Will using a vibrator inhibit other sensations?

During my ‘vibrators for couples’ webinar (watch repeat here), I received an anonymous question from the chatbox (thank you whoever you are!).

‘Can use of vibrators inhibit the more '“normal/natural” stimulation?’

This is a very common question, and it makes perfect sense to ask.

It’s concerning to think that using something mechanical could change nerve receptors that were perfectly happy receiving pleasure from touch.

So let’s ask the literature about vibrator ‘side effects’ :

Does using a vibrator change ability to feel other sensations, or even inhibit sexual function?

There is one study from 2009 investigating vibrator use from a random sample of Americans by Indiana University (3,800 women and 1,047 men). (summary, full PDF)

This study found that just over half of women - and almost half of men - used a vibrator.

They asked the female subjects about symptoms of genital numbness/ lack of sensation from vibrator use.

71.5% of women reported no side effects. Out of those who did, they reported the experience was temporary numbness, which subsided within a day.

Overall, vibrator users scored higher in areas of sexual function and wellbeing in comparison to non-vibrator users (these areas included lubrication, orgasm and arousal).

These positive effects on overall sexual function were reflected in the male population of vibrator users too:

“Generally, men who had used vibrators reported fewer problems with sexual function than men who had never used vibrators, and this difference was more profound among men who had used vibrators more recently”

This suggests that rather than inhibiting stimulation that may feel more ‘normal/natural’, vibrators may in fact encourage and facilitate overall sexual function.

References :

Journal citations: Herbenick, D., Reece, M., Sanders, S.A., Dodge, B., Ghassemi, A., & Fortenberry, J.D. (2009). Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use by women in the United States: Results from a nationally representative study. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 1857-1866.

Reece, M., Herbenick, D., Sanders, S.A., Dodge, B., Ghassemi, A., & Fortenberry, J.D. (2009). Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use by men in the United States. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 1867-1874