Emergency room visits: The surprising dangers of household items and sex toys
It's best to use sex toys than household object for sexual exploration.
Image: Cottonbro studio / Pexels
In news that's equal parts eyebrow-raising and educational, a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that at least 36 people in the UK ended up in National Health Service (NHS) emergency rooms because of sex toys that had to be medically removed.
And it doesn't stop there. Alongside purpose-made toys, hospitals have also seen their fair share of strange objects that somehow ended up in places they definitely weren't designed to go.
We're talking everything from toilet brushes and deodorant cans to toothbrushes, marbles, and even carrots.
While some might laugh, experts say this isn't just an awkward moment, but it can also be seriously risky.
Tom and Isabelle, the sex educators behind Talking Kinky, say there's no need to fear exploring your sexuality, but a little knowledge can go a long way.
'Pleasure should never come at the cost of pain or panic,' says Isabelle.
'With a little preparation and the right tools, intimacy can be both fulfilling and entirely safe.'
Tom adds: 'Be safe. Always use proper tools made for the activity.'
It's good to be curious, but use the right gear and know your limits.
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It's good to be curious, but use the right gear and know your limits.
Image: Anna Shvets / Pexels
Things go wrong
Although the 36 reported cases involved actual sex toys, NHS staff have also had to remove a wide variety of household items that were never meant for internal use, many of which don't have the safety features needed to prevent accidents.
Common culprits have included: Deodorant bottles
Pens
Remote controls
Snooker balls
Large vegetables
And more than a few marbles
'While humour often surrounds these mishaps, the health risks are serious. Misuse can lead to tears, infections, or in rare cases, surgery,' warns Isabelle.
How to play smart
Tom and Isabelle shared their top safety tips for anyone looking to explore their body or spice up their sex life: Use flared base toys: Especially for anal. If it doesn't have a base, it might get stuck.
Don't use household items: Just because it fits doesn't mean it's safe. Glass, sharp edges, food items, it's not worth it unless it's made for play.
Start small: Stretching should be gradual. Rushing increases the risk of injury.
Sterilise everything: Infections are not a good time. Use toy-safe cleaners or boil if the material allows.
Communicate: With yourself or your partner. Use a mirror, ask how it feels, and check in often.
Use flare based toys for anal play.
Image: Anna Shvets / Pexels
When should you ask for help?
Tom puts it simply: 'Doctors have seen it all. They're more likely to be concerned about delays than your inserted rubber duck.'
So if something goes wrong, don't panic, but don't wait too long either.
Get medical attention if you're experiencing: Sharp pain
Bleeding
Loss of sensation
A toy or object that won't come out after 10–15 minutes of calm effort
Sexual exploration is natural and should be fun! But it's worth taking a few extra precautions to avoid an awkward and potentially painful trip to an emergency room.
With the right toys, communication, and a little prep, your playtime can stay exciting and safe.
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Emergency room visits: The surprising dangers of household items and sex toys
It's best to use sex toys than household object for sexual exploration. Image: Cottonbro studio / Pexels In news that's equal parts eyebrow-raising and educational, a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that at least 36 people in the UK ended up in National Health Service (NHS) emergency rooms because of sex toys that had to be medically removed. And it doesn't stop there. Alongside purpose-made toys, hospitals have also seen their fair share of strange objects that somehow ended up in places they definitely weren't designed to go. We're talking everything from toilet brushes and deodorant cans to toothbrushes, marbles, and even carrots. While some might laugh, experts say this isn't just an awkward moment, but it can also be seriously risky. Tom and Isabelle, the sex educators behind Talking Kinky, say there's no need to fear exploring your sexuality, but a little knowledge can go a long way. 'Pleasure should never come at the cost of pain or panic,' says Isabelle. 'With a little preparation and the right tools, intimacy can be both fulfilling and entirely safe.' Tom adds: 'Be safe. Always use proper tools made for the activity.' It's good to be curious, but use the right gear and know your limits. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading It's good to be curious, but use the right gear and know your limits. Image: Anna Shvets / Pexels Things go wrong Although the 36 reported cases involved actual sex toys, NHS staff have also had to remove a wide variety of household items that were never meant for internal use, many of which don't have the safety features needed to prevent accidents. Common culprits have included: Deodorant bottles Pens Remote controls Snooker balls Large vegetables And more than a few marbles 'While humour often surrounds these mishaps, the health risks are serious. Misuse can lead to tears, infections, or in rare cases, surgery,' warns Isabelle. How to play smart Tom and Isabelle shared their top safety tips for anyone looking to explore their body or spice up their sex life: Use flared base toys: Especially for anal. If it doesn't have a base, it might get stuck. Don't use household items: Just because it fits doesn't mean it's safe. Glass, sharp edges, food items, it's not worth it unless it's made for play. Start small: Stretching should be gradual. Rushing increases the risk of injury. Sterilise everything: Infections are not a good time. Use toy-safe cleaners or boil if the material allows. Communicate: With yourself or your partner. Use a mirror, ask how it feels, and check in often. Use flare based toys for anal play. Image: Anna Shvets / Pexels When should you ask for help? Tom puts it simply: 'Doctors have seen it all. They're more likely to be concerned about delays than your inserted rubber duck.' So if something goes wrong, don't panic, but don't wait too long either. Get medical attention if you're experiencing: Sharp pain Bleeding Loss of sensation A toy or object that won't come out after 10–15 minutes of calm effort Sexual exploration is natural and should be fun! But it's worth taking a few extra precautions to avoid an awkward and potentially painful trip to an emergency room. With the right toys, communication, and a little prep, your playtime can stay exciting and safe.
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