The Impact of a Couple’s Vibrator on Men’s Perceptions of Their Own and Their Partner’s Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction

Abstract

Recent research demonstrated that more men, particularly those in couple relationships, are using vibrators to enhance sexual pleasure. However, men’s perceptions of vibrator use with a partner have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this analysis was to study men’s perceptions of the impact of vibrator use on their and their partner’s sexual pleasure and sexual satisfaction. Forty-nine men, aged twenty-five to fifty-eight, in heterosexual relationships responded to a series of open-ended questions regarding their experience of incorporating a couple-oriented vibrator into their sexual repertoire over a six-week period. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The data were organized into four themes: physical pleasure, awareness of partner’s experience, novelty and variety, and intimacy. Men’s experiences of sexual pleasure were tied to perceptions of their partner’s pleasure and to the addition of novelty and variety in sexual encounters.