When it comes to sex toysthere are so many options out there. One of the most popular categories of sex toys is vibrators — not to be biased, but we’re big fans of this OG recreational product.
And we’re not the only ones! According a review published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 52.5% of the 3,800 women surveyed (ages 18 to 60) said they had used a vibrator at least once in their lifetime. Respondents too mentionted regularly use a vibrator as part of their sexual repertoire, with 40.9% using a vibrator during foreplay and 37.3% during vaginal intercourse.
In addition, vibrators have been found positive impact on sexual satisfaction, function and overall well-being, especially for people who may have difficulty achieving orgasm or experience pelvic floor dysfunction.
“Vibrators can enhance sexual pleasure and have become increasingly common for women and some men,” she says. Sarah MelanconPhd, certified sexologist and principal investigator and member of the medical review board for Women’s Health Interactive. “Vibrator users tend to have higher levels of sexual function, especially in terms of desire, arousal, orgasm, lubrication and reduced pain.”
What is a vibrator?
Way back (in the 1880s), when the vibrator was first released to the public, it was not considered a pleasure product, but rather a device prescribed as a “cure” for the oh-so-ridiculous hysteria of the “disease.”
This was supposedly a physical condition that women were plagued they suffer from various symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and sexual frustration. It is no surprise that nuns, widows and “spinners” were afflicted with this wretched disease. By the Victorian era, even married women had fallen victim to this so-called condition. By the time it hit in the 19th century, three-quarters of American women were at risk.
Of course, several “experts” had an opinion on the matter. For example, Freud thought these women were hysterical because they longed to have a penis. The treatment; To get married, have sex and it can giving birth to a male child.
However, other remedies were available if a woman could not marry immediately. First, uterine massage was introduced, in which doctors manually stimulate women’s genitalia to induce a “hysterical paroxysm,” or what we now know as an orgasm. This option quickly became exhausting for doctors (for obvious reasons) so Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the the first vibrator.
Even so, doctors yet he did not realize the true nature and purpose of the vibrator. And, of course, these “problems” were not present in their male patients. It would be it only seems appropriate to prescribe marriage, marital sex, and pregnancy as the “right” treatment option for the “right” women (cue eye roll).
In 1952, the American Psychiatric Association remove the hysteria from the list of recognized conditions. The term was also deleted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980.
It took years before the vibrator was no longer seen solely as a medical device and began to be used as a tool for sexual pleasure and exploration. Today, vibrators are available in adult toy stores, some department stores, almost all pharmacies and online.
“A vibrator is a device that vibrates and is designed to enhance sexual arousal,” says Melancon. “Vibrators can be used on the clitoris, vulva, nipples, anus, penis, testicles and just about anywhere else!”
How do vibrators work?
Believe it or not, many people they still don’t know how vibrators work and how to use them. And that’s okay! There is no wrong way to use a vibrator as long as it is used safely and consensually.
“Using a vibrator is all about exploring your own pleasure and finding what feels good for you,” she explains. Martha Tara LeePhd, ASSECT certified sexuality educator and certified sexuality educator supervisor at Eros Coaching Pte. Ltd. “Don’t be afraid to try different types, experiment with different techniques and have fun exploring your desires!”
When you think of a vibrator, one or two things probably come to mind: the bunny vibe Miranda told Charlotte to buy the hit HBO series Sex and the City (SATC) or the classic no-frills bullet vibrator. But these are just a few examples of the many types of vibrators available today.
“The beauty of vibrators is that they come in all shapes, sizes and designs,” says the certified sex therapist. Aliyah Moore, Phd. “Whether you’re looking for external clitoral stimulation, deep internal G-spot pleasure, or both, there’s a vibrator out there for that.”
Below, we cover some of the most popular types of vibrators and give tips on how to incorporate them into your sex life.
Ball vibrators
You may be familiar with bullet vibrators, which are small and have a distinctive bullet-like shape (hence the name). These sneaky little vibes are perfect for travelers or first-timers.
“Also known as lipstick vibrators, bullet vibrators are about the size of a tube of lipstick and are commonly used for clitoral, nipple, or external anal stimulation,” says Melancon. “They’re easy to hide and take on the go, and they can work with most sex positions with a partner.”
Femme Funn’s most popular bullet vibrators include the original silicone bullet vibrator, the Ultra Bullet (That’s right: We were the first company to create an all-silicone bullet vibrator) The Booster Bulletsand Rora.