A US research team has recommended that vibrators be prescribed as a treatment for pelvic floor problems, and called for more research into any other potential medical benefits of vibrators.
The team was led by Alexandra Dubinskaya, a gynaecologist at the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, a non-profit healthcare organisation based in Los Angeles. Her team performed a systematic review of 18 clinical trials related to vibrators, other sex toys and pelvic vibrator tools, and published a short report of their findings in The Journal of Urology.
Their review of the studies found that use of vibrators among women was positively correlated with increased sexual desire, satisfaction, and overall sexual function. The study review also found that “vibratory stimulation improved pelvic floor muscle strength, vulvodynia, and improved incontinence”. This led to the researchers suggesting that vibrators have medical benefits that should be explored more deeply.
“Vibrators are not well studied and given the promising benefits demonstrated in the articles identified, more research efforts should be directed towards investigating their utility,” they wrote.
They added: “Considering the potential pelvic health benefits of vibrators, their recommendation to women should be included in our pelvic floor disorder treatment armamentarium.”
Despite this recommendation, Dubinskaya’s team suggested that there was some way to go before vibrators were not considered a taboo subject in mainstream US society.
Dubinskaya wrote of her joy at being able to publish information about the benefits of vibrators publicly. “It’s happening! Women’s sexual health IS now being recognized and discussed!” she wrote on social media.
“Of course it isn’t only about vibrators, but it is a start. There are so much more that needs to be done in order to get women the sexual care they deserve,” she added.
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