Sex Ed

4 Things You Should Know About Vibrators

April 17, 2017 by Justin Lehmiller

Vibrators are one of the most popular sex toys in the world. They are ubiquitous in sex shops, not to mention on the internet—and you can get them in virtually any size, shape, or color desired. In this post, let’s take a look at what we know about vibrators, including who’s using them, as well as the impact that vibrators are having on our sex lives.

1.) Vibrators aren’t just for women—lots of men use them, too. In fact, in a recent national survey, about one-quarter of American men reported having used one in the past year and, further, nearly half of these men reported having ever used one.

2.) There’s no reason to believe that women who use vibrators regularly will become “addicted” to or dependent on them. In fact, research suggests that women who use vibrators tend to report enhanced sexual functioning and fewer sexual problems. It’s also worth mentioning that men who use vibrators report better sexual functioning, too.

3.) For health reasons, it’s probably best to avoid sharing your vibrator with other people. Research suggests that, even after cleaning, HPV is sometimes still detectable on the surface. As a result, be cautious when it comes to sharing your sex toys.

4.) Vibrators continue to evolve in fascinating ways. Among other things, they’re becoming more and more high-tech. For example, you can now get a vibrator that doubles as an alarm clock—just put it in your underwear before bed and it’ll wake you up when morning comes. Also, for couples in long-distance relationships, remote-controlled vibrators are adding a whole new dimension to cyber sex.

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Image Source: 123RF/Dario Lo Presti

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Written by
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and Psychology

Dr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.

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