Pleasure seeker

Better sex starts here

This guide is for those who want better sex. Looking after your body doesn’t take away from pleasure – it feeds it. The more you know about your own desires, and how to ask for them, the better your experience gets.

Why pleasure and protection aren’t in competition

Sexual health advice often treats protection like something to get through before the good part starts.

The right lube, the right barrier, the right toy – these aren’t just risk-reduction, they’re pleasure upgrades. A water-based lube works with any toy or barrier. Silicone-based lasts longer but shouldn’t be paired with silicone toys. Non-latex options exist for anyone with a latex allergy, and flavoured barriers can make oral sex better, not just safer.

• Lube: matching the type to the activity
• Barriers that improve sensation instead of dulling it

Choosing and caring for toys

You don’t need to overhaul your whole sex life to feel the difference.

Toys aren’t one-size-fits-all, and the right one is about fit, not hype. Body-safe materials like silicone, glass and stainless steel are non-porous and easier to keep clean, while jelly or rubber toys can hold onto bacteria over time even with regular washing. Size, shape, texture and even noise level are personal, so what works for someone else might not work for you, and that’s normal.

Caring for a toy is part of caring for your body: wash it before and after use with warm water and a mild, unscented soap or toy cleaner, let it dry fully before storing, and use a condom over porous toys or when sharing between partners. Better sex rarely comes from overhauling your whole routine overnight; often it’s a small adjustment, like trying a different lube, a new toy or a new cleaning habit, that makes the biggest difference.

Saying what you want

Communicating your desires is a skill that takes practice.

Talking about pleasure is a skill, and like any skill, it gets easier with practice. A simple sentence can open the door to a better experience, helping both you and your partners better understand what feels good, what you’re curious about, and what you’d like more of. It can be as simple as:

• “I want to try something, are you up for it?”
• “Can we try slower / faster / softer / harder?”
• “Yes! Keep going, I like that.”
• “What do you like that we haven’t tried yet?”

Pleasure