California Exotic came up with the Sta-hard product to be used as a "male genital desensitizer." While I think most males would agree that they want to fully feel everything that is going on, many women want their partners to stay hard for longer. After all, Men's Health says women take 15 to 40 minutes to orgasm on average. Then, they show that men on average last 14 minutes. Go figure! Of course, men don't want to disappoint with a quick performance either. So, products like sta-hard exist. It numbs the penis enough to hopefully allow for the female partner to finish as well.

Here is what confuses me about this item...why give it a cherry flavor? Do women want men to get off more slowly during oral sex? I highly doubt the majority would say that. Also, the active ingredient is known to numb everything...not just the penis. Therefore, the tongue would be numb too. I don't doubt the use of a numbing product for longer sex, but I do see a problem with the functionality of a flavored numbing product.

Last, but not least, I see in some reviews that this item is being used anally. I've seen several of the products meant to numb marketed toward anal play. However, many of these items aren't necessarily considered safe. This doesn't necessarily relax your muscles...it simply makes it so the discomfort isn't felt. Therefore, damage can be occurring without your knowledge. You don't know if your partner is going too fast or hard, but you will the next day!

First and foremost, this is somewhat of a paste coming out of the tube. It's yellowish and reminds me of organic toothpaste at first (lemon twist Earthpaste in particular), but when rubbed in, it begins to take the texture of orajel. It will also absorb into the skin if rubbed even more. The tube is easy to squeeze, and the user can decide how much is necessary. Really, a little goes a long way. This definitely stays in place as well with no greasy or sticky residue.

The smell of sta-hard is more sugar cookie-like than cherry. The smell is incredibly light and even lighter when completely rubbed in. I actually have a sugar cookie flavored item from another "adult" company, and it smells exactly like this. It tingles and is aimed at women instead of numbing men though. Sta-hard tastes incredibly bitter. However, after it begins to numb your tongue, the taste is less noticeable. It's still not attractive to taste this item or to use it for oral play though.

There is no average time that this product lasts. If your partner usually lasts 10 minutes, he might last 20 or 30. However, if your partner usually lasts 30 minutes, this may not add a lot of time to his performance. I'd suggest washing this product off with soap and water to get rid of any of the product that wasn't fully rubbed in and just in case of irritation with extended wear.

The packaging gives an entire list of ingredients with only one active ingredient (Benzocaine USP 7.5%). The full list of ingredients from EF's product page (and also listed on the tube):
Deionized Water, Lanolin Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Polysorbate 80, Petroleum, Benzocaine, Sorbitan Wonooleate, Methylparaben

The cap twists off of the 1.5 fluid ounce tube, and a little foil part seals it. Simply pull back the foil, and this item can be squeezed based on how much product you need. The tube also carries directions and warnings, as does the plastic packaging that it comes in.

*This tube seals very well and will travel perfectly.

I've tried both sensitizing creams/gels for clitoral stimulation for women and desensitizing products for men in my sexual exploits. I lean heavily towards making the woman more sensitive or adding more foreplay for the female partner (provided there is one). The male desensitizer also rubs off during intercourse and can numb those fuzzy feelings for both partners. Also, it seems like a far worse trade-off in the end to give a man a 5/10 orgasm versus a 10/10 orgasm just to climax when climax can be achieved without taking sensation from the male partner.