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Is using sex toys common? Is it…okay? Our answer at X’s and O’s is a resounding yes! Using sex toys (also called sexual aids or adult toys) is not only pleasurable and fun, but can help make orgasms and intimacy more accessible for many different people.
We’ll get into the benefits of sex toys in a minute. First, let’s look at some statistics on sex toy use.
Is using sex toys common? The numbers say yes.
Across multiple studies, 50% of adults report using sex toys. 50% is the “big number” to take away from this article.
In a 2017 study published by The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 52.3% of participants in an anonymous survey reported sex toy use.
- Sex toy users were more likely to report a bisexual, lesbian, queer or questioning identity.
- They were more likely to report engaging in additional partnered sexual activities such as oral and anal sex.
Nationally representative surveys in the U.S. indicate that 52.8% of women report using a vibrator in their lifetime. Women use vibrators with various sexual behaviors, including vaginal, oral and anal sex.
- Sociodemographic and behavioral predictors of sex toy use included higher levels of education and those who indicated a lesbian, bisexual or other sexual orientation.
- Sex toy use was significantly associated with ever engaging in both oral and anal sex, suggesting that sex toy use is indicative of a broader repertoire of sexual behaviors.
According to a 2004 Chicago Berman Center report, which sampled 2,600 women aged 18-60, 50% of women claimed sex toy use.
- The vast majority reported using sex toys while in a relationship. 46% of those reported using the sex toys on a regular basis.
- Those in a relationship and using sex toys reported higher levels of overall sexual satisfaction.
- Their sex toy use contributed to more arousal and less discomfort.
Newer statistics paint a similar picture.
Social acceptance and awareness have increased the use of sex toys by couples. Almost 50% of the U.K. adult population owns some sort of sex toy, a 2017 survey suggests.
- Ownership was most common in women in the 45-64 age group. Most felt it spiced up things in the bedroom, i.e. use with a partner.
In a 2012 study, a majority (78.5%) of gay and bisexual men reported having used at least one type of sex toy. These data suggest that sex toy use is common among gay and bisexual men during both solo and partnered sexual activities and considered by these men as enhancing the quality of their sexual experience.
A survey conducted by sex toy maker We-Vibe found that 8 of 10 men have tried a sex toy and like to experiment during masturbation, solo or partnered. The survey consisted of 1,800 men: 600 from the U.S., 600 from the U.K., and 600 from the Netherlands.
What are the benefits of sex toy use?
Now that we’ve established that sex toy use is normal and common, let’s explore why so many people find them beneficial.
1. Sexual aids can make sex more accessible for people with mobility limitations.
Just as canes, wheelchairs and grab bars help meet the human need for independence, sexual aids for people with mobility issues help meet the need for pleasure and intimacy.
Learn More: Accessible Sex Toys for People With Mobility Limitations
2. Sex toys can help make arousal and orgasm easier—especially as we age.
As we get older, we need longer and stronger genital stimulation to reach orgasm. And wouldn’t you know it, that happens just as arthritis, weakened hands, fatigue, aches and pains make that stimulation more difficult to deliver!
Vibrators can lend a “helping hand,” providing the strong, consistent stimulation needed for arousal and orgasm. They do this by increasing blood flow to the genitals.
3. Sex toys may help with erection problems.
No, they’re not a miracle cure or a substitute for going to the doctor. Sex toys won’t solve major medical problems, but they may help treat the ED associated with the problem.
Vibrators and pumps may help increase blood flow to the penis to produce an erection, while penis rings prevent blood flow out of the penis to maintain the erection.
Learn More: Sex Toys for Erection Problems: Can They Help?
4. They’re fun and they feel good!
Sex toys add variety and pleasure to solo or partnered sex. For solo sex (masturbation), they can be part of a luxurious session of self-care or provide reliable stimulation when it’s needed most.
For partnered sex, as long as partners are comfortable with their use, adult toys can help improve intimacy and enhance sexual relationships.
So what do you want to do if you want to try?
These days, you can shop sex toys in the comfort and privacy of your own home. We have several buying guides here at X’s and O’s that you may find helpful.
- How to Buy Your First Sex Toy (a gentle and reassuring guide, with suggested products for beginners)
- Sex Toy Guide for Older Women (primer covering the different types of available toys and aids, with examples)
- How to Choose a Couples Vibrator (questions to discuss, plus toys for different situations and uses)
- Sex Toy Gift Guide (also has many beginner suggestions)
- Personal Lubricants 101 (important information about types of lubricant and how they work with sex toys)
What is the take-home message?
- Sex toy use is common and growing in acceptance. Across multiple studies, 50% of adults report using sex toys.
- Sex toys can have many benefits, including making pleasure and intimacy more accessible.
- There is absolutely no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed about consensual sex toy use.
References
Wood, Jessica, Crann, Sara, Cunningham, Shannon, Money, Deborah, O’Doherty, Kieran, The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, A cross-sectional survey of sex toy use, characteristics of sex toy use hygiene behaviors, and vulvovaginal health outcomes in Canada, volume 26 issue 3, December 2017, pp. 196-204
Thoughts, Studies reveal something interesting in women about relationships, Studybreaks.com, May 24,2021
Rosenberger, Joshua G., Schick, Vanessa, Herbenick, Debby, Novak, David S., Reece, Michael, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Sex toy use by gay and bisexual men in the United States, April 2012; 41(2): 449-58.
Doring, Nicola, Poeschl, Sandra, Experiences with diverse sex toys among German heterosexual adults: findings from a national online survey, The Journal of Sex Research, volume 57, 2020-issue 7.
Aquilina, Kimberly, what do men desire? More sex toys, survey (conducted by We-Vibe) says, www.metro.us
