I have owned one of these for years, and for years never succeeded in getting the darned thing to go in. It didn't seem to matter what I did to prepare, relax, stretch, etc., I still couldn't get over that last "brick wall" where the muscle simply refused to go any further, even though the plug was only about 80% inserted. I knew this couldn't be an absolute barrier, because the muscle ought to be able to stretch further. Although this product is daunting enough with a 1-3/4" diameter at its widest point, there are numerous other products out there (including the largerDoc Johnson Anal Plug, White, Large ) that measure 2", 2-1/4", even 3" and beyond. (And believe me, those quarter-inch increments can seem like a mile when you're struggling to get them inserted!) Somebody out there is buying and using these things. There must be a way to make them work. Before I talk about how I finally succeeded in using this plug, I want to say a word about anal plugs (a/k/a butt plugs) in general. The theory is that the wide spread of the insertion part, tapering into a much narrower shank near the base, will keep the inserted plug in place rather than allowing it to pop out while standing, sitting, walking, or engaging in bedroom activity. The reliability of insertion seems to depend on both the absolute diameter of the wide part, and the ratio between the wide part's diameter and the stem's diameter. The greater the difference, the less likely the unit is to pop out unexpectedly, despite lubrication (which is essential). For this reason, it is my view that the "slim" anal plugs (such as theDoc Johnson Anal Plug White Small ) are relatively useless and ineffective, because their small diameter and negligible taper mean that they will be ejected almost immediately, even if the wearer stays perfectly still. Natural muscle contraction will be enough. I believe you need to go to something more substantial, such as this "medium" model, in order to have any hope that the unit will stay in place. Thus, getting this size of plug to insert is not just a matter of mastering some kind of abstract size challenge; it is the basic precondition of experiencing a plug's intended function at all. What I discovered is that it required a much more graduated approach to work up to this unit. Previously I had been using a 1" device to prepare and attempt to relax and stretch the muscle. This proved inadequate, and the jump to 1-3/4" was just too much. The answer proved to be theTantus Ripple Large Anal Plug, Midnight Purple , also available asTantus Ripple Large Anal Plug, Electric Blue andTantus Ripple Large Anal Plug, Pink Pearl . This unit has a series of increasing diameter bulbs, starting at 7/8" and ending at 1-1/2". It took a few tries over successive days to get the 1-1/2" bulb to go in. Once that happened reliably, the step to this plug -- at 1-3/4" -- was no big deal. Thus, anyone considering this plug -- unless they already have experience with something this size -- should seriously consider equipping themselves with something else that will allow them to work up to this unit. I happen to like the Tantus devices a lot, because they are comfortable and easy to care for, but there are other products that should accomplish the same thing. I can tell you that once this plug goes in, it ain't goin' nowhere. It fits very comfortably, and any muscle contraction appears to draw it in rather than tending to expel it. The wide base keeps it from getting drawn entirely inside. I have found that you almost have to remind yourself that it's in there, because the very smooth surface doesn't create any friction or irritation. I was not bothered by the external base at all. I had some trepidation on the first occasion it came time to remove the unit, fearing a repeat of the "brick wall" in the other direction. Fortunately, however, that didn't seem to be a problem. Evidently having this inserted keeps the muscle sufficiently limber. I don't know whether I will always have to go through the ritual of preparing with the Tantus plug before inserting this one, or will someday learn to go directly to a state of sufficient relaxation to allow this one to go in with only moderate preparation. (They do say that practice makes perfect!) In all events it seems doubtful to me that I will ever seek to move beyond this one in size, as its performance is everything I am interested in. This plug's classic design has been around for more than 30 years, and it has certainly stood the test of time. My extended discussion here is provided in hopes that others will not experience disappointment or frustration when faced with the challenge of using this plug for the first time. When used properly, it does exactly what it sets out to do. UPDATE: I decided to order the 2008 version of this plug to compare with the one I have owned for years. Here is what I found: * The 2008 version is slightly narrower at its widest point -- 1-5/8" rather than 1-3/4" -- but that is still plenty big enough. The height is about the same: 5-1/2" total, 4-3/4" insertable. * The product is now made with a more resilient and rubbery plastic resin, as opposed to the vinyl (or something like vinyl) used in my vintage plug. This seems like an improvement to me, as the tip will probably have an easier time bending to conform to internal areas. * The base is much beefier in today's version. It is both thicker and wider. This is not such a good thing, as it makes wearing the plug somewhat less comfortable. I'm assuming there was a reason for this, and will say that it is not so uncomfortable as to be intolerable. I'm wondering if there is a way to shave down the width somewhat, because that would improve things a lot. All in all, however, I would not change anything I said in the original review (other than to correct the width dimension I gave). This is the classic plug, and it works well once you figure out how to get it in. Because of the comfort issue associated with the base, anyone considering long-term wear might want to look at the slightly smaller (and more expensive)Tantus Ryder Anal Plug, Midnight Purple , which features a more comfortable base.
