Vibrator:Medical Device

The global market for Sex Toys estimated at US$35.1 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$54.6 Billion by 2026, growing at a  rate of  7.6%.

A vibrator, sometimes described as a massager, is a sex toy that is used on the body to produce pleasurable sexual stimulation. More recently these toys have been advertised on social media  for Sri Lankan customers and a few shops in Colombo have started selling them .Many sellers claim that sex toys which were taboo sometime ago are becoming increasingly popular.

About half of American adults indicate using a vibrator, according to a new survey that sheds light on acts that take place beneath the covers and behind closed doors.

The survey was funded, however, by Church and Dwight Co. Inc., maker of Trojan brand sexual health products. It finds it’s not just women taking advantage of the battery-operated tickle toy. Forty-five percent of men said they’d employed a vibrator, with most heterosexual men doing so during foreplay or intercourse with a female partner. About 17 percent of men said they used a vibrator for solo masturbation.

Here Is a Book that reveals the history of the most commonly known sex toy the vibrator .

The Technology of Orgasm: “Hysteria,” the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction” by Rachel P. Maines is a ground-breaking book that explores the history of the vibrator and its role in the treatment of female hysteria in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here’s what is known about this topic:

1. Hysteria as a Medical Diagnosis: In the Victorian era, hysteria was a common diagnosis for women experiencing a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, and sexual desire. It was believed to be caused by a “wandering womb” and was often treated through various means, including massage therapy.
2. The Invention of the Vibrator: During the 19th century, physicians developed mechanical devices to induce “hysterical paroxysm” (orgasm) in women as a treatment for hysteria. These early vibrators were hand-cranked or steam-powered and were used by physicians to manually stimulate their female patients to orgasm.
3. Medicalization of Female Sexuality: The vibrator became widely accepted as a medical device for treating female hysteria, and physicians prescribed it as a routine treatment in their practices. However, its use was often discreet and not openly discussed outside of medical circles.
4. Shifts in Attitudes: Over time, attitudes towards sexuality and mental health shifted, leading to a decline in the diagnosis of hysteria and the use of the vibrator as a medical treatment. As understanding of female sexuality and mental health evolved, the vibrator became associated more with pleasure and less with medical therapy.
5. Impact on Women’s Sexual Satisfaction: Maines’ book highlights how the invention of the vibrator not only played a role in the medical treatment of female hysteria but also had broader implications for women’s sexual satisfaction and autonomy. It challenges traditional narratives surrounding female sexuality and medical history.

Overall, “The Technology of Orgasm” sheds light on a little-known aspect of medical history and highlights the complex intersections of gender, sexuality, and medicine. It has sparked further research and discussion on the topic of women’s sexual health and satisfaction throughout history.