I bought my first sex toy when I was in college and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. The world of internet product reviews wasn't exactly comprehensive, and the pointers that were out there weren't necessarily pointing in the direction of sex toys.
So, I typed "sex toys" into Google, found one that seemed not-so-scary, and ordered it. Though my blind faith ended up working out positively, choosing a sex toy that's right for you doesn't have to be a puzzling experience and the sheer number of choices doesn't need to seem daunting.
The variety even allows you to experiment with several toys until you find one that suits your preference — and the industry isn't just a collection of vibrators, either. There are plenty of quality vibrator options, of course, but there's also a wide variety of other toys designed to cater to everyone. And we did some testing to find which are the best currently available.
Why it's beneficial to your health to be sexually active (with or without a partner)Before getting into our recommendations, it's important to understand the benefits associated with sex and masturbation. According to Healthline, masturbation may help women and men relieve stress, boost their mood, allow them to sleep better, and relax. For partners, self or mutual masturbation can be a great way to better understand each other's wants and needs and have better sex.
It also has a significant impact on your health. As Dr. Barb DePree, MD and founder of MiddlesexMD, told Business Insider, "vulvovaginal health is maintained or improved with regular stimulation and activity."
"Genital activity promotes blood flow to the area keeping tissues more supple and elastic, and this also enhances the natural secretions that help maintain vaginal health," she said. "Penetrative sexual activity, with or without a partner, helps to maintain vaginal width, length, and tone or as we say vaginal capacity."
This is true for people of all ages, too. DePree mentions that if women in menopause aren't experiencing sexual activity, they're likely to have progressive atrophy of the vagina and labia. Their vagina may also grow shorter and narrower while becoming drier and less elastic.
One way to help this is through self or mutual masturbation — and sex toys, of any form or function, are a great way to do it. Not only do they help maximize stimulation but they're helpful in actually achieving an orgasm.
DePree likens their use to reading glasses saying, "when our vision is impaired, we don't stop reading, we get reading glasses. [Use of sex toys] should be encouraged as not only appropriate, but important to maintaining or regaining sexual health and function."
She continued by putting it more plainly: When our ability to orgasm is impaired, we shouldn't stop enjoying orgasms — we should get a [sex toy].
How we test sex toysTesting sex toys isn't just about how quickly it allows you to reach orgasm. There are several other features I also considered, including design, battery life and power (where applicable), comfort, and discreteness.
Since sex toys aren't limited to just one gender, I handed off any I was unable to use to friends who told me what they liked (or didn't like) about them. So, whether you're looking for a new toy, or need a replacement for an old favorite, we've done the work to find the best currently available.
Here are the best sex toys: