This post was originally written in July 2020 and was updated in July 2024 for relevance and comprehensiveness.

Butt plugs are incredibly popular sex toys for people of all genders. Yes, butt plugs can be used to stimulate the prostate for a world of pleasure. But that doesn’t mean that those without a p-spot can’t experience pleasure from a butt plug too. Butt plugs are amazing sex toys for women and those with a vulva too as they stimulate multiple erogenous zones at the same time.

What is a butt plug?

A butt plug is a bulb-shaped toy that is inserted into the anus for sexual pleasure. It will have a bulb, a thinner neck which sits between your sphincter muscles and a flared base that should be significantly wider than the neck of the toy. This will ensure that it stays in place without getting sucked up into your body. The sphincter muscles are strong and can pull things into the body if the object goes past them. That’s why having a flared base, a handle or a retrieval cord is so important for any kind of anal play.

Remember: No base, no trace!

Butt plugs can be used alone but the real magic happens when you use a butt plug alongside another toy, while you play with a partner or even during masturbation involving other body parts. A butt plug can make everything feel a lot more intense and a lot more pleasurable.

Here’s why butt plugs feel so good!

Butt plugs stretch and fill the booty

One of the things that makes a butt plug so exciting is the feeling of fullness and stretch that you get once it’s inserted. Although there are all sorts of different sizes, even the smallest of plugs will make your sphincter muscles stretch around it. The feeling of fullness is also different to any other sensation, and it can make for a very intense and highly sensitive feeling while you play.

If you use a butt plug alongside an insertable vibrator or dildo, or during penetrative vaginal sex with a partner, the pressure from the butt plug pushing against the wall of the vagina will make it feel very tight. This fullness of double penetration can feel amazing!

Butt plugs stimulate the nerve endings of the butt

The opening of the anus has a huge amount of nerve endings which feel very pleasurable when stimulated. The booty has the second highest concentration of nerve endings following the clitoris. Yes, more than the vagina, which is one of the reasons that so many women and people with vulvas love anal play.

The good news is that these nerve endings are at the opening so external anal play with a tongue or finger can reach many of these. But using a butt plug will ensure that you stimulate as many as possible at the same time.

Wearing a butt plug can result in stronger orgasms

If you are wearing a butt plug, you are increasing your chances of having a seriously powerful orgasm. When we reach orgasm, the sphincter muscles contract and tighten. When there is a butt plug in the mix, these muscles will clench tightly around the toy stimulating all those nerve endings even more.

Using a vibrating butt plug can take things even further by stimulating the nerve endings deeper inside the body increasing the pleasure you feel.

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Butt plugs can indirectly stimulate the clitoris

Yes, you read that right. There’s a lot more to the clitoris than what you can see. The glans on the outside of the body is just the tip of the iceberg, the majority of the clitoris is internal. The clitoris is shaped like a wishbone inside the body with the vestibular bulbs and the crura or legs surrounding the vaginal canal.

It’s believed that the majority of sensations experienced during vaginal stimulation are caused by pressure on the bulbs and legs of the clitoris. So, a lot of the pleasure experienced through anal play is indirect stimulation of the clitoris through the shared wall between the anus and the vagina. Pretty cool huh? I heart the clitoris!

This works especially well during penetrative sex when there is a penis in the vagina too. It’s double penetration and the penis can help to press the plug more into the interior part of the clitoris and the g-spot. Of course, if there is no penis in your life, a dildo or internal vibrator will do the same thing too.

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Tips to make your butt plug experience amazing

The whole point of using an anal toy is for pleasure! And butt plugs can be an amazing tool for this, however, it is one of those toys that does take a little more effort to get it right and reap all those lovely, pleasurable rewards.

Take your time

Anal play is not like vaginal sex, and you should know that the experience is going to be completely different and there will be sensations that are unfamiliar to you. This is normal! But it does take some time to get used to, and rushing your body is the worst thing you can do.

Make sure you take your time and prep your body for anal play. If you are tense, your booty is going to be tense. And this means that your muscles are going to clench up and getting anything inside your anus is going to be a real mission. So, relax, warm up first and let your body prepare for action. Try stimulating your clitoris and inserting a finger into your anus first to help your body relax and get in the mood for more pleasurable stimulation.

Make lube your bestie

Use a whole lotta lubricant and get the thickest and longest-lasting option you can get your hands on. Just ensure that it's one that is compatible with the material of your plug. Water-based lubricant can be used with any toy type and there are anal-specific lubes that are thicker and longer-lasting than regular lube.

Silicone lubricant is great for anal play but isn’t compatible with low-grade silicone sex toys. If you are using a toy made from metal, glass or porcelain then a silicone option will be wonderful. If you aren’t sure, stick with water-based or check out a hybrid lubricant with a water and silicone formula. The amount of silicone is low enough that it’s fine with silicone toys so long as you wash it off quickly following use.

If you are experiencing stinging or friction, this means you are not using enough lubricant. So, top it up and make sure you are using enough to keep the anus fully lubricated for the duration of your play.

Consider a vibrating butt plug

If you have completely inserted the butt plug and you still feel like you are tense and uncomfortable, it might mean your muscles are not warmed up enough. One way to deal with this is to get a vibrating butt plug. Vibration not only feels amazing, but it also relaxes muscles and can make the area feel more comfortable. And of course, you can simply turn the vibration off again if you don’t enjoy the sensation. It’s one of those things that some people love and some people don’t.

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Butt plugs are amazing toys that can help you to make your play more intense and more sensitive to stimulation. But it should always be something that feels pleasurable to you. So, make sure you take care with prepping your body, and take your time with insertion so you can make the most of the benefits butt plugs offer.

Read more:

• How to prep your body for anal play
• Different types of anal sex toys explained (complete guide 2024)
• 10 best anal training kits for beginners (sex educator's picks for 2024)

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