Is Your Sex Toy Safe?

Have you ever considered checking what's in your sex toy? 

Shockingly, most public health regulators including the FDA, do not regulate the adult toy industry, routinely classifying toys as "novelty items", despite them being used in one of the most delicate and absorbent parts of our body.

In recent years, it's become increasingly evident how important it is to check the chemicals used in a sex toy before using one. In order to avoid potentially dangerous compounds such as phthalates - a chemical banned in children's toys by the US, Japan, Canada and the EU, yet still legal in adult toys. In fact, little to no research has been done on the long or short-term effect of adult toys. 

Currently, many popular toys are made of polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), and softened with phthalates. Phthalates are usually found in the rubber of cheap sex toys, and has been criticised for leaching dangerous toxins into the body. 

Scarily, the exposure to phthalates has been linked to male fertility issues, type 2 diabetes, neurodevelopmental issues, and more.

Not only are Phthalates a health concern, but they aren't exactly green, either. They take a long time to break down in the natural environment, and even the processing of PVC causes significant releases into waste water and air.

Other toxic chemicals to look out for in sex toys include: 

Many of these legal chemicals have shown to affect the foetus of pregnant or breastfeeding women, and may have harmful effects on the central nervous system.

Safer Sex Toys

According to experts, the safest materials for toys are glass, metal and Lucite.

Subana's mission is to use only natural, non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials in our sex toys.

Our glass toys are clean, hypoallergenic and nonporous (meaning bacteria can't permeate the surface of the toy). Glass sex toys are also known to last a lifetime, making them longer lasting than traditional plastic toys, which should be retired after a few years. What's more, glass toys can easily be recycled, helping you to reduce your environmental footprint in the bedroom. You can purchase your own Subana glass sex toy here.

Another safe material for sex toys is stainless steel. Subana's steel sex toys are extremely durable, long lasting and easy to keep hygienic. They are also both non-porous and non-corrosive.

In addition to this, stainless steel is 100% recyclable and uses scrap metal as its primary raw material, with up to 70% of the product coming from recycled components - providing an excellent and eco friendly alternative to plastic.

Sex Toys to Avoid

• Jelly: An affordable material used to make sex toys feel somewhat realistic. Jellies contain phthalates.
• Rubber: This latex material is commonly used to make dildos. It has a pungent odour and can cause allergic reactions. If you buy a rubber sex toy, be sure to use it with a condom because it is porous.
• PVC and vinyl: These are both cheap materials that contain phthalates. They are commonly used in sex toys to make them soft and more affordable.