Whether you’re a sex toy aficionado, a vibrator newbie or just plain curious it’s always empowering to improve your understanding of sexuality and the female anatomy. If you’ve ever asked yourself “why would I use a vibrator?” and wondered just how these miraculous, buzzing appliances work and why they work, you’ve probably been stumped for an answer.
The reality is, is that vibrators have traditionally been associated with women because so many learned how to orgasm (or how to orgasm more easily) by using a vibrator. The majority of women require consistent, intense clitoral stimulation in order to achieve orgasm, because that’s simply the way we’re wired. While deft fingers and a clever tongue are definitely useful in bringing women to climax, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Furthermore, it’s common knowledge that the majority of the male population enjoy visual stimuli for arousal (pornography), so why can’t women add another form of stimuli to their artillery?
Vibrators have come a long way since their inception for medicinal purposes in the late 19th century! And with a recent statistic revealing that 40% of Australian women own a vibrator, it’s no surprise that they’ve retained their popularity and that their popularity continues to grow!
So just how do vibrators work, and why?
As mentioned earlier, women climax generally through clitoral stimulation, and this stimulation needs to be fairly consistent in order to achieve orgasm.
At first glance, the clitoris may look like a little pea, hidden away under the clitoral hood (though they all vary in shapes and sizes) however, many people are surprised to discover that the clitoris actually extends internally inside women. Two strands of erectile tissue curve up inside, and become engorged when aroused (similarly to an erect penis.) The clitoris also becomes engorged and grows in size, sometimes even popping out of the hood, whilst the vulva and labia become slightly puffier and the vagina relaxes and secretes its natural lubrication.
As a general rule, vibrators work by stimulating the clitoris externally (and internally) as its vibrations travel and resonate through the body, providing pleasurable, consistent sensations. Many people assume that vibrators and dildos are the same thing, but while dildos can only be used internally (and don’t vibrate), vibrators can work internally and externally and they do, of course, vibrate.
Many women also find that they purchase a large, realistic looking vibrator because it would appear to emulate the experience of penetrative sex, but discover with a little care and play, that it’s actually more pleasurable to hold that toy externally, on the clitoris, in order to achieve orgasm.
This is why some vibrators are small and egg shaped, why some come in small bullet sizes, why some come with a shaft and tickler (for internal and external stimulation) and why some are curved for g-spot stimulation.
There’s a huge range of different styles available out there, and we’re lucky to be able to experiment and find out what works for us!
Of course, a vibrator can never substitute a human touch, but it can enhance solo and couples play and help to improve ones self esteem through healthy self exploration and empowerment!
