Share

Can your vibrator really cause ‘dead vagina syndrome’?

accreditation
Will using a vibrator too often make your vagina numb?
Will using a vibrator too often make your vagina numb?

In this age, we have endless info at our fingertips when it comes to medical conditions. But you certainly can’t believe everything you read – even if sounds like a real scientific syndrome.

Case in point? “Dead vagina syndrome” – a viral term that’s been floating around the internet to describe a sense of numbness in your nether regions caused by overusing your vibrator.

Luckily, according to the experts, dead vagina syndrome (DVS) is total made-for-the-internet nonsense.

Read more: “Will using a vibrator too often sabotage my sex life?”

“The idea that you could end up numbing the nerves in your vagina and be unable to have an orgasm is absolutely false,” says Dr Leah Millheiser, director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford University School of Medicine.

“That is a made up sensationalised headline and it’s not backed by science,” she says.

Those who believe in DVS claim that, over time, the use of a vibrator can lead to a loss of sensitivity in your vagina – sort of an overstimulation injury. Eventually, it can even supposedly prevent you from orgasming.

The problem with this idea is that any numbness you might experience from a marathon session with your favourite vibrator would go away “very quickly”, says Dr Millheiser.

“The nerves will go back to normal.” If you do experience any numbness, simply take a break.

Read more: “I test sex toys for a living – here’s what my day is like”

The moral of the story? Whether you use your vibrator for a quickie once a week, as part of your wind-down routine every night, or for the entire time you’re binge watching Outlander, you’re not going to do any damage – or jeopardise your O.

“Vibrators play a vital role in normal sexual function,” says Dr Millheiser. “Especially for women post-menopause.”

In other words, your choice to use a vibrator is part of what keeps your vagina alive and well – not at risk of “dying”. Now that’s some fake news.

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com

Image credit: iStock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE