Looking for a squirting dildo? We’re smitten with the Semenette, the only silicone toy of its kind. Lucky for us, Stephenie R. Berman, who designed and now sells this unique toy, agreed to chat with one of our staff and share some pro tips for getting the most out of your Semenette experience.
I hear that the company has a great origin story. Would you share it?
I own a women’s reproductive health company with my family. I’ve been helping couples get pregnant since 2003. When I married my wife in 2011 and we started thinking more seriously about a family, we realized that the only options available for at-home insemination were a turkey baster or a syringe – even though I had access to all of this medical equipment.
When we started trying, I found that I just didn’t have enough hands for all of the equipment: syringe, lube, flashlight, speculum. I started wearing a head lamp!
Wait, why did you need a flashlight?
To get the semen as close to the cervix as possible. There was nothing intimate or romantic about it. After a lot of awkward, uncomfortable, failed attempts, I started thinking about how to make the experience better overall, because anything would be better than what we were doing. I thought that if [penis-in-vagina sex] works for heterosexual couples, why wouldn’t it work for a same sex couple to mimic the experience? A year and a half later, I was knee deep in the world of sex toys. I had prototypes and a business.
How long before you could start selling them?
I started the company in 2012. The Semenette has only been on the market since February.
My wife and I did conceive using the Semenette, by the way. We have a seven month old. The most rewarding part of this job is the success stories, and I’ve heard several. I love to help people start a family with love, privacy and intimacy. I like to joke that I’m not just the president, I’m also a client.
It’s not just about pregnancy, though: it’s about intimacy and romance. I don’t want to pigeonhole this toy as a tool for home insemination.
Have you heard from customers who are using it as a toy, not primarily for insemination? Were you ever surprised by who was buying it?
I actually didn’t think of the obvious: trans men. The Semenette isn’t flexible enough to be used as a packer, but it still lets you mimic an ejaculation. I’ve heard from gay men, folks in the fetish community, and men who have erectile dysfunction or are sterile. It’s also great for straight couples who are far apart, maybe having phone sex, who want a better way to simulate being together.
What sets this toy apart from other squirting dildos on the market?
The Semenette is made 100% in the U.S.A. It’s made of medical grade silicone, which is phthalate free, non-porous, and hypoallergenic. The tubing that threads through the middle is removable and replaceable, which keeps everything clean. You can keep using the same bulb, though, since the liquid should never come in contact with the bulb.
I’m looking at the Semenette and trying to figure out how exactly I’d strap it on and what I would do with the bulb once I’m ready to go. Any tips?
It’s a standard size and the base is also a fairly standard size. I tried to make it as universal as possible, so that it could fit into almost any harness. There’s a groove on the bottom of the toy for the tubing, so that when you put it in the harness it lays flat and doesn’t kink. The tube isn’t too long, and the idea is that you can just tuck it into the harness. That’s why we made the bulb smaller – we didn’t want you to be saddled with this hulking thing.
Do you have a favorite harness to use with the Semenette?
I love any Spareparts harness!
Got any other insider tips?
When you’re drawing the liquid into the bulb, you want to be careful. That small bulb is surprisingly strong! Do a couple of trial runs with water. Make sure that you can pull the liquid in without trapping air bubbles and then test the squirtablility.
Also – and I’m not a doctor – some lubricants can be extremely toxic to sperm. If you’re trying to conceive, make sure that you’re using one that’s going to work for you.
Pleasure Chest tip: if you’re using the Semenette to mimic ejaculation, try using a hybrid lube like Liquid Silk, Sliquid Silk or Spunk for a realistic touch!
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