I often get questions about wearing butt plugs for extended periods of time, so I thought I’d take a moment and write up my thoughts on the subject.

First of all, what does long-term wear even mean? Well, I think if you are using plugs for activities other than sex and masturbation, then the term probably applies to you. There are so many activities that can be made much more enjoyable with a butt plug: running errands, going to work, watching TV, sleeping. The list is endless, but what they all have in common is that you are going about your normal life, just with a little extra stimulation. Over time, it starts to become part of your lifestyle—something you just do, like putting shoes on before leaving the house. And that’s what this blog is really about: the lifestyle of these little objects.

In terms of time, “long-term” could mean anything from an hour to forever, potentially. For me, personally, it seems to average 24 hours, though stints of 48 and 72 hours are not uncommon. The longest I’ve spent continuously plugged as of this post is nine days, with breaks for natural bodily functions, of course. I’ve read reports of others wearing plugs for a month at a time, which I find intriguing, and something I’d like to work up to.

The “why” of it all is perhaps the more interesting question. I’m always interested to hear from my readers about their experiences with plugging. For some, it’s about the thrill of having a dirty secret out in public. For others, it’s because they’re (consentually) ordered to wear one by a dominant partner. Some want to stretch themselves out. But probably the biggest reason is that, once you find the right plug, it just feels good. Really good, actually.

Finding the right plug can involve a lot of experimentation, though. For me, that’s half the fun, but it can be expensive—that’s why I hope the reviews on this blog are useful to others interested in long-term wear. Unfortunately, most plugs aren’t designed with long-term wear in mind. They all tend to have little flaws that can become irritating over time. I’m still looking for the perfect plug. (I do think I have a contender though, which I’ll announce in the next week or two.)

When people ask me how I do it, I’m not sure what to say. There’s not much to it: lube up a plug, pop it in, and go about your day a bit happier. More to the point, you shouldn’t need any sort of harness to keep it in and you shouldn’t need to relubricate it to remain comfortable. If you do, then you haven’t found the right plug yet.

If you’re just getting started, try setting goals for yourself. Start small. Literally. Use a smallish plug, like the Tantus Ryder, and say you’ll keep it in for 30 minutes. Then try an hour. Then two…four…eight. Go to sleep with it. Once you’ve become familiar with all the sensations of being filled up for hours, take it to the streets. Go shopping plugged. Go see a movie. Start pushing your boundaries. But always listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, stop and take a break. It’s not a contest and no one will think less of you.

I still set time goals for myself because forcing myself to stick to them is its own sort of thrill. As I write this, I have been plugged for five days, and will remain so for five more to meet my goal. Knowing that my ass will be filled for almost another week is extremely arousing, but at the same time, I know that if things start to feel uncomfortable, I can stop. Or I can take a break for a few hours. That’s probably the most important thing I want to get across with this post.

If you use common sense, listen to your body, and practice safe plugging, there is no reason to believe that long-term wear is dangerous. I’ve received a number of questions about the effects of long-term wear, and while I’m not a doctor, I can say from personal experience and the anecdotes of others that there is nothing to worry about. You won’t go incontinent or anything like that.

So, with all that said, if you’ve never done it but the idea of long-term wear intrigues you, I hope you give it a try. If you already do it, you are awesome! Either way, I hope you leave a comment and share your thoughts and experiences. There are more of us out there than you think!