Clinical and research concerns with vibratory stimulation: a review and pilot study of common stimulation devices

Abstract

The parameters of vibrators used for sexual stimulation in laboratory settings and therapeutic contexts are usually unknown. The unidentified range of vibrator characteristics commonly used for sexual stimulation would help identify appropriate vibrator for different purposes and clients. Seven vibrators used for sexual stimulation were tested using a piezoelectric accelerometer mounted on their housing to quantify frequency, displacement, and acceleration of each. Vibratory frequency ranged from 43 to 148 Hz, displacement from 37 to 783 μm, and acceleration from 18 to 311 m/s². The range suggests vibrators used in laboratory studies could greatly increase their stimulation, while some devices actually may decrease sexual sensitivity temporarily. An in vivo study could characterize patterns of use that could maximize sexual arousal while mitigating potential loss of sensitivity.

Keywords:

• vibrator
• sexual arousal
• anorgasmia
• delayed ejaculation

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Anish Sebastian and Marco Schoen, PhD for their assistance with data collection and analyses.