What's New?
Did you know September is Sexual Health Awareness month?! While you may be thinking that it's obvious we need to practice safe sex, sexual health is not just condoms, dentals dams, and regular STD testing. While all of these components are a part of health and safety, it also includes a lot of healthy communication with your partner(s). Sexual health awareness is made up of many different components like understanding yours and your partner's limits, boundaries, consent, and body language. In general this includes taking the steps to have the healthiest relationship you can. Having a conversation with your partner(s) can be helpful in navigating the way they and yourself approach all of these topics. If you haven't yet, check out our Yes/No/Maybe list. This is a great tool to use when you start when discussing limits and boundaries with your partner(s) along with also providing ideas for new activities you may enjoy. This is a list designed to open the door for many different conversations. The Yes/No/Maybe list will help you learn more about your partner(s) while diving deeper into the connection you already have.
Speaking of new topics and thinking of new things to enjoy, let's learn about a new product. We have another loveable item from Liberator, the Liberator Black Label Wedge! The new Liberator Black Label Wedge is still covered with a super soft, water-resistant fabric and also comes with a blindfold, detachable cuffs, and can still be used for all types of positioning.
Will It Work?
Have you seen people talking about the latest trend? If you haven't, people are are talking about these new pills and candies that will supposedly make you horny in a matter of moments. Sexual enhancements have become increasingly popular throughout the years, but do they actually work? Whether it's as simple as a pill or if it's in something sweet like chocolate, the legend has it if you acquire and ingest these ingredients in a mater of moments you're horny and ready to get down to business. While it would be amazing for there to be a secret magic ingredient, that's simply not what is happening. This month we’ll be diving into the enhancement side of things and learning about how these products actually work.
To be blunt with you these products, like most products are going to work exactly the way they are designed. Sexual enhancements are products are products that are designed to help increase sensitivity and "supposedly" increase libido. There is no special ingredient that works to make you aroused. If a product was to work this way it would have to alter some part of your brain chemistry. Arousal starts in the brain, the ways we think, and what we personally feel is attractive. So if these products aren't changing your chemistry, what are they doing?
Enhancement products will all be vasodilators. A vasodilator is something that is dilatating your blood vessels, which means more blood is able to flow through. Results will be different depending on the person but these can make you a little extra sensitive in areas such as the penis or clit. Sexual enhancement products will not be doing anything other than changing the volume in your blood flow.
Enhancements are inspected regularly by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that the manufactures are following safety protocols and not adding in any monitored ingredients, like Sildenafil. Sildenafil is one of the key ingredients in making products like Viagra. Viagra is designed to help cause an erection after the penis encounters stimulation. Viagra must be prescribed by a physician to ensure the safety of the person using it. If you are having issues achieving an erection, or if you want to try enhancements but are unsure if it's a safe option for you, make sure to check with your physician first.
What are in these enhancements?! Enhancements products will all be very similar ingredient wise, with different manufacturers adding different amounts of the same or similar ingredients. These ingredients could be a combination of different extracts, herbs, and even vitamins. Taking a enhancement can be a similar feeling to taking a pre-workout. Let's say you are a vagina owner and you take one of these pills, what happens? These enhancements are going to effect the blood vessels which will first increase your blood flow, but can also increase your level of sensitivity. Increasing sensitivity could make you more reactive to different sensations and is a feeling some people like to explore. If you are a penis owner this might mean that having a erection could occur more quickly or could even help you to achieve an erection if you are struggling on your own.
What’s the big difference?! Viagra must be prescribed and is designed to help treat erectile dysfunction, while enhancement products do not need a prescription and are just to increase blood flow. Viagra helps to relax the muscles in the penis which helps improve blood flow, enhancements are just dilating the blood. One example of this difference is say that I twisted my ankle. Should I be taking an ibuprofen or an Oxycodone? Well, what's the difference they both relieve pain right? If I just twisted my ankle and it's only a tad swollen, with mild pain an ibuprofen could help. However if I twisted my ankle, can't walk or sleep, it’s an array of colors, and I'm in constant pain an ibuprofen isn’t going to do a whole lot. Sure it might help relieve some pain, but would it be enough to get the result of little to no pain? Probably not.
Do these products sound sort of like a scam? Should you believe what these manufacturers are telling you? These enhancements are exactly what they advertise, they are enhancing the experience. Enhancements can help make things a little more exciting, and literally help to get the blood pumping but they are not some magic product that will make you horny.
Staff Stars
Sliding in to September and here to steal the show is the one and only Nicki! Nicki has been a part of our FTLOI family over a decade now, and chances are if you've been to FTLOI then you know Nicki. Nicki has always enjoyed being a part of the FTLOI family. Nicki is one of our incredible store managers. Nicki has been able to be there and watch the evolution of FTLOI. We have people come from all over the country to visit FTLOI and this is one of Nicki's favorite ways to see how much our store has grown.
Nicki enjoys many different activities, but her top three would have to be: softball, reading, and getting out in the world with her beautiful family. Nicki is an absolutely incredible and strong person that brings joy to all those around her. She is not just strong in the way that she could kick some serious ass, but she also is just as mentally strong. When you think about what comes to mind when you think of Nicki there are so many different things to talk about. Nicki is brave, selfless, compassionate, dedicated, strong and an overall queen! Rain or shine Nicki is always a ray of light. Nicki inspires us all each and every day. Nicki we thank you for being such a shining star on our team and for all that you do!
Sasha Says
To submit your questions and thoughts please submit an email to info@ftloi.net
This month’s top question from you!
Besides Bluetooth toys, what options are there for couple's toys?
So you and your partner(s) are looking for something new? Want to play with toys together but don't know how or where to start? Let's go over some options together and see if we can help narrow it down. First of all, what counts as a couples toy for you? There are plenty of toys labeled as couple's toys but they are typically marketed towards straight cis couples. To be absolutely clear with you, just about every toy can be a couple's toy. What do I mean by that? Let us dive a little deeper and explore how any toy can be a couple's toy even if that's not necessarily how it's advertised.
First, start by having a conversation. While, yes, it may be nerve-wracking to share with them some of the things you desire, what if you find they desire the same? This is your partner and they are in a position where you can talk to them freely without fear of judgment. Trust your partner(s) and be as open as you can, ask questions and don't be afraid to say what you are desiring. Talk about toys and what each person is hoping to experience.
Often times when looking for a couples toy it's because you want to experience something new and fun together. Finding new ways to help please you and your partner(s) is a unique and special time to have together. When finding a new toy there are many factors to consider. Anatomy of all people involved, what kind of stimulation is preferred, sizes of toys, materials, and anything else you can think of that will better help you and your partner(s) understand each other. What are some different options? Have you ever considered something like nipple clamps as a partner toy instead? What if you place them on your partner, or maybe you tug on them while your having sex, either way you are both using them together. Using the toys together what makes a toy a couple's toy. Sex is different for everyone and the only way to find new ways to enjoy and please your partner(s) is to talk to each other
When looking for a new toy, whether it be for solo play or partner play, it can be a tough decision on finding what you think is best. Some toys have packaging advertising the toy as a couple's toy specifically and that's great if you are looking for something labeled specifically as a couple's toy. Many toys that are advertised as a couple's toy are Bluetooth or remote controlled.
Couple's toys are should be more focused on the couple experience rather than the toy so to say. Finding a new way to connect, please, and enjoy your partner(s) is all a part of the couples experience. Take time to learn and focus on the moments you spend together. Everyone expects and wants different things when connecting and exploring with their partner(s). Talk about it together. What exactly does the couples experience mean to you?
Having a toy and using it by yourself is fun, but what if you now let your partner use it on you? Dildos, vibrators, plugs, rope, and even massage oil can be a couple's toy! Sure, you could use these products on your own but who really wants to tie themselves up? Remember using the toy together is what makes it a couple's toy, not the words on the box. People use toys together every day whether it be their own personal desire or they are helping to fulfill someone else's. Why don't we go over a short example.
Example: There is a couple and both people are penis owners. Penis owner one wants to experience double anal penetration. Penis owner two would like to help penis owner one achieve this desire but does not want to add another person into the scene. How can this happen while still meeting each person's request? There are products that penis owner two could wear to help make this possible, such as the Fetish Fantasy Double Trouble. This product is a cock ring that also has a six inch dildo attached to it so it can be used for double penetration. Penis owner two could also use a regular or vibrating dildo with lube and inserting themselves at the same time for the same effect. Both of these options can be a fun solution. Just because something wasn't made specifically for a designated activity doesn't mean you cant use it as such.
Explore, find new things to enjoy, and appreciate your partner(s). Learn about each other and explore each other. We hope to help you and your partner(s) learn, grow, and enjoy together. Please submit your questions and we may be able to help answer! Check back next month to see if others are wondering the same.
XOXO~Sasha
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