What "Medical Grade" Really Means for Sex Toys

Body-Safe & Materials

Here's the short version: "medical grade" is not a regulated, certified term for sex toys. There's no agency stamping toys as medical grade. It's shorthand for a nonporous, body-safe material like platinum-cured silicone, 316 stainless steel, or borosilicate glass. Good sign, not a guarantee.

I'm Emily. I spent years behind the counter of a little intimacy shop, and "is this one medical grade?" was probably the second most common question I got, right after "will my neighbors hear it." So let me tell you what that phrase actually means, what it doesn't, and how to shop like you've been doing this a while.

So what does "medical grade" actually mean?

In the medical world, "medical grade" describes materials tested to be safe for contact with skin or inside the body, things like the silicone in catheters or the steel in surgical tools. Those materials go through real standards testing (you'll sometimes see ISO 10993 for biocompatibility).

Here's the catch. Sex toys in the US are sold as novelties, not medical devices, so nobody is checking that a toy labeled "medical grade" actually meets any medical standard. A brand can print those words on a porous, cheap material and no one stops them. I've held two toys that both said "medical grade silicone" on the box, and one was dense, matte, and firm while the other was floppy, glossy, and smelled like a shower curtain. Only one of those was telling the truth.

So treat the phrase as a starting point. What you really want to confirm is the specific material and whether it's nonporous.

Why nonporous is the whole ballgame

Porous materials have microscopic holes. You can't see them, you can't scrub them out, and they hold onto bacteria, fluids, and lube residue no matter how well you wash. Over time that means odor, degradation, and a real irritation risk. Nonporous materials have no place for any of that to hide, so a quick wash actually gets them clean.

This is the single most useful thing I ever learned working the floor. Forget the buzzwords. Ask one question: is it nonporous? If yes, you're in safe territory. If the answer is vague, that's your answer.

• Nonporous and body-safe: platinum silicone, stainless steel, borosilicate glass, some hard ABS plastic (for external-only parts).
• Porous, handle with caution or skip: jelly, PVC, TPR/TPE, "rubber," anything soft and squishy with a chemical smell.

The materials that actually earn the name

These are the ones I'd hand a nervous first-timer without a second thought. Insertable toys in particular should always be one of these, especially for anything going somewhere delicate. If you're browsing our dildos or butt plugs, this is your checklist.

A quick word on silicone since it's the big one. Real platinum-cured (sometimes called platinum) silicone is the gold standard for insertable toys. It's nonporous, hypoallergenic, holds body heat, and cleans in seconds. One tip from years of demoing: pair silicone toys with water-based lube, not silicone lube, because silicone-on-silicone can degrade the surface over time.

How to tell real body-safe from good marketing

You don't need a lab. You need a few habits I picked up handling thousands of these. Run through this before you buy:

• Look for the specific material, not the adjective. "Platinum silicone" or "316 stainless steel" beats "premium medical-grade material" every time.
• Smell it if you can. Body-safe materials are nearly odorless. A strong plasticky or chemical smell means porous or heavily plasticized. That shower-curtain smell is a hard no.
• Do the pinch and stretch. Quality silicone snaps back and has a slightly grippy, matte drag. Cheap porous stuff feels glossy, oily, or greasy.
• Be skeptical of suspiciously cheap "silicone." Real silicone costs more to make. A five-dollar "silicone" toy is usually blended with something porous.
• Check for a warranty and a real brand. Companies that stand behind body-safe materials tend to offer warranties. No-name mystery listings usually don't.

When I trained new staff, I'd have them close their eyes and feel a genuine silicone dildo next to a jelly one. Nobody ever got it wrong twice. Your hands learn this fast.

Materials I'd gently steer you away from

I'm not here to shame anyone's collection. But if a toy is going inside your body, porous materials carry real downsides, and you deserve to know them. The soft, jiggly, translucent jelly toys, the ones that smell strong out of the package, are usually PVC or TPR softened with plasticizers. They can't be fully sanitized, they break down faster, and some folks react to them.

If you love the squishy feel of jelly, you can get that same soft, flesh-like give from platinum silicone or from good body-safe TPE that's used with a condom for anything porous. For toys that stay external, like many pumps or firm-plastic pieces in our penis pumps and enlargement range, hard ABS is fine because it isn't going anywhere porous matters.

Caring for body-safe toys so they stay that way

Buying body-safe is step one. Keeping it that way is step two, and it's easy.

• Wash before and after every use with mild unscented soap and warm water.
• Nonmotorized silicone, steel, and glass can usually be boiled or run through the top rack of the dishwasher (no soap) to fully sanitize. Motorized or battery toys just get a careful wipe-down, never submerge the electronics.
• Store toys separately, not touching each other, ideally in cotton pouches. Different materials can react and get sticky if they sit against each other for months.
• Match your lube. Water-based works with everything. Silicone lube is fine on steel and glass but can damage silicone.

Do that, and a good body-safe toy lasts years. I still have customers who came back a decade later with the same steel piece, still perfect.

FAQ

Is "medical grade" the same as "body-safe"?
Not automatically. "Body-safe" is the real goal, and it means nonporous and free of harmful plasticizers. "Medical grade" is a marketing label that's often true but isn't verified for toys, so always check the actual material.

Is medical grade silicone actually safe?
Genuine platinum-cured silicone is one of the safest materials you can buy. It's nonporous, hypoallergenic, holds body temperature, and cleans easily. Just confirm it's real platinum silicone and not a cheap blend labeled to look like it.

How can I tell if a toy is porous or nonporous?
Porous toys tend to be soft, squishy, glossy, and smell chemical. Nonporous ones (silicone, steel, glass) are odorless with a clean matte or slick surface. When in doubt, check the listed material and skip anything vague.

Are cheap toys always unsafe?
No, but price is a clue. Real body-safe materials cost more to produce, so a very cheap "silicone" toy is often blended with porous plastic. Plenty of affordable toys are body-safe, just verify the material rather than the price tag.

What if I already own porous toys?
You don't have to toss them out of fear. Use a condom over anything porous, keep it external where you can, and don't share it. When you replace it, go nonporous. Our best sellers are a safe place to start.

Can I sanitize a body-safe toy completely?
Yes, that's the whole point of nonporous. Silicone, steel, and glass without motors can be boiled or dishwashed to truly sanitize. Motorized toys can't be submerged, so wipe them clean and use a condom if you're sharing.

If you take one thing from me after all those years behind the counter: don't buy the word, buy the material. Once you know what nonporous feels and smells like, you'll never second-guess a purchase again. When you're ready, our vetted best-selling body-safe toys are the easiest place to start clean.

Written by Emily Roth. Updated August 2026.