ABS PLASTIC
NONPOROUS
Very few yeast and Aspergillus niger colonies present.
For Novelty Use Only
DIY Methods of Assessing Sexual Health Microbiomes
DIY Methods of Assessing Sexual Health Microbiomes
What's inside the zine?
This zine will teach you how to identify the microbes living in and on your sex toys, all in the comfort of your own home! It'll also teach you DIY ways of assessing material safety and provide tips on locating body-safe materials.
Included within is the Sexy Microbiota Field Guide, which can be used along with the naked eye to identify common sexy microorganisms using shape and color. You can read about the research behind the project here.
A slightly less-NSFW, text-only accessibility copy of the zine is also available.
Sexy Microbiota Gallery
NONPOROUS
Very few yeast and Aspergillus niger colonies present.
NONPOROUS (?)
Aspergillus nidulans, micrococcus luteus, serratia marscesens, and several unidentified organisms.
*The material of this toy is unverified.
NONPOROUS
Aspergillus nidulans and aspergillus niger.
NONPOROUS
Aspergillus nidulans, aspergillus niger, micrococcus luteus, serratia marscesens, e. coli, and yeast.
NONPOROUS
Aspergillus nidulans, aspergillus niger, micrococcus luteus, serratia marscesens, e. coli, and yeast.
RECENTLY WASHED
Few colonies of aspergillus nidulans and aspergillus niger.
NONPOROUS
Aspergillus nidulans, aspergillus niger, micrococcus luteus, serratia marscesens, e. coli, and yeast.
NO EXPOSURE
No colonies present. This fabric was handled under the same conditions as the other samples, cooked with the same potato extract, and opened at the same time as the others.
These samples were taken from a variety of anal and vaginal-use sex toys as stored. Samples grew in plastic bags under anaerobic conditions for 5 days and then opened for aerobic growth for another week before picturing. This experiment followed the procedure outlined in the zine.
Our aim is to inform the public about the dangers of the unregulated toxic sex toy industry by promoting sex-positive/LGBT-inclusive education, eco-friendly lifestyles, and the disintegration of sexual shame.
Our goal is to turn consumers towards body-safe, eco-friendly lifetime pieces made of recyclable silicone or natural materials, and to pressure the sex toy industry into abolishing its abominable practice of selling unsustainable, unsafe products that damage consumers and the environment.
Our hope is that by allowing everyday people to learn more about the materials and microorganisms that comprise their sexual accessories, we can facilitate access to a future that is healthier, sexier, and science-ier!
AND HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?
Send us your photos at fornoveltyuseonly@gmail.com! Please include (if available) the time and date the sample was taken, time and date the photo was taken, suspected material, and any other information you feel is relevant. We need your photos! We have an overrepresentation of body-safe materials in our gallery, which is not reflective of actual sex toy ownership based on sales data. Please help us expand our gallery and learn more about the ecology of toxic toys.
You can also support us by helping expand our Sexy Microbiota Field Guide in the lab. We are also on the lookout for resources for identifying suspicious sex toy materials.
Collaborations We Are Seeking
If you are interested in establishing a collaboration of any kind, please email us at fornoveltyuseonly@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you!