Sex toys have become incredibly popular in recent years. A national U.S. survey reveals that over half of women and almost half of men have used a vibrator at least once during sexual activity [1,2]. While some people use vibrators for masturbation, others choose to share them with their partners. It has long been recommended by sexual health experts to clean sex toys thoroughly before and after sharing them to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, recent research suggests that this advice may not be as effective as previously believed [3].
The study involved 20 women aged 18-29 who had previously engaged in sexual activity with both male and female partners. Each woman was given sex toys for women to use during masturbation. The vibrators had different designs and were made of different materials. The women were instructed to use the vibrators internally on separate occasions, with at least one day between uses. After each use, they were asked to clean the vibrators using water and a commercially available sex toy cleaner.
The researchers aimed to test whether the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common STI, could be found on the vibrators after being used by infected women. HPV was chosen because it is one of the most prevalent STIs. The women provided vaginal swabs to test for HPV infection, and swabs were also taken from the vibrators immediately after use, right after cleaning, and 24 hours after cleaning.
Three-quarters of the women who provided vaginal swabs tested positive for HPV. The swabs from these women’s vibrators were then tested for the presence of HPV. Immediately after use, HPV was detected on the majority of samples from both types of vibrators. After cleaning, HPV was less likely to be detected, but it was still present on about half of the samples from both types of vibrators.
Of particular interest is the finding that 24 hours after cleaning, HPV was still detected on 40% of the samples taken from one type of vibrator, while it was not detected at all on the other type the following day.
These results indicate that HPV can be transmitted through shared sex toys. The highest risk of transmission is likely when partners share toys during the same sexual encounter without cleaning them. However, there is still a risk of HPV transmission even after cleaning, especially if the same toy is used by different people on different days.
The findings also suggest that certain types of sex toys may pose a higher risk of STI transmission than others. Toys made of a thermoplastic material may be more challenging to clean and therefore more likely to transmit infections than toys made of silicone. Further research is needed to confirm these conclusions.
It is important to continue cleaning sex toys before sharing them with others. However, these findings caution against assuming that cleaning alone makes shared sex toys completely safe. If sex toys are going to be shared, using condoms or other barriers in addition to cleaning is likely to offer the most protection.
In summary, sharing sex toys may not be as safe as previously thought. It is important to exercise caution and take steps to reduce the risk of STI transmission. Thoroughly cleaning toys and using barriers such as condoms can help protect against infection.