Plenty of people still treat sex toys as something slightly embarrassing: fine for other people, but not something to talk about. The research tells a very different story. Toys are common, they are associated with positive sexual health, and the stigma around them is mostly based on assumptions that do not hold up.
How common are they?
One of the most widely cited sources is a pair of nationally representative studies from Indiana University's Center for Sexual Health Promotion, which surveyed 2,056 women and 1,047 men aged 18 to 60. Roughly half of the women and almost half of the men reported having used a vibrator at some point. [1]
Those studies are now more than a decade old. Since then, online shopping has made toys easier and more private to buy, and conversations about sexual wellness have become far more open, so it is reasonable to expect use is at least as common today.
Are they good for you?
In the same research, women who used vibrators, especially recently, tended to report more desire, arousal and ease of orgasm, and less pain. Most women (71.5%) said they had never experienced any side effects, and where side effects did occur they were generally minor and short-lived. [2]
The researchers are careful about cause and effect: people who already feel comfortable with their bodies may be more likely to use toys. Either way, the link is positive, not negative. A clinical review of vibrator use also recommends that health professionals help normalise it for patients. [3]
Three myths, retired
“If you use a toy, something must be missing.”
A toy is a tool for pleasure, the same way good lighting or a favourite playlist is. People use them when they are single, partnered, married, young and older.
“Partners feel threatened by them.”
Follow-up research found that around 70% of men disagreed that vibrators are intimidating to a woman's partner, while only 37% of women expected partners to feel that way. [4] The worry is often bigger than the reality.
“Toys are only for women.”
Nearly half of men in the Indiana research had used a vibrator, most often with a partner. Strokers, cock rings and prostate massagers are designed specifically for male pleasure, and couples' toys are made to be shared.
The bottom line
Curiosity about toys is ordinary. If you are interested, start with something simple and body-safe, and give yourself permission to explore without judgement. Our beginner's guide is a good next step.
Sources: [1] Indiana University via ScienceDaily (2009). [2] Indiana University via Newswise (2009). [3] “Genital vibration for sexual function and enhancement”, PMC review. [4] Indiana University follow-up study via NBC News (2011).
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