Are Vibrators Really Ready for Primetime? Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, Female Sexuality Expert, Believes It’s About Time

The advent of vibrators from global brands like Trojan is setting the stage for more conversation in the media about female sexual health.

Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, clinical director at The Medical Center for Female Sexuality in New York, says it is indeed about time that vibrators, lubricants and other accessories for female sexual health get the same media opportunities as those marketed for men and male sexual health.

“The advent of inexpensive and easily available electrical vibrator assistance for women is perhaps the most significant, unheralded, but dramatic development in female sexuality in the last 50 years, " Dr. Marcus says.

"A vibrator, whether used alone or with a partner, allows for most women an easy, intense orgasm without any of the stress or anxiety they may feel otherwise."

Dr. Marcus acknowledges that, "As women age and as more and more women want sex to continue to play an important role in their lives, the vibrator becomes an ever-more-important tool.

It seems that it is time to take the vibrator out of the closet (or out of the bedroom drawer) and give it the public legitimacy it deserves. This goes for personal lubricants and other products that enhance a woman’s sexual experience.”

Indeed, marketers like Zestra and Trojan are vying for placement on broadcast and cable networks in prime time, spawning controversy. Placement of these branded products remains tasteful and respectful of family time, but is no longer relegated to porn sites or middle-of-the-night “adult” programming.

There are a growing number of resources for women and couples who want to explore the value of vibrators. The web has blogs, discussion forums and how-to pages on the uses for vibrators, lubricants and other items, and it is easy to find them without encountering embarrassing imagery or inappropriate language.

There are even sites sponsored by religious organizations and community groups that sell products to keep the spark in a marriage, proving the more mainstream appeal of this category.

Dr. Marcus often recommends vibrators to her patients at the Center (with offices located in Manhattan and Purchase, New York) who experience difficulty with orgasm. Sometimes a vibrator is prescribed to address vascular problems that make orgasm difficult; and sometimes it just helps heighten the pleasure of lovemaking so that other areas of the relationship, such as communication, can improve. Dr. Marcus notes, "only 30% of women achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse.

Here is where a vibrator and some basic communication skills can combine to create better sex for a couple." The Center offers a few choice products on its website based on a over 11 years of work with women and sexual dysfunction. Browse through the MCFS Shop.

Dr. Marcus conducts grand rounds at area hospitals to educate local gynecologists about the practical application of vibrator use for their patients. She also runs a preceptorship training for out of area practitioners who are interested in building a practice in the area of female sexual dysfunction.

About Dr. Marcus
Bat Sheva Marcus, Ph.D., clinical director of The Medical Center for Female Sexuality, is a licensed social worker with a Master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in human sexuality. Along with her medical colleagues at the Center, Dr. Marcus assesses the physical and psychological causes of a woman’s sexual issues. She and her team use this integrated approach to diagnose and treat hundreds of women seeking to improve their sexual experience.

For questions and to make a press appointment with Dr. Marcus please contact:

Laura Herrmann
(914) 328-3700
laura@mazelabs.com