fascinating info about vibrator use

Via About.com:Sexuality

OK, so maybe not everyone geeks out about vibrators as much as I do. It’s one of the hazards perks of my job after all. And after years of talking about how people use vibrators based on anecdotal evidence and customer feedback, it’s great to have some numbers. According to two new papers published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (abstracts available here and here) more people have discovered how much fun vibes can be than we’d thought.

These fine folks surveyed 2056 women and 1047 men and came up with the following numbers:

52.5% of women have used vibrators. The women who had were “significantly more likely to have had a gynecologic exam during the past year” and were more likely to have done a self-examination of their sexual organs in the last month. Recent vibe users had more positive sexual function and vibe use was significantly related to various aspects of sexual function such as desire, arousal, lubrication, and overall function. Their conclusion: “Vibrator use among women is common, associated with health-promoting behaviors and positive sexual function, and rarely associated with side effects.”

Meanwhile, 44.8% of men had ever used a vibrator (either solo or with a partner). Men who had used vibes were more likely to engage in behaviors that promote sexual health such as testicular self-exams. Plus, men who used vibes recently scored higher on four of the five domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, and sexual desire). Their conclusion: “Among men in the United States, vibrator use during solo and partnered sexual interactions is common and is associated with a wide array of positive sexual health characteristics.”

Of course, there’s a correlation not a causation here. It may be that people who are more likely to take their sexual health self-care seriously are more likely to experiment with sex toys. And it may be that people who have more active sex drives are also more likely to use vibes. Of course, it’s also quite possible that sexual experimentation and using vibrators could increase interest in and satisfaction with sex. Personally, I’d expect a feedback loop in which sexual pleasure enhances sexual health, which improves sexual pleasure. After all, that’s how things seem to work in other areas- enjoying your job often means that your performance improves, which can make the job more enjoyable.

In any case, about half of the people you see walking down the street have used vibrators. Think about that the next time you’re stuck in a crowd. And if you want some more details from the research, here’s a link.

If you’ve never used a vibrator, whether on your own or witha partner, give it a try. We have lots and lots of great toys and remember- it feels good and it’s good for you!