---
title: "Toxic Sex Toys: Which Materials Are Body-Safe and Which Carry Risks"
description: "Non-porous materials such as silicone are considered safer; soft PVC only becomes flexible through plasticisers. Test findings and how to spot unsafe toys."
url: https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/dangerous-sextoys/
date_published: 2023-08-05
date_modified: 2026-10-16
---
# Toxic Sex Toys: Which Materials Are Body-Safe and Which Carry Risks

## Inhaltsverzeichnis

- [Which sex toy materials are body-safe?](#h-which-sex-toy-materials-are-body-safe)
- [Phthalates in sex toys: PVC, jelly and plasticisers](#h-phthalates-in-sex-toys-pvc-jelly-and-plasticisers)
- [What product tests found in sex toys](#h-what-product-tests-found-in-sex-toys)
- [How sex toys are regulated in the EU and the US](#h-how-sex-toys-are-regulated-in-the-eu-and-the-us)
- [Can sex toys spread STIs? Porous materials and shared toys](#h-can-sex-toys-spread-stis-porous-materials-and-shared-toys)
- [Latex allergy: how common it is and the warning signs](#h-latex-allergy-how-common-it-is-and-the-warning-signs)
- [How to spot unsafe sex toys: labels, smell and sellers](#h-how-to-spot-unsafe-sex-toys-labels-smell-and-sellers)
- [Dangerous shapes in anal toys: why a wide base matters](#h-dangerous-shapes-in-anal-toys-why-a-wide-base-matters)
- [Electric sex toys: shocks, lead, loose parts and apps](#h-electric-sex-toys-shocks-lead-loose-parts-and-apps)

[Sex toys](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/sextoys-for-gay-sex/ "Sex toys") made of non-porous materials such as silicone are considered the safer choice. Soft PVC, often sold as „jelly“, is made flexible by plasticisers. Product tests keep finding harmful substances and safety flaws, even in expensive brands. The EU has no dedicated law for sex toys. What you can check: the material, the label, the seller and, for [anal toys](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/buying-anal-toys/ "anal toys"), a wide base.

## Which sex toy materials are body-safe?

A 2018 review (Rullo et al.) lists silicone, hard plastic, glass and stainless steel as nontoxic vibrator materials. The review presents this as a counselling recommendation, not a test result.

The same review adds a caveat: [vibrators](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/vibrators/ "vibrators") described as „silicone“ are likely sometimes mixed with other materials. A 2019 US clinical guide for gynaecologists calls toys made of non-porous materials the safest and easiest to clean and disinfect. Porous materials should be avoided, it says, because they cannot be disinfected and can break down.

| Material | Porous? | What the sources also say |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Silicone | no | Rarely causes allergies, according to German consumer magazine ÖKO-TEST (2012); skin reactions (contact dermatitis) from silicone are described in case reports |
| Stainless steel | no | ÖKO-TEST (2012) called metal a good choice for harder toys |
| Glass | no | „Pyrex“ is a brand name, not a synonym for borosilicate glass |
| Hard plastic (e.g. ABS) | no | Single case: a hard ABS stick vibrator clearly exceeded the cadmium limit in a 2006 Danish study |
| Soft PVC („jelly“, „vinyl“) | no source classes it | plasticisers: see next section |
| TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and TPR (thermoplastic rubber) | no source classes it | findings on germs and additives further down |
| Natural rubber latex | no source classes it | the milky sap of the rubber tree, blended with chemicals during manufacturing |
| Cyberskin | not stated | identified as the thermo-elastic material SEBS in a 2006 Danish study |

„Non-porous“ says nothing about harmful substances.

Material also affects the risk of injury. In its guide for sex workers, Germany’s AIDS service organisation Deutsche Aidshilfe warns of rough seams, cracks and splinters on toys made of wood or plastic.

## Phthalates in sex toys: PVC, jelly and plasticisers

In investigations from 2006 to 2012, the plasticisers in soft PVC sex toys were mainly phthalates. Phthalates are a group of plasticisers. No source found in research for this guide says which plasticisers are typical in soft-PVC toys today; there are only single findings.

A 2006 study for Denmark’s environmental agency found that „jelly“ was soft PVC with up to 70 per cent phthalate plasticisers.

At normal use ([dildos](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/dildo-gay/ "dildos"): once a week for 15 minutes), the 2006 Danish study found no health risk for all products but one. At maximum use (dildos: one hour a day) it found minor or possible minor risks for several dildos.

The EU lists the plasticisers DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP as toxic to reproduction (category 1B). Since 2017 the EU has also listed these four as endocrine disruptors (substances that interfere with hormones) for human health. According to Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), some phthalates can affect the hormone system.

The BfR writes that health effects of phthalates have so far been shown mainly in animal studies. Similar effects in humans are to be assumed, it writes, though hard to prove directly. Some epidemiological studies found a link with male reproductive capacity, others did not.

For adults‘ current overall phthalate intake from all sources, the BfR sees no significant health risk according to current knowledge. This refers to overall intake, not to sex toys. A study of postmenopausal women (2019, 419 cases, 838 controls) found no statistically significant association between urinary phthalate metabolites and an increased risk of breast cancer. Sex toys were not part of the study.

The EU chemicals agency’s risk committee noted in 2012 that the assumed absorption of phthalates through mucous membranes from sex toys was probably too low. These tissues are richly supplied with blood. The committee considered the exposure estimates overall very cautious („very worst case“).

In lab tests, oil-based lubricant released considerably more plasticiser from a sex toy than water-based lubricant. [Which lubricant suits which toy material](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/a-little-lube-sex-toy-material-guide/) is covered in a separate guide.

## What product tests found in sex toys

Germany’s consumer testing organisation Stiftung Warentest checked 19 sex toys in 2025. Only seven were usable without concern; six carried greater safety risks, including pricey brand-name products. The problems were harmful substances or weak data protection.

The lab screened the 19 toys for almost 200 pollutants; plastics and paint were tested for at least all phthalates regulated in the EU. Two toys contained high levels of hormonally active nonylphenol; on one vibrator the charging contact released more nickel than legally allowed (Stiftung Warentest, 2025).

In a 2019 joint test by Austria’s consumer association VKI and Stiftung Warentest, the lab found very high levels of DEHP. The DEHP was in the mask supplied with a strap-on vibrator. The vibrator itself was fine in VKI’s words.

The EU chemicals agency reported in 2013 on findings by the Dutch food and consumer product authority. The authority found the plasticiser DINP in 18 of 71 erotic articles in 2009.

In 2013 the EU chemicals agency judged a risk from the plasticisers DINP and DIDP in sex toys unlikely. It stressed large uncertainties: there were no published data on how much is absorbed through the lining of the vagina or anal canal.

The EU’s rapid alert system Safety Gate lists single cases with measured phthalate values:

- 2025, Luxembourg: a toy from China with 6 per cent DEHP and 0.15 per cent DBP in the plastic, notified under the REACH Regulation
- 2025, Luxembourg: a bullet vibrator from China whose parts contained 45 g/kg each of DEHP and DBP and 65 g/kg lead. The alert was issued under the EU RoHS Directive and the POP Regulation. Its cable contained 0.97 per cent short-chain chlorinated paraffins
- 2025, Luxembourg: a Satisfyer from China whose USB-cable strain relief contained 0.19 per cent DEHP, notified under the RoHS Directive

Safety Gate also lists cases with substances other than phthalates. Germany reported a leather ball stretcher with 873 mg/kg benzidine in 2014 (REACH). Sweden reported a soft-PVC dildo from China with up to 0.44 per cent short-chain chlorinated paraffins in 2017 (POP Regulation).

In a small lab study by US researchers (Sipe et al., 2023), all four sex toys tested contained phthalates. The researchers stress the data are not representative. One of the four, a dual vibrator made of polyisoprene, contained the plasticiser DnOP.

## How sex toys are regulated in the EU and the US

The European Commission said in 2024 that it does not intend to propose a dedicated EU law for sex toys in the near future. Sex toys fall under general product safety rules instead.

Since 13 December 2024, the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation applies.

Since 7 July 2020, an EU limit has applied to four phthalates (REACH, Annex XVII, entry 51). Products may not be placed on the market if their plasticised material contains 0.1 per cent by weight or more of DEHP, DBP, BBP or DIBP, individually or combined.

Sex toys are not named in the rule but not exempted either. In 2023 the Netherlands notified an [anal plug](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/anal-plug-application/ "anal plug") from Mexico with 0.16 per cent DEHP under the EU REACH Regulation via the Safety Gate system. Silicone rubber and natural latex coatings fall outside the material definition of this EU rule; this says nothing about the phthalate content of silicone toys.

Under the EU chemicals regulation REACH, DINP, DIDP and DNOP are restricted only in toys and childcare articles that children can put in their mouths. The rule does not mention sex toys. Other product groups have their own phthalate rules.

Electrical devices are covered by the EU’s RoHS Directive instead: electronic sex toys fall under it, as a 2019 Swedish study notes. Authorities check vibrators under it. Since July 2019, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP may each make up no more than 0.1 per cent by weight of a material.

Since 2021 there has also been an international standard for sex toys, ISO 3533:2021, which covers materials, design and user information. ISO standards are voluntary unless referenced in regulation; no such reference for ISO 3533 was found. In its 2025 test, Stiftung Warentest based its measurement of the maximum surface temperature of heatable products on ISO 3533.

In the US, researchers (Sipe et al., 2023) note that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has set no labelling or material standards for sex toys. It has set such standards for children’s toys, they add. Federal phthalate limits under the CPSIA cover children’s toys and child care articles; sex toys are not mentioned in the provisions read. The FDA classifies genital vibrators intended and labelled for therapeutic use as Class II medical devices. Many companies label vibrators „for novelty use only“, presumably to bypass FDA regulation, a 2018 review (Rullo et al.) notes.

## Can sex toys spread STIs? Porous materials and shared toys

Deutsche Aidshilfe considers shared sex toys a possible route for [sexually transmitted infections](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/health-en/sexually-transmitted-infections/ "sexually transmitted infections"). A toy used by one person only is safe with regard to passing on infections, it says.

In a small 2014 study of twelve women (Anderson et al., 2014), vibrators were checked for HPV traces. On a TPE vibrator, traces were still detectable in some cases 24 hours after being cleaned. A silicone vibrator showed none. Right after being cleaned, both vibrators were still partly HPV-positive.

So „non-porous“ does not mean germ-free. The study involved women and vaginal use and does not transfer to anal toys or gay men. Detecting HPV DNA is not proof of transmission.

As of 2018, no germ other than HPV had been studied for transmission via vibrators, according to a review (Rullo et al., 2018). Researchers suggest toys made of more porous materials could potentially harbour bacteria and STIs (a 2022 study in women).

Deutsche Aidshilfe advises washing a shared toy thoroughly before passing it on, or putting a new [condom](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/jerking-with-a-condom/ "condom") on it. Sefton Sexual Health, a local NHS service in England, warns that sex toys can pass on STIs such as [chlamydia](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/chlamydia-infection/ "chlamydia"), syphilis and herpes. It advises checking toys for scratches or breaks.

The CDC’s 2021 STI guidelines, in their section on women who have sex with women, call shared penetrative sex items a possible transmission route. The guidelines note that HPV can persist on objects including sex toys.

An undated document by Germany’s Robert Koch Institute for public health services names sex toys as a possible mpox route. This applies to toys exposed to the virus through contact with an infected person. It recommends not sharing them.

For jelly toys with plasticisers, a condom over the toy is an option, according to a 2018 review (Rullo et al.). No measurement was found showing that a condom stops plasticisers from reaching the body.

[How to clean each toy material](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/sextoy-cleaning/) is covered in a separate guide.

## Latex allergy: how common it is and the warning signs

Latex allergy is uncommon in the UK, affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000 people, an NHS allergy network in North West England reports. Severe reactions are less common still, it says.

The condition can still be life-threatening. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology counts hundreds of anaphylaxis cases (a life-threatening allergic reaction) due to latex allergy every year. Immediate-type reactions set in straight after contact or up to about an hour later, according to a German allergy information service (Allergieinformationsdienst). People with a latex allergy should avoid latex.

Itching or swelling during sex with condoms can point to a latex allergy. This should be checked by an allergist, the German allergy information service advises. Latex-free condoms exist, the NHS notes, and the packet states what a condom is made of.

## How to spot unsafe sex toys: labels, smell and sellers

Unsafe sex toys cannot be reliably spotted from the outside; labels, smell and the seller only give hints.

No legal definition was found for claims like „body safe“ or „phthalate-free“. In preliminary testing for a US lab study (Sipe et al., 2023), a toy advertised as „phthalate-free“ contained phthalates. Another box said „body safe“ on one side and „not intended for safe use“ on the other.

Stiftung Warentest (2025) checked packaging labels based on ISO 3533 and found some providers gave only patchy safety information. The testers looked for, among other points:

- the manufacturer and its contact details
- the material that touches the genital or anal area
- the intended and unintended use
- the contents of the package

This is a tester’s checklist, not a legal labelling duty.

A 2012 advice text by the German consumer magazine ÖKO-TEST recommends a sniff test: pick the toy up and smell it. If the plastic stinks, leave it.

The German consumer centre Verbraucherzentrale NRW answered a question about a TPE sex doll that smelled of chemicals for months. In its answer, a chemical smell points to poor chemical and quality management in manufacturing. This is no proof that harmful substances are being released.

For online buys in the EU, Verbraucherzentrale NRW also advises checking the seller’s address. It advises against buying from sellers with a company address outside the EU. In its words, such products need not comply with European law.

In shops visited for a 2006 study commissioned by Denmark’s environmental agency, staff recommended silicone toys as the safest, though also the most expensive. The shops knew very little about the materials. The study notes that a very large share of sex toys was produced in the Far East (China), mostly without material descriptions.

## Dangerous shapes in anal toys: why a wide base matters

A 2018 review (Rullo et al.) says sex toys for anal use need a wide base or a retrieval cord. That way, they cannot drift out of reach. Deutsche Aidshilfe’s older brochure for gay men (2008 per its file name) adds a smooth surface, as seams or sharp spots can injure the rectal lining.

Stiftung Warentest (2025) advises that anal toys should have a stopper and that toys designed only for vaginal use should not be used anally. According to a report by the German press agency dpa on the test, a dildo advertised for anal use was so large that injury was a risk. The same report says a decorative stone on an anal plug came off too easily.

At one Stockholm hospital, 41 per cent of 85 cases of objects stuck in the rectum (2009 to 2017) were sex toys. The rest were mostly cans, bottles, candles and food, and 76 per cent of patients were men (Dahlberg et al., 2019). The authors hypothesise that a safety string or an adequately sized stopper could have prevented dildos from getting stuck.

US emergency rooms saw an estimated 38,948 visits for objects stuck in the rectum from 2012 to 2021 (Loria et al., 2023). 55.4 per cent of the objects were sex devices, and 77.8 per cent of patients were male.

A US analysis of ER data from 1995 to 2006 was cited in a Swedish study. It found 78 per cent of sex-toy [injuries](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/fisting-injuries/ "injuries") involved the anorectal area. What to do [if a toy gets stuck](https://gay-blog.tomrockets.com/en/dildo-replacement/) is covered in a separate guide.

## Electric sex toys: shocks, lead, loose parts and apps

Safety Gate alerts on electric sex toys concern electric shocks, detachable parts and lead in solder.

In 2021, Finland recalled an adult massager because insulation and clearances were insufficient. Users could have touched live parts, with an electric shock risk. In 2026, Ireland reported a rotating vibrating dildo whose parts could detach and expose the internal shaft, with an injury risk; the recall was voluntary.

EU authorities also acted against several electric sex toys in 2025 and 2026, ordering withdrawal, a marketing ban or rejection at the border. Solder or metal parts exceeded the lead limit. Most of these alerts cite the RoHS Directive and name the environment as the risk; one says lead is harmful to human health.

Stiftung Warentest (2025) found no overheating in continuous operation among the electrical products it tested. It advises checking toys regularly for cable breaks, faulty switches, damaged charging ports, cracks or discolouration, and stop using damaged toys.

Stiftung Warentest counts indiscreet apps as a safety risk: three expensive app-controlled toys in the test sent intimate usage data to their makers. Its advice is to use such toys without the app.

No agency source on electrostimulation was found, only manufacturer warnings. Some e-stim (electrostimulation) makers forbid connecting electrodes above the waist; others warn that current through the heart, neck or head can be fatal. On pacemakers, some advise against use altogether and others say to talk to a doctor first.

## FAQ

### Is „medical-grade silicone“ safe in sex toys?

No agency or standards definition of „medical-grade silicone“ for sex toys was found in research for this guide. In a US lab study (Sipe et al., 2023), a vibrator sold as „medical grade silicone“ turned out to be a silicone blend. It contained seven different phthalates at low levels. According to the authors, phthalates in all four toys tested exceeded hazard warnings.

### Do sex toys shed microplastics?

Only one lab finding was found in research for this guide. Under artificial abrasion, four sex toys in a US lab study (Sipe et al., 2023) released micro- and nanoplastics. The anal toy released the most, the external vibrator the least. No measurement under real use was found.

### Is TPE in sex toys toxic?

With TPE, what additives are in the plastic is unknown to anyone but its maker. A German consumer centre said so, answering a question about a TPE sex doll. The centre adds that plasticisers are more to be expected in PVC than in TPE. Whether a given TPE toy carries harmful additives therefore stays open.

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