also be reffered to as a wall mount.
Dildos are designed to fit within an anus or a vagina. They are a form of mutual stimulation for women.