vibrators

Not too surprisingly vibrators are generally any toy that vibrates. Some of them are designed to be inserted vaginally and others are designed primarily for buzzing your love button (external clitoral stimulation, if you needed that to be spelt out)

The history of the vibrator is longer and hard or at least more dubious than you probably thought, so read more about how the medical profession made a pretty penny out providing "treatments" for "hysterical" women in the late 1800's in our section: Hysterical Tension in the 19th Century. Fortunately, today vibrators have progressed considerably and are ergonomically designed to work with a woman's body to provide just the kind of stimulation she needs to go from Zero to OH OH OH in a surprisingly short space of time. Some are so small that they can fit on the tip of your finger or into a small but powerful mini vibe bullet (check out our Hunny Bunny and the Mini-Vibe included with the Cosmo, Echo and Feeldoe vibes).

Many women require constant, prolonged stimulation of their clitoris to reach orgasm. A vibrator can bring them to orgasm much more quickly than other methods. Often the resulting orgasm is more intense as well. A vibrator can also be used by couples to add zing to their lovemaking and they will discover that when one partner uses a vibrator the good vibes are passed onto and felt by the other. Like all sex toys a vibrator is not meant to be replacement for a relationship or partner.

Both men and women are surprised to learn that vibrators are not always used inside the vagina. In fact they are often used outside the vagina in the area of the clitoris and on and around the vulva. Of course they can be used inside the vagina as well. Some are designed to provide vaginal as well as clitoral stimulation.

You would probably be surprised at just how many people use vibrators and while many people won't fess up to it in public, the number of vibrator sales made is a sure indicator of their popularity. Most are used by designed for use by women for masturbation or to bring into their love play with a partner. Some are designed to be used by men or by couples. In the past the packaging and design was mainly left up to men and some it was tacky and exploitative, leaving women feeling uncomfortable with making a purchase. Today the choice of products is far greater and women's perspectives and needs have been taken into account in the design of the products themselves as well as the packaging- the Fun Factory and Natural Contours range are excellent examples.

You may believe that only the young, wild or adventurous use but that is a "phallacy". In actual fact, older women often find that the added intensity of a vibrator brings back sensations that have not been present since her youth.

Think about where you want your vibrator action- your clitoris (outie), in your vagina (innie) or both (innie/outie) and buy one that's appropriate. Innie vibrators are made to be inserted into the vagina and while they may not caress your love button at all many are designed with curved or angled tips and textures to stimulate your G-spot. The Gigolo and Heartbreaker from Fun Factory and the Gee-oh-Gee from Down Under are good examples. If your love button is where you want the good vibes to flow then consider an outie style vibrator like the Laya Spot, Jolie and Petite. Outies are usually small and compact and would not be the cause of embarrassment when going through customs because they can "pass" as anything from a razor to a dental floss container. Many outies resemble imaginative creatures from cats to hula dancers.

Innie/outie vibes also known as dual action offer the best of both external and internal stimulation-which does indeed sound wonderful, but they are not everyone's cup of tea.

When choose a vibe you find out if it's waterproof and what kind of vibration options is offers you and what sound level it puts out. Some offer only a single speed while others offer multi-speed angled dials or even pulsating and vibrating action simultaneously at variety of speeds. (Check out the Ultra 7 motor on the Gee-oh-Gee and Miss Bliss vibrators.) Many vibrators are water proof or at least water-resistant and using a vibe under water can be great but remember that the strength of the vibes will be lessened under water. Water proof toys are also great terms of cleaning because you can immerse them.

If noise is a factor then take into account vibrator volume when you choosing yours because some are very quiet- almost noise free- while others may be a fair bit louder. Most vibrators with adjustable speeds and setting get progressively louder the higher the more you turn them up. Battery powered vibes made of hard plastic tend to louder than those made of silicone or soft materials but having said that, good quality vibrators made from high standard plastics, such as the Natural Contours range, are surprisingly quiet.

A good quality store, such as Whet Erotic Emporium, will provide you with detailed information on what materials their vibrators are made from. As we have mentioned in our toxic toys section we are concerned about the toxicity of PVC plastic softeners used in the making of sex toys particularly those made from Jelly and at Whet we are not keen to endorse them. Silicone, hard plastic, Pyrex glass and metal are safe for internal use. Slipping a condom over your vibrator will make for easier cleaning no matter what the material.