Health Benefits Of A Vibrator: Nᵒ18 Secrets of the Sexually Empowered

Vibrators have many health benefits. Here’s why: sexual stimulation from a vibe can increase the chance of orgasm. When a person orgasms, a chemical cocktail of hormones is released that leads to perks including relaxation, an immune boost, and pleasure. While there are many types of sex toys, vibrators are a favorite among all genders. The buzzing action of these mechanical devices is moan worthy because the stimulation they provide supersedes human efforts.

Is it healthy to use a vibrator?

Some people feel that using a prop to enhance a sexual encounter will ruin their sex life. Common opinions are that vibrators lead to desensitization, are unnatural or flat out wrong. These comments often refer to those with a vulva/vagina. They also tend to stem from culture, religion or values.

A nationally representative study of women in the United States was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2009. They reported “Vibrator use among women is common, associated with health-promoting behaviors and positive sexual function, and rarely associated with side effects. Clinicians may find these data useful in responding to patients' sexual issues and recommending vibrator use to improve sexual function.” Another study in the same issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that “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, other countries have done beneficial research as well, showing the positive effect of vibes. So, put any shame, embarrassment or shyness aside and get your buzz on for the sake of you physical and emotional health.

Benefits for Everyone

Pleasure is the most obvious health benefit of using a vibrator. Here’s how using a vibe can elevate your sexual experiences and well-being.

Get to Know Your Body

Whether you’re having solo or partnered sex, adding a vibrator to the mix allows you the opportunity to get to know your body better. Playing with the various speeds and pressures by targeting nerve-packed and other erogenous areas you can see how your body responds. Try stimulating hot spots including the nipples, clitoris, scrotum, perineum, prostate and thighs. Then, make mental notes of what lowers and amps up arousal.

Better Sex with Your Partner

While some partners can be intimated about vibrators, these days it’s easy to select a sex toy that’s purposeful and fun. Many have a high-end design that’s non-threatening. Once that issue is aside, a pleasure prop can easily help couples experiment with new sensations or mimic familiar touch at a higher intensity that can heighten pleasure. Partners can watch each other get off, use a toy on one another or slip a small toy between two or more bodies when getting it on.

A Safe Way to Experiment

Trying news things can jolt dopamine, increasing happiness and making for a stronger connection. A vibrator is a simple way to get this pleasure perk. If you’re partnered, just keep in mind that if you or your partner have an STD it can be transmitted by a shared toy.

Increase Self Confidence

Vibrating sex toys can build your climaxing confidence. Orgasms aren’t a given and can vary for each and every encounter. However, those who are healthy, familiar with their body and know how to orgasm, have experienced orgasm, do not use drugs or alcohol, aren’t on medications, and do not have anxiety or stress can generally climax rather consistently.

For those with a vulva/vagina the menstrual cycle may impact sexual desire and arousal. However, since most women need clitoral stimulation to climax, whether it’s through oral stimulation, manual touch or a toy, the vibrating sensation can help tap into orgasmic abilities.

Can Help Heal from Sexual Trauma

Healing from sexual trauma can take time. If sex toys were not part of the trauma, or after some level of healing work has happened, a toy can be a good way to receive consensual touch. The brain may associate the feeling of skin and human touch as a trigger, but likely doesn’t register the material of a toy (like silicone) to be threatening. Vibrating toys that look like genitalia can be a way to slowly reintroduce the visual image of body parts in a healing way.

Sexual Health Benefits of Vibrators

There are a variety of conditions, circumstances and situations that can sabotage sex. Here are some solutions that can help make both solo and partnered sexual activity more pleasurable.

Help with Pain

During orgasm, hormones including endorphins are released that can help relieve pain. So, whether you are having uncomfortable menstrual cramps, migraines, or other conditions, a vibrator and orgasm can be a natural elixir.

Use It or Lose It

For those with a vulva/vagina, as part of the life cycle, hormones shift and the vagina can go through changes. When desire diminishes or something else leaves the vagina “ignored,” it’s often said to “use it or lose it.” Hormonal shifts can happen for a variety of reasons, most notably perimenopause and menopause. Common characteristics include less estrogen production, decreased blood flow to the pelvic area, weakened pelvic muscles, and decreased natural vaginal lubrication. Using a vibrator—with or without a partner—can restore blood flow, strengthen pelvic muscles and increase vaginal moisture. Side benefits are that the boost in pleasure can lead to a happy state of mind and more restful sleep.

Pain Associated with Sex

For those with a vulva/vagina, pain or discomfort just before, during, or after sex can be common. Causes can include vulvodynia, dyspareunia, or vaginismus. Each condition has its own set of symptoms that can be mild to severe from penetration of a tampon, finger, speculum during a medical exam, penis or toy. It’s helpful to use kegel exercises, as well as various sized dilators with lube to learn to relax the muscles. However, a small, thin vibrator is also a great way to start to sensitize the vulva, vaginal opening, and vagina to having something inside.

Erectile Dysfunction

For those with a penis who are unable to get or maintain an erection, they are considered to have erectile dysfunction (ED). This definition is generally specific to intercourse, however it could be more broad to include solo sex and other sexual activities. After all, whether a person is alone or with a partner, ED can happen. It’s smart to rule out if the cause is physical or emotional. Typically, medications are the usual solution to treat ED. However, vibrators are an easily accessible tool to help that can be used to retrain the body to respond or enable a firmer erection ultimately, leading to climax. If a person has trouble getting hard, a vibrating penis sleeve or similar toy like the Men Wand can do the trick. While this Satisfyer Men Wand is great for solo sex, you can also use it on the shaft of the penis for a blow job or during sex. Fun Factory Manta or the We Vibe Verge which is a cock ring is another option for getting and staying erect.

Delayed Ejaculation

There are a few medical reasons for delayed ejaculation including certain medications, diabetes or pelvic injury. While orgasm and ejaculation in those with a penis tend to happen at the same time, they are actually two separate processes. One of the many benefits of a vibrator is to speed up the response time for a quicker satisfying experience with an ejaculatory outcome. While it’s not a guarantee, the stimulation from high speeds and various sensations from a toy used on or in a nerve-packed area (like the penis, perineum, scrotum or prostate) typically has a happy ending.

A Vibrator Prescription?

For the most part, it seems many GPs and other doctors are uncomfortable talking about sexuality, including vibrators. It stems from the verbal and nonverbal messages we all get growing up about sex. Additionally, most traditional medical programs do not address sexual health and other aspects of sexuality in a comprehensive way, if at all. It would be great if doctors and patients alike felt at ease having this important conversation. Imagine if getting a vibrator and having at least an orgasm a day was prescribed?!?! As a patient, it’s up to you to feel and be sexually empowered—to be educated, curious and motivated—to seek out what’s best for your health and well-being.

The Bottom Line: Avoid the buzzkill of feeling sexually frustrated. Be sure to always have the charger or extra batteries on hand so the vibrator is able to outlast your orgasm.