Today’s topic: can infection occur after using a strap
Let’s start out today’s column with a public service announcement:
While I love doing this column, I must exhort you all to please remember that Google is not a doctor, and the internet, while knowledgeable, cannot cure your ailments. So please. If you have an infection, get to a clinic, a doctor, an emergency room, whatever.
With that out of the way, let us begin.
Can one get an infection while using a strap (what I am going to assume is a “strap-on”)? Of course! You can get any number of infections, depending on the circumstances. Three of the most likely infections are: yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections. Do not assume that just because a dildo is not technically skin, that it cannot harbor dirt, bacteria, and viruses.
First, the yeast infection. If you are using a lube that your body does not like - whether it isn’t correctly pH-balanced or contains glycerine (a sugar derivative) or if your body is just finicky, it is possible that you can develop a yeast infection. Likewise, if the dildo you are using has not been properly cleaned, or is made with chemicals or materials your body reacts to, the yeasties can start developing. The best you can do here is use a gentle lubricant (like Sliquid H2O) and/or invest in a hygenic, easily-sterilizable, non-porous, high-quality, non-reactive silicone dildo and clean it well. If you are using an inexpensive rubber dil, and you’re not allergic to latex, look into using condoms on the toy. Get a non-lubricated condom and put your own lube on the inside and outside, to cut down on friction. Oh, and go to the doctor to get your business checked out. I am not a doctor.
Urinary tract infections! Gah! These things are horrible. You feel like you have to pee, but you can’t. You get a fever, your abdomen hurts, not good stuff. These can come about if there is unfamiliar bacteria on the toy. So if it hasn’t been cleaned properly, if it is porous (made of rubber - thus trapping old bacteria that can never get truly cleaned off), if you’re using irritating lubricants… these kinds of things can cause UTIs. UTIs MUST be treated promptly or they can spread to your kidneys and beyond. So clean your toys and go see a doctor. Well, go to the doctor first, then clean the toys. But don’t forget!
Finally, sexually transmitted infections. Yes! It is possible to contract an STI even when the dildo does not officially attach to your partner’s body! If your partner has an STI and has been touching the dildo before inserting it, or if the dildo has been shared by people who have STIs and then not properly cleaned, or if the dildo is porous and has been used by multiple people without condoms… yes! You can get an STI. The symptoms are many, and can overlap with yeast infections and UTIs, so go get tested. In the future, use condoms when sharing your toys, boil your silicone dildos between use, and practice safer sex no matter what you’re sticking in yourself and others.
-Eden
Got a burning question you want answered? Too embarrassed to ask someone who might actually be able to help? Ask Google and maybe it’ll show up under our Search Terms so I can write a column about it!
