Comments on: Sharing a sex toy w/o spreading HPV?

Question: Sharing a sex toy w/o spreading HPV?

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:58:51 -0800

What precautions should my partner and I take if we want to share a silicone sex toy without spreading HPV between us?

What we've been able to find on the web suggest that HPV can be spread by sharing toys, but doesn't give much practical advice on what to do about it. (For various reasons, the other means of transmission aren't an issue for us right now.) Tips?

By: nat

nat — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:39:08 -0800

Here is Good Vibrations' take on it.

By: mandymanwasregistered

mandymanwasregistered — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:39:24 -0800

HPV spreads via pretty much everything (including your hands), so unless you don't want to touch each other at all, I wouldn't worry specifically about the toys.

By: Jerub

Jerub — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:56:46 -0800

Get the vaccine. It's the easiest way :)

By: 45moore45

45moore45 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:58:36 -0800

Why take the risk? Buy another one and you can both play at the same time.

By: kelseyq

kelseyq — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:00:11 -0800

are you asking for precautions beyond disinfecting the toy? silicone is great because you can toss it in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes or so and presto, disinfected toy. you also can apparently throw silicone toys in the dishwasher on the top rack, but i always thought that was a bit icky. so yeah, disinfecting or buying to as 45moore45 suggests.

By: kimdog

kimdog — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:12:44 -0800

You can also use condoms with penetrative toys.

By: fiercecupcake

fiercecupcake — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:45:16 -0800

To add to the condom suggestion: if you can find a source of expired condoms (since you are not preventing pregnancy, and you can always boil silicone toys), you'll be in the money. Try Planned Parenthood and similar. (I'm allergic to silicone, so we go through a lot of condoms.)

If you want to be extra safe, yeah, just get each partner their own set of toys. Condoms are still great for cleanup and quick use.