Sexual Enrichment Aids: A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Use, Hygiene, and Risk Perception among Women

ABSTRACT

Sexual Enrichment Aids (SEAs), or “sex toys” like dildos or vibrators, are used to enrich sexual experiences, either alone or with sexual partners. Although SEA use has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades, there remain significant gaps in knowledge regarding sexual behaviors and hygiene surrounding their use. In this study, we use mixed methods approaches (cross-sectional survey of n = 800 women and qualitative semi-structured interviews of n = 24 women) to better understand sexual behavior, potential risks, and hygiene practices of women who self-identify as having sex with men, with women, or with women and men when using SEAs. We identified SEA use is common, with 79.9% of women using an SEA. Among these women, 31.8% of women indicated that they share SEAs with sexual partners. Further, condom use is rare while sharing SEAs, with only 14% of women utilizing condoms regularly. The majority (81.8%) of women wash their SEAs, primarily with soap and water. Yet, there is no consensus among women interviewed regarding the perceived risk associated with SEA use. Together, our findings support the need for increased evidence-based education for women to increase safety and hygiene of SEA use.

Acknowledgments

We’d like to thank Susan B. Core for assistance with Institutional Review Board approvals, all study participants who shared so openly regarding their sexual behaviors, and those involved with participant recruitment.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, KMF, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This project is supported by an award from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health under grant numbers UL1TR001449 and KL2TR001448. Additional funding comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health under grants 2T32AI007538-21A1, and F30AI156995