Vibrator use common, linked to sexual health, finds US study

Washington, June 30 (ANI): Vibrator use during sexual interactions is common, claims a new US-based survey which shed light on acts that take place beneath the covers and behind closed doors.

Two Indiana University studies conducted among nationally representative samples of adult American men and women showed forty-five percent of men said they'd employed a vibrator, with most heterosexual men doing so during foreplay or intercourse with a female partner. About 17 percent of men said they used a vibrator for solo masturbation.

Not only is vibrator use common, but the two studies also show that vibrator use is associated with more positive sexual function and being more proactive in caring for one's sexual health.

The studies were led by researchers at the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in IU's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

One study surveyed women. The other surveyed men. Both were published this week by the "Journal of Sexual Medicine," a leading peer-reviewed journal in the area of urology and sexual health.

"The study about women's vibrator use affirms what many doctors and therapists have known for decades -- that vibrator use is common, it's linked to positive sexual function such as desire and ease of orgasm, and it's rarely associated with any side effects," said Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion.

Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, said the studies are important for the contributions they make to an understanding of the sexual behaviors and sexual health of adults in today's society.

"The study about male vibrator use is additionally important because it shows that vibrator use is also common among men, something that has not been documented before," Reece said.

"Also, both studies help us to further understand the way in which American consumers are turning to the marketplace for products that promote their sexual health, and that has important economic implications," the expert added.

The studies, which involved 2,056 women and 1,047 men ages 18-60, were funded by Church and Dwight Co. Inc., maker of Trojan brand sexual health products.

The research found that more than half of the women (52.5 percent) had used a vibrator with nearly one in four having done so in the past month, the use of the kinky device was positively related to several aspects of sexual function (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain and overall function) with recent vibrator users scoring themselves higher on most sexual function domains, suggesting more positive sexual function. (ANI)