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14 July 2011
Emily Graham

Sex Toys: The stats!

sex toys against purple background

Ever wondered about the statistics on vibrator use? How many people use them? Where are they most popular? Are they mostly for single women?

There have been various theories and beliefs about vibrators over the years, but a few surveys have been carried out by universities, sex toy companies, and researchers. These are just some of the interesting results:

According to a study in 2009 carried out at Indiana University, around 50% of people reported that they had used a sex toy, 52% of these were women, so there were nearly the same amount of men! Previous studies back up these results, one finding that 33% of women and only 20% of men had used the sex toy. Another showed 24% – 21% respectively.

Hopefully this will dispel the common myth that vibrators and other sex toys are just for women!

The big difference is in how the sexes use a vibrator, with women using theirs mostly during masturbation (46%), and men using it mostly during intercourse or foreplay (40%). Other data showed that men were more likely to use a vibrator ‘for fun’ or to help their partner achieve orgasm.

Women in a relationship are more likely to have a vibrator than those who are single. Looking at this in conjunction with how men and women prefer to use vibrators, maybe couples buy their toy together to use together!

The research did find a positive link between vibrator use and health. Users were more likely to perform regular self examinations and also more likely to have attended their doctor or gynecologist within the previous year.

Vibrator users also reported fewer sexual health problems, related to satisfaction, erectile dysfunction, orgasm, lubrication, pain and libido. A possible explanation is that people who are more self aware and comfortable with their bodies are more likely to use a sex toy, and those that use a sex toy are likely to become more comfortable and self aware!

An overwhelming 71.5% of females said they had never experienced side effects, with slight short term numbness of the genitals being the most popular concern for those reporting a side effect. No long term or serious side effects were reported at all.

 

Other studies have shown that the most popular age to first begin using a vibrator is 20-30 years old, with 50% of those surveyed. Only 8-10% started using one after the age of 40.

An astonishing 14% of women and 20% of men report never cleaning their toys!

Thankfully most people do though, and habits vary from cleaning before and after every use to cleaning before or after.

Xandria Collection’s Toys in the sheets survey showed that a vibrator user was typically a white Christian, republican, married woman in her thirties. This may seem ridiculous at first glance, but most studies have agreed that most vibrator users are white and aged 30-40.

Durex conducted their own research, which highlighted Australia as the vibrator capital of the world, with 46%, and unsurprisingly India, with its strict laws against sex toys, ranked lowest with only 3%.