Phthalates are plasticizers that make your toy malleable. They have been found in sex toys, children’s toys, and cosmetics. Some phthalates are bad for you. Some are not. The ones that may be bad are said to have hormone disruptors and cause kidney and liver damage. That’s just not sexy.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, so take the hype (good and bad) with a grain of salt. Is there proof that phthalates are bad for you? Not really. And of the phthalates that may be bad, there are just as many that have no danger whatsoever. So if you have a jelly piece and it has been your trusted friend for years, do not be hasty in throwing it out. Decide for yourself what risks you want to take. And if you are wondering which of your old toys have phthalates, a general rule of thumb is that hard means phthalate-free. Hard plastic, metal, and glass are most often phthalate-free. Of the realistic feeling materials, CyberSkin was the only material to pass the test. Greenpeace said so. The rest were proven to have phthalates.

As far as new items, why take risks? Phthalate-free is certainly not bad. Look for the claim on the package. And if you want to really be sure you have got a healthy piece of poontang playtoy, stick with the silicone and glass. Non-porous, hygienic, phthalate-free. While I may sound cavalier about the phthalates, I have to admit, I let myself err on caution and let go of a few old friends in my toy chest. It was a great excuse to go shopping for some new friends and I got three new silicone toys and a glass wand! Now THAT IS sexy. If you want to do some internet research on the buzzword of the day, look for phthalates and sex toys in your favorite search engine.

Sugar is sugar. I think we all know what that is. Glycerin is a sugary liquid. This is a description I am sure my chemist friend would prefer I expound on. So for him, I will also add that glycerin is a sugar alcohol with very low toxicity. It is used in numerous cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and personal care items. It is in lubricants because it doesn not dry as fast as water and it is very effective in adding that slickness we all want. So glycerin-based lubricants and lubricants with glycerin last longer than their water-based, glycerin-free kin. Glycerin is not dangerous. Okay, I think my chemist friend would be happy. I know I am.

But on the other side of the lube tube is this: Yeast finds sugar yummy just like we do. So if you have a sensitive area, look for the “glycerin-free” and “sugar-free” copy on the bottle. My vote goes to the Kama Sutra Love Liquid, O My Lubricants, and System Jo brands. Kama Sutra has been around since the 60s helping the Summer of Love last all the way to new millennium. And while the other two companies are younger, they bring with them some heavy hitting FDA standards.

Justina Mathews writes about issues that affect couples and today’s woman concerning relationships and sexuality. She’s a staff writer for http://www.honeymoonsextoys.com