Letter to the Editor

“Women’s Vibrator Use in Sexual Partnerships: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey in the United States” is an important study because it demonstrates that partnered vibrator use is common among heterosexual, lesbian, and bisexual women (Herbenick et al., 2010). It is not incorrect to estimate that the numbers of either partnered or single use of vibrators would increase in the near future because of (a) increased availability through the Internet and adult stores, (b) increased curiosity on the subject caused by media interest, and (c) the general demand of people to derive the most out of sexuality. There is also an increasing interest on vibrator use in holistic sexology and vaginal acupressure applications (Ventegodt, Clausen, Omar, & Merrick, 2006) as well as for breaking orgasm barrier in chronically anorgasmic women (Struck & Ventegodt, 2008). While enhancing sexual gratification with vibrator usage, basic steps of genital hygiene and precautions against sexually transmitted diseases and genital trauma should not be omitted. As Marazzo, Coffey, and Bingham (2005) concluded, safe-sex messages aimed at lesbian and bisexual women should (a) emphasize the plausibility of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases between women, personal responsibility, and care for partners’ well-being; (b) target common sexual practices; and (c) promote healthy sexuality. Thoroughly cleaning vibrators and using a condom on a vibrator are precautions that should be mentioned to women when counseling them about vibrator use. The possibility of genitoanal trauma after the use of vibrators or sex toys; from sudden, hard, and jerky moves; from prolonged use; and from increased friction as a result of insufficient lubrication is another point to be remembered when counseling. Life-threatening trauma as a result of improper vibrator use has been described by Waraich, Hudson, and Iftikhar (2007). It would have been very exciting if Herberick et al. (2010) had collected and presented additional data about the precautions taken during vibrator