Sex toys have become incredibly popular in recent years. A national U.S. survey reveals that over half of women and almost half of men have used a vibrator at least once during sexual activity [1,2]. While some people use vibrators for masturbation, others choose to share them with their partners. It has long been recommended by sexual health experts to clean sex toys thoroughly before and after sharing them to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, recent research suggests that this advice may not be as effective as previously believed [3].
The study involved 20 women aged 18-29 who had previously engaged in sexual activity with both male and female partners. Each woman was given sex toys for women to use during masturbation. The vibrators had different designs and were made of different materials. The women were instructed to use the vibrators internally on separate occasions, with at least one day between uses. After each use, they were asked to clean the vibrators using water and a commercially available sex toy cleaner.