His and Her Health

Hi,
I'm 34 years old and have been in a happy relationship for about a year and a half now. Before that, I was single for about 3 years. During that time, I used a Hitachi Magic Wand to masturbate--probably once or twice a week on average. Using the vibrator, I was able to climax pretty quickly. Then I very foolishly decided to try to have multiple orgasms. After having one orgasm, I kept using the vibrator on my clitoris. At first it was uncomfortable, but I kept doing it and found that if I pressed down really hard, I could eventually have a second orgasm. Now I'm completely unable to have orgasms during sex. Oral sex, which used to work for me consistently, doesn't make me climax anymore either. I can't achieve an orgasm masturbating with my hand, and although I can still climax if I use a vibrator, it sometimes takes a while. I'm afraid that I've done permanent nerve damage and ruined my ability to enjoy sex, which is enormously depressing. Does anyone know if this is possible? If it is, is there any way to remedy the problem? Help!!

trouper, go to the search button at the top of this page, type in vibrator, then highlight "all open forums' and hit search. That will bring up a number of posts discussing vibrator reaction.to clitoris.

Thanks, Moderator. I've read some posts that certainly helped me feel less alone. I guess the main thing is that I wonder whether or not my use of the Hitachi was abnormally aggressive. In one of the threads, a Dr. Goldstein said something about 12 of his patients having nerve damage caused by "aggressive" vibrator use. As far as I know, nerves don't repair themselves...right?

I'm just terribly worried that sensation won't come back for me---that I've ruined myself.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice.

Hi Trouper,
Although I see that there are many other posts regarding this topic I am new to this forum and wanted to add my personal experience with this topic in hope that it will help you.

When I was 16 I started using a vibrator that was similar to the hitachi magic wand. I became "addicted" to it and used it in the same way you did, to achieve orgasm after orgasm until they were so slight they didn't do much - the more per session. Eventually I went away to college and brought it with me and used it there. When I was 19 I met my then future/now ex-husband who asked me to stop using it. I made jokes that my clit was numb because at that point I could not have an orgasm any other way and could barely even feel it during any type of manual stimulation. However, I threw it out and after awhile, a long while actually - the sensation came back and I was able to have orgasms by manually stimulating the clitoris and for a short while (many years later) I even experienced vaginal orgasms.

I have tried to use vibrators on my clit very few times since then, and it has been a good 20 years - but I've never liked them, they hurt now. I have continued to use my fingers or my partner's fingers or oral sex as well as other sex toys and I have never had the "numb clit" problem since. It takes awhile to gain the sensitivity back, but it's well worth it!!!!!!!!!!!

I have 2 other female friends who are reliant on the hitachi wand and cannot have orgasms without it. One is in her 40's and the other in her 20's. They have both used the hitachi wand exclusively for many years and even during partner sex must use it to achieve orgasm.

Howard Stern used to say the same thing about his wife (now ex wife) joking that she formed a callous on her clit from using a vibrator.

I have no doubt that there are healthy ways to use a vibrator that don't cause desensitization, however not everything works for everyone.

Hope this helped a bit

I am very concerned, my clitoris is so swollen and red and painful. I went to the doctor but she says she has never encountered this. Not helpful at all. I used the vibrator a lot due to my long distance relationship. Now I think I hurt my clitoris with it. Help there is a hard ball like lump under the hood and it hurts to walk.....

Your doctor did not give you a diagnoses at all.If I were you I would see another GYN for a second opinion.

I answered this question from my knowledge base in so many posts but some women who I think I touched a nerve on their sex toys attached me. There was an article by Masters and Johnson about the subject. Unfortunately I misplaced the article among the tons of paper I have. My recollection from the article is that Master and Johnson said that your finger is more kind to your clitoris than Vibrator. Don't despair hopefully it will heal. Sometimes the Human body does wonderful things.

Amondala,

Thank you so much for both the info and your support. I can't tell you how much better it makes me feel to hear a story like mine.

Thanks too to Elgalawaat---I really appreciate the response.

You ladies have greatly eased my mind and made me feel much less alone. )

Oh, and judyluv---I agree entirely with the moderator. Sounds like a second opinion is definitely warranted. Most likely, what you've got is some irritation (sounds similar to an experience I had many years ago when I made the mistake of going horseback riding with too-tight jeans)--but I find it hard to believe that an OBGYN hasn't seen what you've described. See somebody else, for sure. Hope you feel better soon.