Worried About Vibrators Desensitising You? Women need not worry any longer!

Loss of Sensitivity: The Question About Vibrators On Women’s Lips

Women Worry That This Type of Pleasure Cannot Be All Good For You

So, I recently wrote a blog post listing all of the wonderful advantages of using a vibrator! TLDR? In summary, using a vibrator is heart-healthy, keeps your vagina in-shape, helps bladder control, reduces stress, promotes better sleep… the list is seemingly endless. Which is why I’m all about women using a vibrator for uninhibited pleasure.

And now that you’re up to speed, you may be wondering if there are any down sides to using a vibrator? For example, does using a vibrator desensitise women ‘down there’? Will you experience a loss of sensitivity from using a vibrator? The short answer: No! But for the sake of responsible reporting, let’s go into more detail, shall we?

Does Using a Vibrator Cause a Loss of Sensitivity?

This issue has actually been given a name, and it’s called ‘dead vagina syndrome‘, aka, your clitoris becomes desensitised because you and your beloved vibrator have been working overtime.

In other words: dead vagina syndrome, for those who believe in it, is when your vibrator causes nerve damage to your nether regions. And when this happens, well… you feel a sense of numbness and loss of sensitivity and it becomes harder to achieve an orgasm.

Now ordinarily I would straight out tell you that dead vagina syndrome is totally not a thing, but I’ll let the experts weigh in too, just for good measure…

According to sexologist Jill McDevid, PhD:

“Dead vagina syndrome is a non-medical, fear-mongering term invented by people who don’t really understand female masturbation, orgasms, pleasure, or vaginal and vulvar anatomy.”

And here are some more wise words from Dr. Carolyn DeLucia, FACOG:

“It’s a complete myth that you can desensitise your vagina or clitoris from using a vibrator.”

give yourself a five to 10 minute break, and get back on that horse! 

And how about one more quote, just to be safe, from Leah Millheiser, M.D. who is the Director of the Female Sexual Medicine Programme at Stanford University School of Medicine (go her!):

“The idea that you could end up numbing the nerves in your vagina and be unable to have an orgasm is absolutely false. That is a made up sensationalised headline and it’s not backed by science.”

Millheiser goes on to say that, if ever a woman does feel any kind of numbing or desensitivity after using a vibrator, it’s merely due to overstimulation, and the discomfort will go away relatively quickly. To put it in a different way: if you ever experience some kind of numbness, give yourself a five to 10 minute break, and get back on that horse!

FYI: There are actual valid reasons why you may not be achieving orgasm from your vibrator. Things such as low levels of arousal, having a bit too much to drink, mental health issues, certain medications, or high stress levels can affect the way we experience pleasure and climax.

For that reason, don’t be too quick to judge your trusted buzzing gal pal when things don’t play out as you’d like them too. It’s completely normal not to climax every single time you use your vibrator or get intimate with someone.

On a more sensual note – and now that we know using a vibrator definitely doesn’t cause nerve damage or loss of sensitivity – there’s only one true conclusion here: there are no down sides to self-love!

In fact, the Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study in 2009 regarding using a vibrator and women’s pleasure. It found that women who use vibrators actually have better sexual functioning in factors such as arousal, desire, producing natural lubrication and reach orgasm more often than those women who don’t.

Another pro? Using a vibrator helps women to understand their bodies better, to find their best kind of stimulation and to recognise what feels good for them and what doesn’t. Basically, women who use vibrators are better lovers, which is why I am all about removing the stigma attached to female pleasure, and closing the orgasm gap.

happymash is a space for empowering women, educating, uplifting, and encouraging them to tap into their most pleasurable parts. And using a vibrator is one of life’s most tantalising treats! I mean let’s be honest, the clitoris only exists for one purpose, and that purpose is pleasure!

So, if you’re brand new to using a vibrator, or are a regular user, but apprehensive you worry about loss of sensitivity or made-up terms like ‘dead vagina syndrome’, please know that there is no such thing. Your pleasure is limitless and you absolutely must experience it in all of its glory!