Women's Sex Toy & Pleasure Statistics 2026 (With Sources)

This page collects the most useful research numbers on women's vibrator use, sex toys, orgasm, lubricant and menopause in one place. We only included figures that are stated directly in a published study's abstract, and each one links to the study on PubMed so you can check it yourself. Where a study has limits (an older survey, a specific age group, a particular population), we say so next to the number.

Free to cite: journalists, educators and bloggers are welcome to use these statistics. Please cite the original study, and if this page helped you find it, a link back is appreciated. See How to cite this page.

Key Statistics at a Glance

• 52.5% of U.S. women aged 18–60 reported vibrator use in a 2009 national study (Herbenick et al., 2009).
• Only 18.4% of U.S. women said intercourse alone was enough for orgasm (Herbenick et al., 2018).
• 95% of heterosexual men vs 65% of heterosexual women said they usually or always orgasmed when sexually intimate in the past month (Frederick et al., 2018).
• 69.7% of U.S. women use "pairing" (they or a partner stimulate the clitoris with a finger or sex toy during penetration) to orgasm more often or make penetration more pleasurable (Hensel et al., 2021).
• 71.5% of women in the 2009 U.S. study had never experienced genital symptoms associated with vibrator use (Herbenick et al., 2009).
• 46.4% of U.S. women aged 60+ who masturbated in the past year almost always or always used a sex toy while doing so (Hille et al., 2026).
• Vaginal dryness was the most common symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy (70%) in a survey of postmenopausal women in four European countries (Nappi et al., 2016).

How Many Women Use Vibrators?

The best-known figure comes from a nationally representative U.S. survey of 2,056 women aged 18–60, published in 2009, so keep its age in mind when you use it.

• The prevalence of vibrator use was 52.5% (95% CI 50.3–54.7%). Source: Herbenick et al., 2009, Journal of Sexual Medicine.
• Women who had recently used a vibrator scored higher on most sexual function domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, pain and overall function) on the Female Sexual Function Index. Source: Herbenick et al., 2009.
• Vibrator users were significantly more likely to have had a gynecologic exam in the past year and to have done a genital self-examination in the previous month. Source: Herbenick et al., 2009.
• Among 2,192 women in the U.S. and U.K. who had sex only with women in the previous year, over three-quarters had used a vibrator, and over a quarter had used one in the previous month. Source: Schick et al., 2011, Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Vibrators in Relationships

• Using a vibrator with a partner was common among heterosexual, lesbian and bisexual women, and most users said they were comfortable using one with a partner. Source: Herbenick et al., 2010, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy (2,056 U.S. women aged 18–60).
• For heterosexual women, a partner knowing about, and being perceived to like, her vibrator use was a significant predictor of sexual satisfaction. Source: Herbenick et al., 2010.
• In a nationally representative U.S. sample of adults aged 18–60, most women and men held highly positive and few negative beliefs about women using vibrators. Source: Herbenick et al., 2011, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.

If you're shopping as a couple, our guide to the best couples vibrators covers remote and wearable options.

Orgasm and Clitoral Stimulation

These studies look at how women reach orgasm and at the "orgasm gap" between men and women.

• Only 18.4% of women said intercourse alone was sufficient for orgasm. Source: Herbenick et al., 2018, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy (1,055 U.S. women aged 18–94, probability sample, surveyed in 2015).
• 36.6% said clitoral stimulation was necessary for orgasm during intercourse. Source: Herbenick et al., 2018.
• A further 36% said clitoral stimulation wasn't needed, but their orgasms feel better when the clitoris is stimulated during intercourse. Source: Herbenick et al., 2018.
• In a U.S. sample of 52,588 adults, 95% of heterosexual men said they usually or always orgasmed when sexually intimate during the past month, compared with 89% of gay men, 88% of bisexual men, 86% of lesbian women, 66% of bisexual women and 65% of heterosexual women. Source: Frederick et al., 2018, Archives of Sexual Behavior.
• In the same study, women were more likely to orgasm if their last sexual encounter included deep kissing, manual genital stimulation and/or oral sex in addition to vaginal intercourse. Source: Frederick et al., 2018.

How Women Make Penetration More Pleasurable

A 2021 study of 3,017 U.S. women aged 18–93 (the Second OMGYES Pleasure Report, a national probability survey) named four techniques:

• Angling, used by 87.5%: rotating, raising or lowering the hips during penetration to change where the toy or penis rubs.
• Shallowing, used by about 84%: penetrative touch just inside the entrance of the vagina.
• Rocking, used by approximately 76%: the base of a penis or sex toy rubbing against the clitoris by staying inside rather than thrusting in and out.
• Pairing, used by 69.7%: the woman or her partner stimulating her clitoris with a finger or sex toy at the same time as penetration.

Source: Hensel et al., 2021, PLOS ONE.

If clitoral stimulation is what works for you, our guide to the best clitoral vibrators compares suction and tongue-style toys.

Sex Toy Use Beyond the U.S.

• In a national online survey of 1,723 heterosexual adults in Germany (49% women, 51% men), 52% reported using sex toys in partnered sex and 45% in solo sex. Source: Döring & Poeschl, 2020, Journal of Sex Research.
• Women and men alike reported stronger positive than negative effects of sex toy use. Source: Döring & Poeschl, 2020.
• In Britain's national sex surveys (Natsal), the share of women who reported masturbating in the past month rose from 37.0% in 1999–2001 to 40.3% in 2010–12. The earlier survey covered ages 16–44 and the later one ages 16–74. Source: Fischer et al., 2026, Journal of Sex Research.

Midlife and Older Women

Recent studies of midlife and older women find that, for many women, pleasure and sex toy use continue well past menopause.

• In a nationally representative sample of 1,500 U.S. women aged 40–65, women reported orgasm an average of 81% of the times they masturbated, with no difference between premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Source: Graham et al., 2025, Menopause.
• In the same sample, the percentage of times sex toys were used during masturbation was 44.4%, again with no significant difference by menopause stage. Source: Graham et al., 2025.
• Among 3,001 U.S. women aged 60 and older (surveyed in October 2023), 46.4% of those who masturbated in the past year used toys almost always or always while masturbating, compared with 5.1% who almost always or always used toys during partnered sex. Source: Hille et al., 2026, Menopause.
• Of the women aged 60+ who had partnered sex, 38.7% used sex toys during it at least rarely. Women who almost always or always used toys during partnered sex were more likely to report almost always or always having an orgasm than women who used toys less often. Source: Hille et al., 2026.

Menopause and Vaginal Dryness

These surveys focus on vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA). The U.S. REVIVE figures come from postmenopausal women who already had VVA symptoms, so they describe that group, not all women after menopause.

• In the U.S. REVIVE survey of 3,046 postmenopausal women with VVA symptoms, the most common symptoms were dryness (55%), pain with intercourse (44%) and irritation (37%). Symptoms affected enjoyment of sex for 59%. Source: Kingsberg et al., 2013, Journal of Sexual Medicine.
• In the European REVIVE survey of 3,768 postmenopausal women aged 45–75 in Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK, vaginal dryness was the most common VVA symptom (70%), and VVA had a significant impact on the ability to enjoy sexual intercourse (72%). When VVA had been discussed with a healthcare professional, the professional started the conversation in only 10% of cases. Source: Nappi et al., 2016, Climacteric.
• A systematic review of 27 studies found that the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal dryness, ranged from 13% to 87% across studies. Over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers were the most popular treatment option (24.0%–85.5% across studies). Source: Mili et al., 2021, Menopause.

Lubricant

• In a 5-week daily diary study of 2,453 women, using a water-based or silicone-based lubricant was associated with higher ratings of sexual pleasure and satisfaction for both solo sex and penile-vaginal sex. Source: Herbenick et al., 2011, Journal of Sexual Medicine.
• In the same study, water-based lubricants were associated with fewer genital symptoms than silicone-based lubricants. Source: Herbenick et al., 2011.

Water-based lube also works with silicone toys. You can browse our water-based lubes.

Vibration, Sexual Health and the Pelvic Floor

• A 2018 review of the evidence found that vibratory stimulation has evidence-based support for treating anorgasmia (difficulty reaching orgasm), and is positively correlated with increased sexual desire and overall sexual function. It has also shown benefit for sexual arousal difficulties and pelvic floor dysfunction, although the authors note that definitive evidence is still lacking. Source: Rullo et al., 2018, Sexual and Relationship Therapy.
• A Cochrane review of 23 trials (1,806 women) found weighted vaginal cones were better than no active treatment for stress urinary incontinence, with little evidence of a difference in subjective cure compared with pelvic floor muscle training. The trials were small and their quality was often hard to judge. Source: Herbison & Dean, 2013, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Weighted cones are not the same as kegel balls, but both involve holding a weight inside the vagina with the pelvic floor muscles. If you're curious, our kegel balls guide explains how to start safely. For leaks or pelvic pain, talk to a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of women use vibrators?

In a nationally representative U.S. study of women aged 18–60, published in 2009, the prevalence of vibrator use was 52.5% (Herbenick et al., 2009). Among women who have sex with women, a 2011 study found over three-quarters had used one.

Can most women orgasm from intercourse alone?

No. In a U.S. probability sample of 1,055 women, only 18.4% said intercourse alone was sufficient for orgasm. 36.6% said clitoral stimulation was necessary, and another 36% said it made their orgasms feel better (Herbenick et al., 2018).

Is using a vibrator bad for you?

The research doesn't suggest so. In the 2009 U.S. study, 71.5% of women had never experienced genital symptoms associated with vibrator use, and recent users scored higher on most measures of sexual function (Herbenick et al., 2009).

Do women still use sex toys after menopause?

Yes. Among U.S. women aged 40–65, the percentage of times sex toys were used during masturbation was 44.4%, with no difference by menopause stage (Graham et al., 2025). Among women 60 and older who masturbated in the past year, 46.4% almost always or always used a toy (Hille et al., 2026).

What is the orgasm gap?

It's the difference in how often men and women orgasm during sex. In a U.S. sample of 52,588 adults, 95% of heterosexual men said they usually or always orgasmed when sexually intimate during the past month, compared with 65% of heterosexual women (Frederick et al., 2018).

How We Chose These Statistics

• Every figure is from a peer-reviewed study or systematic review indexed in PubMed.
• We only used numbers stated in each study's published abstract, exactly as written. We did not calculate new figures or combine studies.
• We prioritised nationally representative or probability samples. Where a sample is narrower (a specific age group, people with symptoms, one country), we say so next to the number.
• Survey data reflects what people report, and some studies are several years old. Check the publication year before using a figure.
• Last checked: October 2026. If you spot an error, email [email protected] and we'll fix it.

How to Cite This Page

Please cite the original study for any number you use. If this page helped, a link back is appreciated:

LuvlyPlay Team. "Women's Sex Toy & Pleasure Statistics 2026 (With Sources)." LuvlyPlay, October 2026. https://luvlyplay.com/blogs/user-guide/womens-sex-toy-pleasure-statistics

References

1. Herbenick D, Reece M, Sanders S, et al. (2009). Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use by women in the United States: results from a nationally representative study. Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01318.x
2. Herbenick D, Reece M, Sanders SA, et al. (2010). Women's vibrator use in sexual partnerships: results from a nationally representative survey in the United States. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. doi:10.1080/00926230903375677
3. Herbenick D, Reece M, Schick V, et al. (2011). Beliefs about women's vibrator use: results from a nationally representative probability survey in the United States. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2011.606745
4. Schick V, Herbenick D, Rosenberger JG, et al. (2011). Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use among women who have sex with women. Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02503.x
5. Herbenick D, Fu TJ, Arter J, et al. (2018). Women's experiences with genital touching, sexual pleasure, and orgasm: results from a U.S. probability sample of women ages 18 to 94. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2017.1346530
6. Hensel DJ, von Hippel CD, Lapage CC, et al. (2021). Women's techniques for making vaginal penetration more pleasurable: results from a nationally representative study of adult women in the United States. PLOS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0249242
7. Frederick DA, John HKS, Garcia JR, et al. (2018). Differences in orgasm frequency among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual men and women in a U.S. national sample. Archives of Sexual Behavior. doi:10.1007/s10508-017-0939-z
8. Döring N, Poeschl S (2020). Experiences with diverse sex toys among German heterosexual adults: findings from a national online survey. Journal of Sex Research. doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1578329
9. Hille JJ, Graham CA, Sanders SA (2026). Sex toy use among a demographically representative sample of women 60 and older in the United States. Menopause. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002679
10. Graham CA, Ferrall L, Lehmiller JJ (2025). Masturbation frequency and experiences among US women aged 40–65 years: comparisons across different stages of the menopause transition. Menopause. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002597
11. Fischer N, Kozák M, Graham CA, et al. (2026). Trends in masturbation prevalence and associated factors: findings from the British National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Journal of Sex Research. doi:10.1080/00224499.2025.2555053
12. Herbenick D, Reece M, Hensel D, et al. (2011). Association of lubricant use with women's sexual pleasure, sexual satisfaction, and genital symptoms: a prospective daily diary study. Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02067.x
13. Rullo JE, Lorenz T, Ziegelmann MJ, et al. (2018). Genital vibration for sexual function and enhancement: a review of evidence. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. doi:10.1080/14681994.2017.1419557
14. Kingsberg SA, Wysocki S, Magnus L, et al. (2013). Vulvar and vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: findings from the REVIVE survey. Journal of Sexual Medicine. doi:10.1111/jsm.12190
15. Nappi RE, Palacios S, Panay N, et al. (2016). Vulvar and vaginal atrophy in four European countries: evidence from the European REVIVE Survey. Climacteric. doi:10.3109/13697137.2015.1107039
16. Mili N, Paschou SA, Armeni A, et al. (2021). Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: a systematic review on prevalence and treatment. Menopause. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001752
17. Herbison GP, Dean N (2013). Weighted vaginal cones for urinary incontinence. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002114.pub2

This page is for education and is not medical advice. For pain, bleeding, incontinence or menopause symptoms, please see a healthcare professional.