Sex toys have become part of sexual intimacy with oneself and with one's partner. But is the use of sex toys always a positive thing? Sexologists have asked themselves this question: Are sex toys harmless? Should they be used with caution? Are there hidden risks that are barely mentioned?
This article takes a closer look at the pros and cons of sex toys. I have taken various studies into account. However, most of these were financed by the manufacturers of sex toys, which casts doubt on the objectivity of the results. (See the footnote below for more information).
Yes, sex toys have positive effects. Here are the pros of sex toys:
- More women are able to climax through sex toys. Considering the orgasm gap between men and women (65% of women climax in straight relationships, while 95% of men do), this is certainly a positive result, albeit in purely numerical terms.
Studies indicate that women who regularly use vibrators report higher sexual arousal, better lubrication and an increased ability to orgasm. - In addition, the muscle contractions triggered by vibrations can help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can be helpful for incontinence or postpartum recovery as well as for pain during sex. However, I would definitely recommend targeted pelvic floor training to alleviate the symptoms mentioned. It should also be mentioned that for the treatment of pain during sex (dyspareunia/vulvodynia/bladder inflammation/endometriosis etc.), specific sex therapy interventions are the appropriate treatment alongside medical support.
- Reaching orgasm reduces and increases well-being, this is now well known. In this sense, the use of sex toys can increase the overall feeling of well-being during intimacy.
However, there are also health risks. Here are the cons of sex toys:
- Tests by Stiftung Warentest and other consumer organizations have repeatedly found worrying substances in many sex toys.
Carcinogenic ingredients such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalates (plasticizers that can impair fertility) have been detected in the materials (especially in cheap plastics). - Some products lose microplastics through wear and tear, which poses a potential health risk in the intimate area.
- Pathogens can be transmitted during use, especially with changing partners, if the sex toys are not cleaned properly (risk of fungal infections or STIs).
Usage trends in society
The acceptance and distribution of sex toys has increased massively in recent years. Large-format advertising can be seen everywhere. Blogs and magazines report on them. The targeted marketing strategies of sex toy manufacturers have led to strong market growth: The industry has seen growth rates of up to 40%, particularly during the pandemic. The economic interests behind this product cannot be ignored.
Hidden and unnoticed risks and consequences
Concerns about permanent blunting or "vibrator addiction" are a frequent topic in sex research. Many people come to my practice, more often women, who use sex toys regularly or exclusively and notice some negative tendencies in their couple sexuality.
1) Women report a feeling of "satiety" and numbness
The use of vibrations activates certain receptors in the skin. Vibrations primarily activate the Vater-Pacini corpuscles, which react to high-frequency vibrations. These function like a filter. If they are exposed to a constant stimulus over a longer period of time, they send fewer signals to the brain. This means that you feel "numb" for a short time.
This effect is temporary - after a break of a few minutes to two hours. However, this condition can cause irritation during intimate moments with your partner.
2) The feeling is different when aroused by the vibrator
As already mentioned, sex toys only activate certain receptors that react to vibration and transmit the tactile information through fast nerve pathways to special areas of the brain that are responsible for differentiating between stimuli (this is where the decision is made as to whether the stimulus is dangerous or harmless).
In contrast, human - manual or oral - touch reaches completely different receptors, nerve pathways and areas of the brain. These primarily activate the Meissner's corpuscles (for light pressure) and the so-called CT fibers. The latter are "pleasure nerves" that react specifically to slow, warm touch (approx. 1-10 cm per second) and are directly linked to the emotional reward center in the brain. It is these touches in particular that can activate our emotional well-being. Unfortunately, vibrators can't do that.
3) The partner's caresses do not feel particularly arousing
Women who are sexually active almost exclusively with sex toys report a strong desensitization to stimulation from their partner.
What is often perceived as "desensitization" is usually a learning effect of the brain: When you get used to the very intense, pinpoint stimulation of a high-tech vibrator, the "manual" stimulation from a partner or your own hand can initially feel "too quiet" or inadequate in comparison. The brain prioritizes the strongest stimulation. This happens especially if you use vibrations almost exclusively.
This desensitization after using sex toys can be explained neurophysiologically as follows: the vibration stimuli are very intense and targeted. They generate a massive discharge of the Pacinian corpuscles during vibration, which briefly shifts the stimulation threshold upwards.
The significantly gentler signals from the CT fibers through manual or oral stimulation are then barely registered by the brain.
In addition, vibration leads to faster and more intense local blood flow than manual stimulation. While this quickly increases arousal, excessive use can cause the tissue to swell slightly, which mechanically dampens the fine surface sensitivity to gentle oral stimuli for a short time.
4) Varying intensity and significance
Human touch has a higher relevance and meaning that cannot be replaced by sex toys. In fMRI studies, it was investigated how the brain reacts to stroking compared to vibration:
Manual or oral stimulation triggers significantly higher neuronal responses (BOLD signals) in the primary somatosensory areas of the brain than purely mechanical vibration. The brain evaluates human touch as "more relevant". Vibration is classified more quickly by the brain as "background noise", which leads to faster habituation.
5) What do the partners say?
Even the partners of women who use vibrators almost exclusively are not always happy about it. The other person often does not really feel part of the action and regrets the fact that they are not able to bring their partner to climax through their own activity. This can certainly lead to dissatisfaction in the partnership, as some of my clients report.
Conclusion
Vibration is a "loud" signal for specialized nerves, while human touch is a "complex" signal for emotional pleasure nerves. If the "loud" nerves are overstimulated, they briefly drown out the "quiet" signals of the partner. The receptors become "tired" for a short time. There is no real physical desensitization through normal use. There is no biological "mutilation" of the nerves, but there is a shift in the stimulation threshold. If you only use strong vibrators to achieve your goal, you "train" your brain to this signal pattern.
The psychological habituation remains, which means that your partner's caresses - or your own - no longer have an arousing effect over time. This can lead to conflicts in the relationship.
From a holistic sexological perspective, the path of embodied sensuality and the expansion of one's own sexual potential is recommended above all without the use of sex toys. Although sex toys lead to climax in a targeted and efficient manner, they neglect important aspects of human sexuality and lead to the avoidance of important learning steps for the development of one's own sexual potential.
However, these learning steps for the development of one's own sexual potential cannot be monetized as a product, which is why these development steps are of less economic interest to companies because they do not generate profit. A good book on the subject, a podcast or similar can provide good suggestions that can be implemented easily - and above all without side effects.
In conclusion: As a sex therapist, I generally do not recommend the use of sex toys to my clients, especially if they have problems such as pain during sex or difficulty reaching orgasm.
There are empirically proven sexological methods that have been specially developed for this purpose. These develop the capacity for pleasure with oneself and with other people, they do not involve any risks and enable a holistic, fulfilling and satisfying sexual experience with oneself and/or with one's partner, without any desensitization effect. There is nothing wrong with the occasional, non-exclusive use of a vibrator as a supplement to manual/oral stimulation instead of using it for a targeted finale, as long as the quality of the product and the hygienic measures are observed.
Some sources
THE INSIGHT PARTNER:
https://www.theinsightpartners.com/de/reports/sex-toys-market
RESEARCHGATE.NET
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261960449_Let_me_grab_this_A_comparison_of_EMS_and_vibration_for_haptic_feedback_in_free-hand_interaction#:~:text=Effects of Haptic Feedback,) object, such as resis-
BOOZYSHOP
https://www.boozyshop.de/blogs/blog/was-ist-ein-satisfyer-und-warum-solltest-du-ihn-in-deinem-nachttisch-haben
CENTER OF HEALTH
https://www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/bibliothek/partnerschaft-familie/sexualitaet/vibrator
SPRING MEDICINE
https://www.springermedizin.at/sextoys-ein-thema-von-medizinischer-relevanz/16565034#:~:text="Urgency": Causes, diagnosis and therapy * Open Access. * MKÖ
WOMAN HEALTH
https://love.womenshealth.de/sex/vibratoren-im-vergleich/
SÜDDEUTSCHE
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/magazin/frauen/womanizer-vibrator-orgasmus-frauen-szm.86729?reduced=true
HEIMATKRANKENKASSE.DE
https://www.heimat-krankenkasse.de/ratgeber/gesundheit/sechs-gruende-warum-sex-gesund-und-gluecklich-macht/
STIFTUNG WAHRENTEST
https://www.spiegel.de/gesundheit/sex/sexspielzeug-stiftung-warentest-findet-schadstoffe-in-vibratoren-a-1250675.html
SWR
https://www.swr.de/swrkultur/wissen/geil-aber-ungesund-dildos-verlieren-mikroplastik-100.html#:~:text=Habt Do you also have nerd facts and bad jokes for us?
SEXUOLOGY
https://www.sexuologie-info.de/artikel/2022.12.3.pdf#:~:text=Sensorische Nerve endings - the key to the female, it has long been known that di
RESEARCHGATE.NET
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7194292_Effects_of_vibratory_stimulation_on_sexual_response_in_women_with_spinal_cord_injury
PUB MED
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4540472/#:~:text=Conclusion,of BA 2 is desired.
Footnote
The global market for sex toys is expected to reach USD 89.79 billion by 2034, up from USD 45.29 billion in 2025. Scientific studies on sex toys are funded from three main sources, with the motivation of the funders strongly influencing the respective question (benefits vs. risks):
- Funding from manufacturers (focus: benefits & innovation). Brands such as Womanizer have launched their own initiatives such as the "Pleasure Fund", which funds research into female sexual health and pleasure over several years. Well-known manufacturers such as Church & Dwight (Trojan) often fund studies at renowned institutes (e.g. Indiana University) to investigate the connection between toy use and quality of life. The Lovehoney Group contributed financially to the development of the first international ISO safety standard for sex toys.
- Public funds & independent institutes (focus: health & risks): Studies on harmful substances or general social trends are usually funded independently of industry.
- Investors & market research (focus: economic trends). As the market for "sexual wellness" is estimated to be worth billions by 2035, venture capitalists and market research companies such as Technavio or Straits Research are also financing analyses on user trends and technological innovation (e.g. AI in toys).
