Cedars-Sinai Magazine
Sexual Healing: Vibrators as Medicine
Women’s sexual health and dysfunction remain woefully understudied. Yet, a staggering 75% of women report experiencing pain during sex at some point.
Some of these women have conditions like pelvic organ prolapse (where the pelvic organs shift from their normal positions and can protrude through the vagina), vulvodynia (chronic vulvar pain) and urinary incontinence that not only impact sexual health but also quality of life.
“Many women are embarrassed to talk about what’s happening ‘down there,’ even with their doctors,” said Alexandra Dubinskaya, MD, a urogynecologist at Cedars-Sinai. “You can talk about having triple bypass surgery over cocktails—but not about a pelvic floor disorder.”
With her unique research focus, Dubinskaya is working to change the narrative around women’s sexual wellbeing, starting with an unexpected but powerful tool: vibrators.
Alexandra Dubinskaya, MD
Vibration as Medicine
Vibration has been used for decades to stimulate tissues and muscles and reduce pain. Whole-body vibration is often used to bolster bone health, and it has been shown to improve muscle strength and performance. Pediatricians even rely on vibration to take the sting out of vaccines.
So, would applying vibration to the genital region produce similar benefits?
According to Dubinskaya, the answer is a resounding yes. In 2023, she co-authored a literature review exploring whether vibrators could help improve symptoms among women with sexual dysfunction. While the term “vibrators” appeared in only a handful of studies, all of them reported promising results.
Many women are embarrassed to talk about what’s happening ‘down there,’ even with their doctors. You can talk about having triple bypass surgery over cocktails—but not about a pelvic floor disorder.”
— Dr. Alexandra Dubinskaya
“Vibration acts as a powerful healing mechanism, releasing pelvic floor muscles and increasing blood flow to the genitals,” said Dubinskaya. “And using a vibrator makes it easier for women to experience orgasm.”
To explore the potential role of vibrators in women’s sexual wellness and pelvic health, Dubinskaya began recruiting women from age 18 to 80 to participate in a pilot study. The results were eye-opening: Women who used a vibrator three times per week for three months reported major improvements not just in conditions like pelvic organ prolapse, vulvodynia and vaginal atrophy, but also in mental health and quality of life.
Use It or Lose It
The pelvic floor muscles help support the vagina, bladder and bowel. If they’re not functioning properly, women can experience prolapse, urinary incontinence and pain during sex.
“The pelvic floor muscles are like any other muscle. They lose their strength and elasticity if they’re not used regularly,” said Dubinskaya. “There are also age-related changes that can make sex uncomfortable or even painful.”
As estrogen levels drop during menopause, the vaginal muscles may weaken and the skin around the genital area may thin. One of the best ways to plump up those tissues is—you guessed it—sexual activity. A close second: using a vibrator.
You don’t have to insert a vibrator vaginally to get the benefits. In fact, in Dubinskaya’s study, women focused only on external stimulation. Vibration on the tissues surrounding the vagina improved sexual function in many ways, including increased desire and lubrication and enhanced ability to orgasm.
“One woman in the study experienced her first orgasm ever—at age 70—using a vibrator,” said Dubinskaya, who recommends selecting user-friendly vibrators with several settings and accessible buttons.
Changing the Conversation
Pelvic floor exercises aren’t always intuitive, and physical therapy for the pelvic floor can be expensive and time consuming. Vibrators offer an easy, cost-effective way for women to engage their pelvic floor muscles while also increasing blood flow to the genitals.
“Our study revealed that a surprising number of women needed permission from a doctor to use a vibrator,” Dubinskaya said. “They needed a professional to show them how to use the device and to normalize it as a medical tool.”
Dubinskaya also “prescribes” using personal lubricant during sexual activity with a partner—while also using a vibrator. Studies show that lubricant use helps make sexual activity more pleasurable.
Sexual wellness is an essential part of overall health, yet somehow it’s still taboo. Dubinskaya’s research aims to shift the conversation by proving vibrators aren’t just about sexual pleasure. They’re about health and healing.
