Glossary
Buttplug
A medical instrument that became a toy, and in Rotterdam even got a statue.
What is a buttplug?
A buttplug is a plug inserted anally that stays in place, with a tapered tip, a waist at the level of the sphincter and a broad base. It is the same object as a butt plug written as two words, and the same thing the Dutch call an anaalplug: one object, different labels.
| Also written | butt plug; the main page is butt plug |
| Origin | the rectal dilator, originally meant therapeutically |
| Variants | with a fake tail, with vibration (sometimes controlled through an app), or long and curved |
| How long in | two to three hours is often named, though the research on it is thin |
| Main risk | perforation and a tear in the sphincter with too large a size or inserting too fast |
Where the word comes from
The Netherlands has a footnote of its own. On the Eendrachtsplein in Rotterdam stands the sculpture Santa Claus by Paul McCarthy, known in English as the Buttplug Gnome, and there is even an academic article written about it.
Variants, and how long it can stay in
The range is wider than the standard shape. There are plugs with an egg-shaped section, ones that are long, flexible and curved, versions with vibration you control through a smartphone, and models with a fake tail for anyone who likes animal play.
On duration the encyclopedia is honest about what we do not know: medical data are scarce, and the recommendation that goes around is to leave a plug in no longer than two to three hours. Some people wear one much longer. Beyond that: use plenty of lubricant, start small, and do not share a plug with others because of the risk of STIs.
What to watch for
The rectum runs on into the colon, and up there it is easy to perforate. That is why plugs are shorter than dildos and why the size usually gives the circumference rather than the length. A plug with too large a diameter, inserted too fast or too hard, can tear the sphincter. I would rather build something like that up slowly than fast, and that fits an intimate togetherness.
That the broad base is not decoration has been counted. Dahlberg and colleagues found, in the International Journal of Colorectal Disease, that 41 percent of objects left behind in the rectum were sex toys, with a 17 percent chance of abdominal surgery against 4 percent for other objects. Their conclusion: a safety cord or a base of sufficient size would probably have prevented it.
Sources
- Retained sex toys: an increasing and possibly preventable medical condition. Dahlberg, Nordberg, Pieniowski, Boström, Sandblom & Hallqvist-Everhov, International Journal of Colorectal Disease 34(1), 181–183, 2019. Provides the 41 percent share of sex toys among objects left behind, the surgery risk of 17 against 4 percent, and the conclusion about a safety cord or a base of sufficient size.
Related terms
- Butt plug. The same object under its main English name, with the explanation of the shape and the materials.
- Anal beads. The same idea as a string: sensation per bead instead of constant fullness.
- Animal play. Where the tail variant belongs.
- Anaal haak and anal sex. The other close neighbors.
Frequently asked questions
What people still ask about buttplugs.
What is the difference between a buttplug and an anal plug?
Nothing but the spelling. A buttplug and a butt plug are the same object, and in Dutch it is called an anaalplug: a plug with a tapered tip, a waist at the sphincter and a broad base that stays outside the body.
How long can a buttplug stay in?
The recommendation named most often is no longer than two to three hours, though there is barely any medical research on it. Take it out sooner the moment it starts to pull, feels numb or hurts.
Who can you turn to with questions about buttplugs?
Victor, a gigolo with twenty-five years of experience and a background as a psychotherapist. He gets questions about what is safe and what is not every day. You can ask him a question with no obligation via the contact form or first chat for free.
Want to know more
Still have questions about buttplugs?
I'm Victor. I get questions about what works and what doesn't every day, and they're never silly. Go ahead and ask yours. No obligation, I'll text you back when it suits you.
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