Pharmacy Products
Oils do leave stains, so prevention helps most. Lay a towel underneath for the best protection, use a vinyl or PVC sheet for an easy-clean waterproof layer, keep old sheets just for erotic use, or use a separate massage table. To remove stains, blot immediately with paper, wash at a high temperature with dishwasher detergent, which cuts oil better than regular detergent, and pre-treat with Marseille soap before washing. Repeat if a stain lingers, and use bleach on white sheets.
A menstrual cup is a flexible little cup made of medical silicone that sits in the vagina to collect menstrual blood, as an alternative to tampons and pads. Its advantages are real: it's reusable for 5-10 years, economical over time, eco-friendly with less waste, wearable for up to 12 hours and it doesn't dry the vagina the way tampons can. It's cup-shaped with a stem for removal and holds 15-40 ml. Brands include DivaCup, Lunette and Saalt.
Several factors guide the size. Age and births: small for under 30 with no births, medium for 30-plus or a light birth history, large after childbirth. Cervix height matters for cup length: low under 5 cm, medium 5-7 cm, high over 7 cm. A heavier flow calls for more capacity, and a strong, exercised pelvic floor can handle a firmer cup. Measure your cervix with a clean finger in the vagina while reclining to see how far you reach. Many brands offer an online sizing chart.
Insert it in steps. Wash your hands and the cup, then fold it, most commonly with a C-fold or a punch-down fold. In an easy position, standing with one foot raised or lying down, insert it angled back and down. Once it's in, let it open with a 360° turn, which creates the seal. Tug it gently to test; it shouldn't come out easily. It takes some effort at first, but with practice it becomes quick.
Remove it carefully. Wash your hands, get into a comfortable position over the toilet and bear down with your pelvic muscles to push the cup lower. Find the stem, then, crucially, pinch the base of the cup to break the seal, without which removal hurts. Slowly pull it down and out while keeping it upright so it doesn't spill, empty it into the toilet, rinse with tap water and reinsert. Never pull by the stem alone, as it can tear.
Keep two routines. Daily, rinse with water after each emptying and wash with a mild, unscented soap or a dedicated menstrual cup cleanser, avoiding soaps with parabens, sulfates, perfume or oil. Periodically, before and after your period, sterilise by boiling for 5-10 minutes in clean water, in a pot kept just for this. Don't let it boil dry, or it melts. If the colour changes or it develops an odour, replace it. With proper care it lasts 5-10 years.
It isn't mandatory, but it's recommended. A dedicated toy cleaner has antibacterial agents that are gentle on body-safe materials, won't dissolve silicone or TPE and suit sensitive skin. A mild, unscented soap with water is cheaper and works well for most materials, while water alone is enough for light use but not a deep clean. Use a toy cleaner for quality toys, or mild soap if you don't have one. Avoid alcohol, chlorine and oil-based soaps on silicone.
Follow the steps. Rinse the toy with warm water to remove surface residue, then spray or spread the cleaner evenly. Rub gently with your fingers or a soft sponge, paying attention to ridges and grooves, and wait 30-60 seconds for the antibacterial action. Rinse fully with warm water, dry with a clean towel or air-dry, and store in a fabric pouch. Do this after every use without exception, and before the first use of a new toy as well.
Branded toy cleaners are designed for every body-safe material: silicone, TPE and TPR, ABS plastic, stainless steel and glass are all compatible. Latex, as on dolls, is the exception, since some cleaners wear it down. Avoid neat alcohol, which dries out silicone, chlorine, which dissolves materials, and petroleum jelly, which damages silicone; bleach belongs only on steel. Always check the cleaner's packaging for its stated compatibility.
They serve different levels of disinfection. A toy cleaner handles daily cleaning, practical and fast, and covers about 95% of cases. Boiling is full sterilisation that kills everything, including STI pathogens, but only works on silicone without electronics, borosilicate glass and stainless steel, for 3-5 minutes. Boil before the first use, when a toy is shared between two people, after anal use if it will be used vaginally, or with any STI concern. For everyday care, use the cleaner.
They're two variants. A spray is liquid in a pump bottle, good for all surfaces, needs little scrubbing and reaches ridged areas easily; brands include Pjur Med and ID Cleaner. A foam sits on the surface, gets into textured grooves well but needs more rinsing; Lelo offers one. Wipes are single-use and handy for travel, but less effective. Choose a spray for general use and a foam for texture-heavy toys.
There are three main materials. Latex, the most common, is cheap, reliable and very elastic, but not for a latex allergy and not with oil-based lube. Polyurethane is thinner, transfers heat better and is compatible with oil-based lube, though pricier and less elastic. Polyisoprene is synthetic latex without the allergenic proteins, feeling like latex but safe for allergies, and not with oils. Lambskin feels natural but doesn't protect against STIs. For an allergy, choose polyisoprene or polyurethane.
Measure the penis when erect, on two dimensions. Length runs from base to tip, typically 14-20 cm. Girth, the more important one, is measured around the middle, typically 9-15 cm. Match them up: slim or snug for under 11 cm girth (nominal width under 52 mm), standard for 11-13 cm (52-54 mm), large or XL for 13-15 cm (56-60 mm). Too large a condom slips and too small a one squeezes and may break. Trusted brands like Trojan, MyOne and Glyde publish sizing charts.
Ultra-thin condoms are just as safe as standard ones. Scientifically, all CE-certified condoms pass the same strength tests, lab tests show a similar 0.4-2% failure rate, and thinness affects feel, not safety. Thicknesses range from standard 0.07 mm to thin 0.05 mm, ultra-thin 0.04 mm and super-thin 0.03 mm, with Okamoto and Sagami Original at 0.02 mm. For high STI or pregnancy risk, add extra contraception or use a standard one for peace of mind.
It matters a lot. Latex and polyisoprene last 3-5 years from manufacture, polyurethane 3 years and lambskin 1-2 years. Before use, check the date on the wrapper, that the packaging is intact with no air leaks, that there's no colour change or odour on opening and that it isn't dry or sticky. An expired condom turns brittle and is far more likely to break. Store them somewhere cool and dry, out of sunlight, never in a wallet or a hot car.
There are two options. With spermicide (nonoxynol-9) adds contraceptive action by damaging sperm, lasting a few minutes if it leaks. Without spermicide is the most common, adds no extra protection and is gentler on sensitive skin. The cautions matter: nonoxynol-9 can irritate the mucous membranes with frequent use and may raise the risk of HIV or STI transmission in high-risk contact. The WHO recommends against it for high HIV risk.
Oral sex gels are flavoured gels or sprays applied to the penis or vulva before oral sex. They serve a few purposes: a pleasant taste that masks natural flavours, a numbing effect in some that eases the gag reflex for deep-throating, a cooling freshness, and edible formulas that are safe to swallow. Flavours include strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, mint, peach, mango and cinnamon. They pair with flavoured condoms when the label says so.
Throat numbing products reduce the gag reflex. The active ingredient is usually low-concentration benzocaine or lidocaine, at 3-5%. You spray it on the back of the mouth and throat, wait 3-5 minutes for it to activate, and it allows deep-throating with less reaction. It doesn't build the skill on its own, though, so practice still matters. In excess it causes loss of throat sensation and a risk of aspiration, so avoid it with asthma or an anaesthetic allergy.
They give two different sensations. Cooling gels with menthol create an icy feel on the mouth and tongue, plus a cool sensation on the penis or vulva receiving it, for freshness. Warming gels with cinnamon, ginger or capsaicin create heat and locally stimulate blood flow, more intensely on sensitive people. Tingling versions combine both. Choose cooling for summer, warming for a wintry or exotic feel, and tingling for variety, testing a small amount first.
It depends on the base. Water-based flavoured gels, the most common, are compatible with every condom. Oil-based ones aren't safe with latex, which they dissolve, but are fine with polyurethane. Silicone-based gels work with all condoms. Always check the packaging, since branded products state compatibility. If the condom is flavoured on its own, you don't need extra gel. With a condom, stick to a water or silicone base; for unprotected oral, all bases are fine.