Vibrators for grown women: A beginner’s shopping guide

First, a brief history of vibrators

Women have used vibrators since around 1869. At that time, a physician invented a large-scale vibration machine that he recommended for the treatment of “womb problems” and “female hysteria,” mental breakdowns emanating from womb problems!

Like a lot of medical prescriptions of the time, the vibration machine was advertised to do just about everything for you except drive your car. It was supposed to reduce nervousness, irritability, mental problems (it probably did), and “excessive” arousal, which meant any sexual arousal because this was a period in history when women’s sexual desire was considered abnormal.

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Did you know? Vibrators used to be mainstream products

Women “patients” went to see a “medical practitioner,” and all went well until the devices started showing up in sexy scenes in the burgeoning development of moving pictures. By the early 1900s, home vibrators were advertised for “female problems and relief” and were even promoted in a department store catalog (Sears and Roebuck) as a lady’s “aid.”

Advertising for vibrators continued until the first couple decades of the twentieth century when a moral crusader named Anthony Comstock rallied moral outrage through his position at the post office, convincing the public and the government that all sexually related items—from vibrators to birth control—were obscene. Comstock got support and legal authority from Congress to police the mail and newspapers, and that ended mainstream distribution.

The Rabbit vibrator: Why all the buzz?

The most famous vibrator is the Rabbit (sometimes called the Beaver). It gets its name from the clitoral stimulation aspect of the dildo. The dildo (a penis-like part of the vibrator that goes inside the vagina) is operated either by battery or by being plugged in to a power source. It generally moves in a clockwise rotation (which makes it very different from a penis). On the side of the “penile shaft” another extension sticks out with a little animal on the end of it.

In the case of the Rabbit, the ears vibrate on a separate set of controls from the penis part of the sex toy. On fancy models, each part—the penis or the clitoral stimulator—can pulse or move faster or slower. The gadget may look like a penis or be more modernist in form, but it is remarkably effective at turning a woman on and getting her to a magnificent orgasm.

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Where to shop online

The Rabbit is not the whole deal however. If you go on the Internet to a site called GoodVibes.com or buy a book called Good Vibrations, which is put out by the sex shop by the same name, you will see more kinds of toys than you could possibly have imagined. There are a number of sites that are reputable and that sell on-line so that you can also value shop from them. Some of the ones I like, almost all owned by women, are: Lovers.com, Eve’s Garden.com, Libida.com, and BabesinToyland.com. I also like a new line that is being produced by Trojan.com, which is more abstract in design, as well as the ultra modern rabbit-like vibrator produced by Candida Royalle and available on her website. (Candida is an ex porn star who now produces explicit movies that will suit women’s erotic tastes and opened a sex toy business. Her movies are another good way to get turned on by yourself [or with a partner] and are less likely to be offensive to women.) Goodvibes.com also has good descriptions of erotic films so that you know what you are getting and whether or not it suits your erotic tastes.)

A few tips on using your vibrator

Masturbation, with or without a partner, takes some exploration in order to find out what works for you. Some women have not stuck with it long enough to figure it out. And they have made some mistakes.

The most common one when using either a finger or a vibrator is to directly stimulate the head of the clitoris for too long. It is a very sensitive organ and can be come irritated relatively quickly.

Of course, many of you have learned how to masturbate effectively long ago, but this may not be working for you as well as it did because of the change in hormones, blood floor, lining of the vagina, and sensitivity of breasts. Remember, your body may have changed and so you might have to rethink how your body wants to be treated now.

Types of vibrators and sex toys

Browsing in a sex toy shop or website for the first time can be overwhelming. If you’re shopping for your first vibrator or sex toy, knowing the different types may help you choose the one that’s right for you.

1. “Pocket rocket”
   A portable three-inch long vibrator that varies from subtle to intense vibration. Good for trips and keeping handy in a purse. Most don’t look like vibrators, so there are no embarrassing outlines when purses go through airline x-ray machines.

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2. G-spot stimulator
   This vibrator has what looks like an upturned egg on the end. It turns up to vibrate against the anterior (top) wall of the vagina and stimulates the nerves that seem to be more intense in that area. Some people believe this is an entirely different kind of tissue from the rest of the vagina; others think it is an extension of the clitoral nerves. In any case, it can be very sensitive, especially after a woman is already aroused.
3. Water vibrator
   Great for couple play but also a great way to relax in the tub.
4. Natural skin vibrator
   The skin-like sleeve that goes over a dildo-shaped vibrator feels like real skin. The technology for it was said to be developed, in a much thinner version, for burn victims coming back from war. I am not sure this is true, but holding one of these vibrators feels a whole lot like holding a real penis.

Expert information about the best vibrators for women and vibrator reviews written from a mature woman’s perspective. Where should we email your FREE report and handy tips? Rest assured, we don't send spam and your info is never shared with 3rd parties.

5. Butt plug
   These vibrate or are just a rubber insert (with a flat end so it can’t slip in) to stimulate the nerves around the anus. These are unisex, because both sexes can enjoy this kind of stimulation. Be careful, though, if you do any sex play near the anus to keep your hands clean and wash them before you touch other parts of the body. The anus does have some unattractive bacteria, and they can be injurious if they go anywhere but where they are supposed to be.
6. Vibrating penis ring
   This can be a his and hers gift. Many manufacturers make them, but condom makers currently sell them with condoms in mainline drug stores and in many Wal-Marts. They are made of stretchy rubber material and slip on the penis. They can be one-sided to vibrate the clitoris or two-sided to vibrate both the clitoris and the base of the penis and upper part of the scrotum. These have been a big seller, so they must be effective for a lot of people!

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Dr. Pepper Schwartz is a sexual health expert and the author of the new Vibrant Nation health guide, Great Sex after 50: Getting Your Mind, Body and Relationship Ready for Pleasure