Sue's Sex FAQ

Sex Toys

Sex FAQs provided by Sue Johanson of the Sunday Night Sex Show.

Q. I heard about a product called "Tickle Her Pink," a cream for female genitalia that is supposed to increase her sexual pleasure. Is it safe?

A. In 2002 there was a rash of these similar creams, which claimed to increase sexual arousal and sexual satisfaction, even trigger orgasms.

No prescription was needed for these creams because there was no chemical or medicinal additives. But one company was charged for advertising the cream as "a new Viagra for women" without approval from the federal government. Sex therapists in the Toronto area did not favour using these creams, and the two brands that my "Toy Testing Council of Canada," (my television crew) tried out were not impressive. One female experienced irritation and discomfort after trying the product.

I must admit, I have never heard of Tickle Her Pink, but I assume it is similar to the creams I am familiar with, including: "Viacreme," "O Crème," "Libido Blast," "Dream Crème," "Lady Vi' and "Via Max." The cream's contained L-arginine, a non-regulated plant protein and Menthol, an oil from the Eucalyptus tree which when applied to the mucous membranes of the genitals causes a tingling sensation. Another cream, "Better Than Chocolate" has several other herbal additions to it formula.

These creams were to be massaged into the underside of the clitoris for several minutes. This nerve stimulation converted the L-arginine to nitric oxide, which causes vasodilation resulting in clitoral erection and a sensation of sexual arousal. For most women, gentle rubbing of the clitoris will result in clitoral engorgement without benefit on any creams.

Since these creams hit the market two years ago, they have virtually disappeared. In fact, you may have difficulty locating any of these creams.

Q. Are there any toys without latex? How do I take that smell away?

A. There is a new condom out and it's not a latex condom but it is polyurethane and it is called Avanti. There is no flavour or smell. You can use baby oil, Vaseline oil; anything you like and you just roll it over one of your sex toys, and do your thing.

Most sex toys are not latex but are hard plastic or silicone, the hard plastic have no taste or smell, the silicone have a sweet smell and taste. If this is offensive to you, cover your toy with the new polyurethane condoms.

Q. I'm a little on the wild side but I have problems introducing sex toys in the bedroom. My wife is overdue in her pregnancy.

A. Don't introduce anything. Not right now. She might have some bright ideas about what you should do with those sex toys. Not right now. After the baby is born, arrange for the babysitter, get them supper and then you make a reservation in a nice restaurant and take a walk with your girlfriend to a nice sex store and you look, touch and feel them together. You talk about it and she gets used to the idea that they are available. Don't buy one then work it in later.

Q. Recently, I got anal beads and now I have hemorrhoids that are in right now. Can I use them?

A. When they are in (prolapsed) you can. When they are out, it is not a good idea. Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins protruding down. That is going to hurt. I would be more inclined to use anal beads than a butt plug and use lots of lubrication and be very careful taking the beads out, the hemorrhoids might come down with the beads. In reality, I think it would be advisable to wait till the hemorrhoids have absorbed and gone back to normal.

Q. How do I get a sex toy? I don't know what to look for?

A. Go to a sex store and buy small and buy cheap. The cheapest one is probably called a pocket rocket. It is as big as my thumb, maybe a little longer and it has three little vibrating balls on the top. It's white and takes one double A battery. Get used to it together. It's not big and obtrusive and it is silent. Give your partner one for Christmas as a stocking stuffer. She may be embarrassed opening it up in front of her mother, do give it when you are alone.

Q. My girlfriend has a dildo and she plays with it around my bum and I don't know if that means I'm gay or not. Would I be gay if I did that?

A. That's fine. Anal stimulation does not mean that you are homosexual. It means you like anal stimulation and using a small vibrator for anal stimulation is fine. Let me warn you, be gentle. The rectum is a tube lined with mucous membrane and if you are thrusting into the rectum and you tear that mucous membrane, it does not heal very well. Now, when feces come down the rectum, if you have a tear there and you are going to get a nasty infection or the tear is going to get bigger and won't heal. If you are going to have anal sex with a hard vibrator (and we don't recommend that) be very, very gentle. You might have problems later and you don't need that.

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