For example, if someone has an interest in bondage or rope play, it is essential that the materials used for restraint will not chafe their skin, will be able to hold their weight, and are able to be removed safely at any point during the sexual experience if any partner decides they would like to stop. This can only be accomplished safely when using materials that won’t cause any short- or long-term damage. Interest in kink or power play : Toys can be an important step in ensuring any power play, bondage, BDSM, or kink happens safely.Ĭonsensual pain is an important part of many people’s sexuality and sexual desires.
Anal play (with or without toys) is a good example of a pleasurable alternative if vaginal intercourse isn’t possible. Many people with chronic pain redefine sex according to what they are able to do and what gives them pleasure, which can often be unconventional or involve toys. Smaller penetrative toys or dilator sets can be helpful in allowing someone with a vagina to work up to penetration at a size and level that is comfortable, especially if partnered penis-in-vagina sex is an important goal for the individual. Non-penetrative toys can be especially helpful to increase comfort with sex, allowing someone with a physical condition to experience sexual pleasure,with or without a partner, in a safe and painless way. Masturbation generally can be a helpful tool in increasing comfort with sexual pleasure and relinquishing control, something survivors can sometimes struggle with, which can often be aided by the use of masturbatory toys.Ĭoping with chronic pain: People with chronic conditions like endometriosis, vaginismus, or other sources of discomfort can experience physical pain during sexual activity and therefore can have negative mental/emotional attachments to their sexuality. For other survivors, realistic or phallic objects can actually be more triggering, and colorful or silly toys (like this vibrator set that’s Alice in Wonderland themed) can make sex light-hearted and easier.īondage/kink/BDSM toys can also be used to reintroduce sex in a safe, controlled environment and to subvert trauma experiences with safe and consensual pain and/or power play. For some survivors, realistic and real-feeling sex toys (like this toy which uses suction to simulate oral sex, for example) can make sex feel natural and their toys not feel like a foreign object that may be triggering. Trauma Recovery : Survivors of sexual violence, abuse, or other trauma may have physical or emotional effects that impact their sexuality.īecoming comfortable with sexual activity after trauma can be facilitated by thoughtful use of sex toys. However, this is not to say that sex toys can get rid of all medication side effects - talk to your doctor about how you can prioritize both your physical/mental and sexual wellbeing. Sex toys can be one way to more easily facilitate orgasm,especially for people with clitorises, because of their consistency and power. Some antidepressants, for example, can cause sexual side effects like decreased to an entire lack of libido impaired sexual performance, such as difficulty self-lubricating, difficulty producing or sustaining an erection difficulty or inability of reaching orgasm or a combination of all of the above. Medication interference: Some necessary medications can affect sexuality in all people. While this data does not account for trans/non-binary folks (a common thread throughout research, I might add), it sheds light on how internalized shame and the stigma of non-male sexuality contribute to an orgasm deficit which can be ameliorated in part with the use of sex toys. Another 2017 study found only 65% of heterosexual women, 66% of bisexual women, and 86% of lesbian women orgasmed in their last encounter - rates for heterosexual, bisexual, and gay men were 88%-95% range. According to one study, 5% of women have never orgasmed, period. The “Orgasm Gap” is no myth - cis men are more likely to have little or no trouble achieving orgasm compared to women and trans/non-binary folks often do, alone or with a partner. Difficulty orgasming: People who have difficulty achieving orgasm, often cis-het women, might use sex toys to aid in exploration and self-understanding.