

They must also be very smooth to avoid damaging the rectum or bowel. For this reason, butt plugs tend to be shorter than dildos, and their marked size generally indicates the circumference of the device rather than the length.

In addition, the lower bowel above the rectum is easily perforated. Some dildos lack a flared end, and thus it is ill-advised to use such dildos anally since they may get stuck rectal foreign bodies may require medical extraction. Objects that are inserted into the rectum can therefore potentially travel up into the bowel the flared end on a butt plug exists to prevent this. Unlike the vagina, which is closed off by the cervix, the rectum leads to the sigmoid colon. In the late 20th century, similar devices started to be marketed as sex toys. Young's Ideal Rectal Dilators, which were marketed as a cure for insanity and constipation. Rectal dilators were originally designed for therapeutic uses and later marketed with terms such as Dr.

They are similar to a dildo in some ways but tend to be shorter and have a flanged end to prevent the device from being lost inside the rectum. A butt plug is a sex toy that is designed to be inserted into the rectum for sexual pleasure.
