Toys in the bedroom: use of sexual devices in partnered sexual activity is associated with higher female orgasmic intensity, arousal, and sexual satisfaction and is not related to psychopathologies.

BACKGROUND

Sex devices are tools that can improve the sexual health of users, but their effects on sexual outcomes in partnered intercourse have rarely been evaluated.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between partnered and solitary use of sex devices and different sexual health outcomes among sexually active women aged 18-35 in a heterosexual relationship.

METHODS

The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 361 participants between May and June 2023 recruited through a social media campaign. Female sexual function was measured with the Female Sexual Function Index and the Orgasmometer-F. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Dark Future Scale were used to investigate psychological health. Statistical analysis was performed with the statistical software R; the significance level for statistical analyses was set as P < 0.05.

OUTCOMES: The outcomes of the study include female sexual function and orgasmic intensity, as well as measures of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty for the future.

RESULTS

Compared to those who only used sex devices for solitary masturbation, women using sex devices in the context of partnered intercourse had higher arousal and satisfaction scores (P = 0.042 and P = 0.004, respectively), as well as higher subjective perception of orgasmic intensity over the last 6 months (P = 0.005) and in partnered sexual intercourse in the last 4 weeks (P = 0.002). Conversely, orgasmic intensity during masturbation in the last 4 weeks was higher among solitary users (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two study groups for all other outcome measures.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The use of sex devices in the context of partnered intercourse is associated with increased sexual function and more intense orgasmic experience.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The study investigates a novel topic, on a large sample size, by using several validated instruments to measure sexual functioning of participants. However, a definite cause-effect relationship cannot be established due to the study design. Self-report bias and lack of clinical data on study participants are further limitations. Additionally, being a study limited to heterosexual, sexually active women involved in a relationship, results cannot be generalized to all women.

CONCLUSION

The study found an association between better sexual functioning and use of sex devices in partnered intercourse.