When it comes to sex toys, there are so many options out there. One of the most popular categories of sex toys is vibrators — not to be biased, but we’re big fans of this OG pleasure product.

And we’re not the only ones! According to a review published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 52.5% of the 3,800 female respondents (aged 18 to 60) said they’d used a vibrator at least once in their lifetime. Respondents also reported using a vibrator regularly as part of their sexual repertoire, with 40.9% using a vibrator during foreplay and 37.3% during vaginal intercourse.

Additionally, vibrators have been found to have a positive impact on sexual satisfaction, function, and overall well-being, especially for people who may have difficulty achieving orgasm or experience pelvic floor dysfunction.

“Vibrators can enhance sexual pleasure and have become increasingly common for women and some men,” says Sarah Melancon, Phd, a certified sexologist and the lead researcher and medical review board member for Women’s Health Interactive. “Vibrator users tend to have higher levels of sexual function, specifically regarding desire, arousal, orgasm, lubrication, and reduced pain.” 

What is a vibrator?

Way back (in the 1880s), when the vibrator was first released to the public, it wasn’t considered a pleasure product but rather a device prescribed as a “cure” for the oh-so-ridiculous “disease” hysteria. 

This was supposedly a physical ailment that plagued women suffering from various symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and sexual frustration. Unsurprisingly, nuns, widows, and “spinsters” were affected by this wretched disease. By the Victorian era, even married women had become victims of this so-called condition. By the time the 19th century hit, three-quarters of American women were at risk.

Of course, several “experts” had an opinion on the subject. For example, Freud thought these women were hysterical because they longed to have a penis. The cure? Getting married, having sex, and maybe spawning a male child.

However, other treatments were available if a woman couldn’t get married right away. First, uterine massage was introduced, which involved physicians manually stimulating the genitals of women to induce “hysterical paroxysm,” or what we now know as orgasm. This option quickly became exhausting for physicians (for obvious reasons), and so Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the very first vibrator.

Even so, doctors still didn’t realize the true nature and purpose of the vibrator. And, of course, these “problems” weren’t present in their male patients. It would only seem fit to prescribe marriage, marital sex, and pregnancy as a “proper” treatment option for “proper” women (cue eye roll).

In 1952, the American Psychiatric Association removed hysteria from its list of recognized conditions. The term was also deleted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980.

It took years before the vibrator was no longer seen solely as a medical device and began to be embraced as a tool for sexual pleasure and exploration. Today, vibrators are available in adult toy stores, some department stores, almost all drug stores, and online.

“A vibrator is a device that vibrates and is designed to enhance sexual stimulation,” says Melancon. “Vibrators can be used on the clitoris, vulva, nipples, anus, penis, testicles, and pretty much anywhere else!”

How do vibrators work?

Believe it or not, many people are still unaware of how vibrators work and how to use them. And that’s OK! There’s no wrong way to use a vibrator as long as it’s used safely and consensually.

“Using a vibrator is all about exploring your own pleasure and finding what feels good for you,” explains Martha Tara Lee, Phd, ASSECT certified sexuality educator and certified sexuality educator supervisor at Eros Coaching Pte. Ltd. “Don’t be afraid to try different types, experiment with different techniques, and have fun exploring your desires!”

6 Types of Vibrators

When you think of a vibrator, one or two things probably come to mind: the rabbit vibe Miranda talked Charlotte into buying on HBO’s hit series Sex and the City (SATC) or the classic, no-frills bullet vibrator. But those are just a few examples of the many types of vibrators available today.

“The beauty of vibrators is that they come in all shapes, sizes, and designs,” says certified sex therapist Aliyah Moore, Phd. “Whether you’re looking for external clitoral stimulation, deep internal G-spot pleasure, or both, there’s a vibrator out there for it.”

Below, we cover some of the most popular types of vibrators and give tips on how to incorporate them into your sex life. 

Bullet Vibrators

You may be familiar with bullet vibrators, which are small and discreetly shaped like a bullet (hence the name). These sneaky little vibes are ideal for travel or first-time users.

“Also known as lipstick vibrators, bullet vibes are about the size of a tube of lipstick and are typically used for clitoral, nipple, or external anal stimulation,” says Melancon. “They’re easy to conceal and bring on the go, plus they can work with most any sex position with a partner.”

Femme Funn’s most popular bullet vibrators include the original silicone bullet vibrator, the Ultra Bullet (That’s right: We were the first company to create an all-silicone bullet vibrator), the Booster Bullet, and the Rora.