11 October,2010 03:05 PM IST | | AFP
Vibrator use during sexual interactions is common among American adult men and women and is associated with more positive sexual function, according to two studies led by researchers from the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
The studies, each of which studied men and women separately, found that approximately 53 percent of women and 45 percent of men aged 18-60 use vibrators. It is the first study of its kind to examine the reasons people use vibrators and the associations with sexual health behaviors and enjoyment.
The first study of 2056 women 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. Vibrator users were more likely to have had a gynocological exam during the past year and to have performed genital self-examination in the previous month.
Women who used vibrators also scored themselves higher in most areas of sexual function, suggesting more positive sexual function linked to vibrator use. In addition, the majority of the women surveyed (71.5 percent) reported having never or rarely experienced any side effects from vibrators.
"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 for understanding sexual behaviors and sexual health.
"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.
The second study found that 44.8 percent of 1047 men studied had incorporated a vibrator into their sexual activities, whether they were heterosexual, gay or bisexual. Heterosexual men also reported having used vibrators during foreplay or intercourse with a female partner. Ten percent of the men who reported using vibrators had done so in the past month, 14.2 percent in the past year and 20.5 percent more than one year ago.
The men who reported having used vibrators were also more likely have performed testicular self-exams and also scored themselves higher in certain domains of sexual function, as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (erectile function, intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function and sexual desire).
