Oct 15, 2023 23:00:00

Research shows that ``sex toys'' contain chemicals that can disrupt hormones, and there are concerns that they may have a big impact because they come into contact with mucous membranes.

Despite the fact that so-called 'sex toys' come into direct contact with human mucous membranes, not many people have ever thought about their safety. A new study has found that sex toys available on the market not only release

microplastics as they wear out, but also contain chemicals known to disrupt hormones.

Bringing sex toys out of the dark: exploring unmitigated risks | Microplastics and Nanoplastics
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43591-023-00054-6

Sex Toys Shed Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals With Unknown Effects : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/sex-toys-shed-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-with-unknown-effects

Products used as 'sex toys' such as vibrators and beads are mainly made of materials such as plastic, silicone, rubber, and latex . Sex toys, by their very nature, come into direct contact with sensitive human mucous membranes, but the potential for chemicals released by sex toys to be absorbed through the mucous membranes is not often considered.

Therefore, a research team at Duke University used a polishing machine to wear out four commercially available sex toys (anal toys, anal beads, regular vibrators, and insertable vibrators), and used them against the body. We conducted an experiment to mimic wear.

As a result, it was found that all sex toys release microplastics and nanoplastics when stimulated mechanically. The graph below shows the wear rate of sex toys, and in order of wear rate, it is anal toys, anal beads, insertion type vibrators, and regular vibrators.

These sex toys were also found to contain substances called

phthalates, which are suspected to be endocrine disruptors that interfere with the action of hormones.

Phthalate esters are thought to cause damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems at high concentrations, and there is a growing movement to regulate them in Europe and the United States. One of the sex toys used in this study was said to be ``phthalate free,'' and another sex toy was said to be ``safe for the human body.''

Studies show that approximately 50% of straight men and more than 50% of straight women use vibrators in the United States. In addition, the usage rate of adult toys is even higher among the LGBTQ community, and the effects of chemicals contained in adult toys can be significant.

So far, although the negative effects of phthalates have been confirmed in experiments using rodents, it is unclear how dangerous phthalates are to humans. However, it has not been established whether it is safe for contact with adult mucous membranes.

'Severe reproductive complications and loss of fertility have been observed for some of the phthalates identified in our experiments, coinciding with exposure to high concentrations in rats,' the research team said. 'However, this correlation is sufficient to warrant further investigation.'