Can Sex Toys Improve Your Sexual Health?

Looking to improve your sexual health? The answer could lie in the sex toys that you use!

How Can Sex Toys Improve Your Sexual Health?

Biologically, human beings are still sexually stimulated in the same manner that we were thousands of years ago. However, over the last 20 years in particular, the way that we use sex toys and advances in technology has completely changed the industry. That’s not to say that the it isn’t still controversial. After all, our sexual health is still something that we aren’t really talking about.

Magnus Sullivan, the author of How Masturbation is the Key to Better Sex and Healthier Living argues that men often feel a stigma associated with using sex toys to masturbate and pointed out sex toys don’t just help people understand their own bodies, but it helps them to become better lovers too.

Improve Your Sexual Health With Regular Orgasms

For both men and women, regular orgasms are a great way to:

• Boost the immune system
• Post orgasmic pain thresholds are higher that pre orgasm
• Help you live longer
• Relieve menstrual cramps and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle
• Greater sense of wellbeing and overall happiness
• Frequent orgasms can help to lose weight

Further to this, using sex toys can also improve sexual health and overall well being by assisting with certain medical conditions, but the answer to the sexual issues you may be experiencing may be the unused sex toy lying in your bedroom drawer. Obviously, medical help should always be sought in the event of any worrying events. However, Samantha Evans, a former nurse and founder of Jo Divine, argues that challenging the way that health professionals think about using vibrators for certain gynecological conditions and sexual dysfunctions instead of medication, can improve lives for the better.

For example:

Vaginismus is a condition that causes involuntary tightening of the muscles around the vagina whenever penetration is attempted. This can happen during intercourse, during masturbation or even when inserting a tampon.

The treatment can involve the use of  which are inserted into the vagina and used alongside pelvic floor exercises. The dilators gradually increase in size until the female regains full control of the PC muscles. However, this type of treatment isn’t for everyone. Michelle Lyons, the Women’s Health Physiotherapist, recommends the use of a instead of a dilator because she believes that the association of a vibrator with pleasure will help them overcome vaginismus through pleasurable feelings, rather than learning to tolerate something in their vagina.

Ben Wa Balls,  as they are known to some are a great way to tone the pelvic floor muscles. As we know, the muscles can become weakened as females age or after childbirth. However, these balls can be inserted for just 15 minutes a day and as the pelvic floor naturally clenches around the balls, this helps to strengthen the muscles and relieve issues such as stress incontinence, prevent prolapse and also increases the intensity of orgasm.

Men –  Improve Your Sexual Health Using Sex Toys?

For men, the sexual health benefits are just as effective. Erectile dysfunction is associated with feelings of distress, anxiety, depression and a reduced quality of life. For those who struggle with premature ejaculation or weak erections, cock rings work by gently trapping blood into the genitals leaving them engorged. Because the blood is unable travel back into the body, the wearer benefits from a harder, stronger and longer lasting erection – up to four times that of normal erection. Wearers can also use penis pumps to improve the strength of an erection.

Other sex toys that are inserted into the anus such as a prostate massager enable the wearer to enjoy a much stronger orgasm, but also help to milk the prostate. Prostate milking increases blood flow to the prostate gland, reduces inflammation of the gland, rids the gland of toxins and helps to prevent prostate cancer.

Handheld penis strokers are ideal for those who struggle with premature ejaculation because they enable users to experiment with techniques that can improve staying power in the bedroom.  Fleshlight, a well-known brand of realistic sex toys even offers a handy guide to prolonging male orgasm with their Stamina version of the sleeve.

Those who suffer from erectile dysfunction may believe that pills are the only answer. However, it is still possible to enjoy a fulfilling sex life with a partner using a prosthetic penis, or a hollow dildo strap on. Sex toys like the Pulse III from Hot Octopus enable the users to enjoy a hands free orgasm without the need for an erection. The Pulse III Duo works in the same way, but with a vibrating plate to stimulate the clitoris, thus encouraging sexual intimacy between partners where erectile dysfunction is causing a lack of mutual intimacy.

What are Phthalates?

Sex toys are perfectly safe to use, as long as they are used properly. However, sex toy injuries have doubled since 2007 and continue to steadily rise. Furthermore, the sex toy industry is largely unregulated and many toys are untested. The material used for many sex toys contain phthalates which is a dangerous chemical that is used to soften the toy. Researchers believe that this chemical can enter the body through mucus membranes.

Recent studies on rats and mice suggest that exposure to phthalates could cause damage to the reproductive system, infertility, hormone imbalances, diabetes, obesity and even cancer. It is common practice for many sex toy websites to point out the sex toys that are crafted using safe materials, and some avoid products with phthalates altogether.

Can you catch STI’s from Sex Toys? 

It is possible to transmit STI’s from sex toy use. Sex toys can pass on STI’s such as chlamydia, syphilis, herpes and bacterial vaginosis. Penetrative sex toys that enter the body can also pass on Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Particularly if there are cuts or abrasions around the genitals. Therefore, it’s really important that sex toys are never shared, washed between uses and that they are covered with fresh condoms during shared play.

To ensure that the sex toy isn’t damaged, it is important that users only use sex toy cleaners and lubricants that are compatible with the material used to create the product.