Erotic toys have been around for an incredibly long time and a visit to the nearest erotic toy store will give a shopper an image of what types of toys the culmination of erotic thought has resulted in. Although it remains slightly taboo to speak about sex toys for men, they have long been used to enhance both masturbation and the sexual experience between a couple. In current times, sex toys for male use have garnered widespread use and their application for increased male pleasure has been welcomed with open arms. Generically speaking, an erotic toy can be defined as any device that is intended to improve the sexual experience, whether it is alone or with a partner. These toys can range from simple drawings or pornographic materials to contraptions and devices that have a very specific sexual purpose.

The earliest erotic toys that have been discovered were addressed to the needs of both men and women. Dildos have been dated back to the year 30,000 B.C. and statues and pictures used to arouse men date to approximately the same period in time. While much of the early sex toys for men were used to enhance arousal and not to improve the pleasurable sensations associated with sex, this has changed over the course of sex toy history. It is estimated that as early as 350 B.C. olive oil was used as a lubrication during sexual encounters. At the time, it was thought to be a contraceptive, but use of the oils became common simply for enhanced pleasure. In some editions of the Indian sex manual, the Kama Sutra, references are made to penis extensions. These mentions would date the penis extender sex toy to approximately the year 300 A.D. Other sex toy inventions that occurred around the same time periods were Ben Wa balls and the first cock rings. Then, in 1844, the process of making vulcanized rubber added a new flexible material to the construction of sex toys. This discovery, and the following invention of latex in 1930, have ushered in a new era of sex toys that are more pleasurable and provide more sensations than models of the past.

Modern sex toys for men have become an industry unto themselves. Perhaps the most common male sex toy is the artificial vagina. This can be made in several forms, from a mere fleshlight to an exact replication of the whole genital area of a famous pornographic actress. Materials have also evolved, with new patented substances giving the most realistic feeling of an actual vagina than ever before. Cock rings have also gained widespread use by men that are looking for ways to prevent premature ejaculation and to prolong the sexual experience. Of course, the most popular device for enhanced sexual arousal and pleasure is still pornographic materials. Suited to every sexual taste, an interested person can easily find films and magazines available for purchase at any local sex shop. In addition, there is a wealth of pornographic materials and erotic toys available on the internet for easy perusal.