Solo Sex is Real Sex

In honor of May -- Masturbation Month -- I'm reminding you of this post, originally written for Valentine's Day, February 2016.  

"We need to acknowledge that solo sex is real sex," I asserted, and ten people in the audience quoted me on Twitter immediately. I was speaking at the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Summit in August 2015. This was my first time attending Woodhull, and it was an amazing experience:

The Sexual Freedom Summit features human rights activists, sexuality educators and researchers, professionals from the legal and medical fields, authors, sexual freedom movement leaders and organizational partners all working toward the time when sexual freedom is fully recognized as a fundamental human right.

It seems to me that "sexual freedom" includes freeing ourselves from our society's outdated notions, especially as they restrict us, as seniors, from full sexual expression.  No one is standing at our bedroom door proclaiming, "Thou shalt not masturbate" -- at least I hope not -- but many of us have internalized the idea that giving ourselves sexual pleasure is wrong, or a depressing substitute for "real" -- aka "partner" -- sex.

At our age, accepting self-pleasuring as "real" sex is even more important than it was in our youth. Here are some reasons:

1. Many of us do not have a sexual partner at this time of our lives.
2. Many of us who do have a partner are not able to have full sexual expression with that partner, due to medical or relationship issues.
3. Our retreating hormones and decreased blood flow make it easy to forget about sex because there's less urgency. Yet the less we experience arousal and orgasm, the more difficult it is to get there when we want to.
4. Our responses change as we age, and the most direct way to stay in tune with what we need for sexual pleasure is to experiment with our own hands -- and, of course, sex toys.
5. Sexual arousal and orgasm are good for physical and emotional health. In The Ultimate Guide to Sex after 50, I list 33 reasons why sex is good for you -- and by sex, I mean with or without a partner.

For those of you who would tell me (as people do, surprisingly), "Hey, masturbation is inferior to sex with a loving partner," I would answer, "There's nothing inferior about sex with the person who knows you best." Plus the obvious -- "How nice that you have a loving partner. Many of us don't."

Whether we're pleasuring ourselves because it's sex with ourselves or no sex, or we enjoy private sex, or maybe we just want to have fantasy sex with Jeffrey Dean Morgan, let's agree that solo sex is not only real sex -- it's delightful sex.

Readers of my Naked at Our Age Facebook page (which I hope you'll "like"), had this to add:

• We are 58 and 57 and we both enjoy solo sex. Sometimes, we do it together. Watching can be quite erotic but more often, we'll do it before bed (usually separately in that case) to help us sleep. Mrs. has a variety of vibrators and we're both definitely in favor. - Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe, erotica authors


• I'm a 67 y.o. man, and in the famous words of Woody Allen, I'm good at sex (with women) because I practice a lot when I 'm alone. (;-). Seriously, it has a lot to do with why I'm still so erotically alive. And yes, incorporating mutual self-stimulation into play with partners is really exciting, and in some ways can feel even more emotionally intimate than PIV [penis in vagina].


• I'm 53. I have been going solo for.the past 11 years (not by choice), now that I am single I am looking forward to having a partner once again. The solo sex has been a necessity!


• I am 50. In my community sex is forbidden to singles and there is controversy about whether masturbation, therefore, is 'sinful.' My stance is masturbation is not sinful and not forbidden to those of us who are unmarried. I think "Solo Sex is Real Sex" but my Christian community may not accept such a statement. 


• I am 58 and flown solo for quite a few years. On the one hand, it's nice because I know all the best places and the exact technique. On the other, it's obviously not as much fun as having a partner. However, that's not always possible and I much prefer it over climbing into bed with a jerk. I wish I had more money for some of the great toys you've shown. I might never want a partner again if I did.

As Valentine's Day approaches (note: I originally wrote this post for Valentine's Day) and we're bombarded with commercial messages about how to make the day more romantic with our loved one (soft lighting, mellow music, gifts of chocolate and roses included), let's remember this:

Love starts with how we feel about ourselves, how giving and patient and accepting and loving we can be with the person who's been in our life the longest. Let's celebrate that with our own special touch (so to speak).

As always, I invite you to comment.*

*But please don't try to spam my blog by promoting products, vendors, or escorts. And please, don't try to use this blog as a hook-up opportunity by posting your phone number and an offer to my readers. Enough of that, folks! That's why I moderate comments. 

Are you having sex? What does that mean?

It's important for us to redefine what we mean by "having sex" and being "sexually active," especially with our changing bodies, relationships, and circumstances as we age.

In my view, "having sex" means doing whatever arouses and pleases us sexually, whether partnered (any gender) or solo, with or without sex toys, with or without orgasm, in any manner that turns us on. 

Did I leave out anything? 

It's annoying and it doesn't serve us when "having sex" or "sexually active" only refers to partnered sex, and especially when it only refers to PIV (penis in vagina) sex. Media, researchers, survey takers, doctors, please take note!

I'd like to invite a discussion here. Answer #1 and any of the others that interest you with as much information as you're willing to share:

• How old are you, and how would you define "having sex" or being "sexually active" at this age?
• Do you consider solo sex to be "real" sex? Why or why not?
• If you were surveyed about whether you are sexually active, how would you answer? What would you mean by that answer?
• Has your doctor or other medical professional asked you about whether you're sexually active? 
• If you asked your doctor or other medical professional about a sex-related concern? How did that go?

 

Please post your answers as comments here, or if you're confused about how to do that, email me with "post on blog for me" as your subject header, and I'll do it for you. (Include a first name of your choice -- it doesn't have to be your own.)

Thank you. I look forward to sharing views with you about this important topic.

#AdultSexEdMonth

10 Tips for Hot Solo Senior Sex

5/6/14: In honor of "Senior Sex Month" and "International Masturbation Month," I'm moving these tips, originally posted 12/24/10, to the top. We’re not all in sexual relationships, and self-pleasuring is so important at our age! Here are some tips for enjoying hot SOLO senior sex.  

10 Tips for Hot Solo Senior Sex

By Joan Price

Senior sex isn't just partner sex. Many of us don't have partners, yet keeping our sexual selves vibrant and health is crucial for many reasons. It's true that if we don't use it, we lose it -- and that's true for both women and men.

When we have less hormonal rush to stay sexual, especially if we're without a partner and maybe blue about that, we can fall into a pattern where we don't think as much about sexual pleasure, and we don't give it to ourselves. Arousal and orgasms may feel second-rate and inconsequential, and sometimes just too much trouble.

Instead, let's see our marvelous bodies as still capable of pleasure, and let's nurture that. We have the capacity -- and the responsibility! -- to keep ourselves fully functioning by pleasuring ourselves, discovering what feels good (it may have changed, so don't assume that of course you know) and what it takes to make our brains and body parts sing. Let's celebrate that we don't have to close down just because we're older and partnerless. Indeed, let's enjoy what we can offer ourselves.

Here are some tips for bringing the sizzle back to your sex life -- on your own!

1. Plan for solo sex. At this time of life, we need slow arousal and gradual build-up. So set aside enough private time to enjoy the journey without rushing. Set up whatever you need for comfort, such as special pillows. Shut off distractions like phone and computer, lock the door, and settle in for pleasure.

2. Enjoy solo sex during high energy times. When do you feel most sexually charged? When you first wake up? After morning coffee and a good poop? Mid-afternoon? That’s when to indulge in a solitary romp, rather than after a meal when you’re digesting or at night when your sensations are shutting down. When you feel the tingle, indulge it!

3. Create your own foreplay. Do sexy things that get you in the mood. Remember hot times with a special lover. Read erotica, play special songs, watch porn (or, if you prefer, a movie with a star who always turns you on), write sexy thoughts in your journal, take a waterproof vibrator into the bath or shower -- whatever starts your path to arousal. Appreciate, decorate, and celebrate your body with lingerie, silk, velvet, massage oil, candlelight--whatever feels good and puts you in the mood.

4. Use a silky lubricant. Don’t just settle for the drugstore variety -- there are many different varieties of lubricants for moisture and slickness that feel great and bring back the joy of friction, whether we’re using our hands or a toy. Experiment to find your favorites. Keep the lube within reach so you can reapply frequently.

5. Explore sex toys and other erotic helpers. Our hormonally challenged bodies may need extra help to reach orgasm these days, and our wrists may tire before we reach our goal. Women: try a clitoral vibrator, with or without a dildo, depending whether you like the feeling of a full vagina. (Read the many vibrator reviews on this blog to help you choose.) Men: try a sleeve, cock ring, or prostate stimulator. Lucky for us that sex toys for both genders are easy to find, fun to try, and wow, do they work!

6. Fantasize. Let yourself explore fantasy scenes and partners, no limits. Let your brain (your main sex organ!) indulge in whatever arouses you. Be open to whatever comes into your mind, even if it is something you would not do in real life or with someone you consider off limits. No fantasy is “wrong,” and no one has to know what images or scenarios turn you on. Just go with it.

7. Be physical in daily life. Walking, biking, dancing, yoga, Pilates, lifting weights, and other forms of exercise all enhance blood flow and get you in touch with your own physicality. This translates to your sexual arousal because the blood flows to your genitals as well as to your muscles, making arousal easier and faster. Plus you mentally feel “in your body.”

8. Realize that your solo practice not only gives you pleasure, it’s important for health. Experts recommend at least one orgasm a week for both men and women for genital health and for heart health as well. Weekly orgasms keep the pelvic floor strong and the nerves firing, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of incontinence, depression, and heart disease. Men – regular orgasms are important for prostate health.

9. If you think you’re not in the mood, do it anyway. It’s too easy to put solo sex on the back burner, and once we’re out of the habit, it’s harder to get revved up again. This is especially true at our age, when our hormones are no longer screaming for release. So reread tips #1-8, and just do it. You’ll find that the physical arousal will happen, that that will trigger your emotional arousal, and that triggers more physical arousal, until it’s all working just right.

10. Don’t think of solo sex as “settling for” a substitute for partner sex. You’re celebrating your own sexuality, glorying in your body’s capability of pleasing you, and enjoying the journey. This is a gift you can give yourself whenever you want, and isn’t that wonderful?

(These tips are copyright 2010-2011 by Joan Price and may not be reprinted without permission from Joan Price. Thank you!)

Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk about Sex after Sixty is available from www.joanprice.com (personally autographed) or from Amazon.

Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex is available from www.joanprice.com (personally autographed) -- be sure to let me know to whom to autograph it -- and by clicking the PayPal button below...

Or order from Amazon here.

May: Senior Sex Month + Masturbation month!

What a lovely coincidence! May is "International Masturbation Month," according to Good Vibrations. It's also "Senior Sex Month," thanks to Senior Planet, the senior site that advocates "aging with attitude" and is launching my new "Sex at Our Age" column this month. In this column, I'll answer reader questions about the realities and challenges of staying sexual in aging bodies.

I love that International Masturbation Month and Senior Sex Month happen at the same time. I propose that we combine the two! We're not all fortunate enough to be partnered at this time of our lives, and many of us who are in relationships are not having sex with our partners as much as we'd enjoy. Pleasuring ourselves is a way we can stay vigorously sexual, give ourselves wonderful jolts of joy, and enhance our health simultaneously.

Oh? You doubt that solo sex enhances health? Here are just a few of the benefits of sexual activity and orgasm with or without a partner that I list in The Ultimate Guide to Sex after Fifty: How to Maintain – or Regain! – a Spicy, Satisfying Sex Life, coming soon from Cleis Press:

• Reduces stress
• Enhances mood
• Strengthens the immune system
• Helps fight infection and disease
• Lowers diastolic blood pressure
• Keeps sex organs healthy
• Improves blood flow
• Helps with sleep
• Relieves headaches and other body aches
• Relieves depression
• Reduces risk of heart disease
• Reduces risk of prostate cancer
• Relieves chronic pain
• Increases blood flow to the brain, increasing mental acuity
• Makes your skin glow
• Relaxes you
• Makes you happier
• Feels really good

Reasons not to self-pleasure? Hmm... Can't think of any.

And if you need an assist, check out the many dozens of sex toys I've reviewed from a senior perspective here -- keep scrolling down to "older posts" because there are about a hundred reviews. (Don't worry, you won't end up with a list of 100 toys to buy -- some of the products are horrid and you'll just laugh at those reviews. But the wonderful ones? Ah, your body will thank you for adding these to your sexual repertoire!)

My current fave, Palm Power 

Hello Touch: Finger Vibrator from JimmyJane

Do you remember the Yellow Pages ad that went, "Let your fingers do the walking"? Hello Touch from JimmyJane is the modern version. Now when your fingers "do the walking," they vibrate the path they take.

Good Vibrations was good enough to send me a sample to review.

Two itty bitty vibrators on stretchy bands fit on your fingers (index and middle, or thumb and index, or however you want). My fingers are small, and the bands fit relatively snugly, which was good for me, but if you have thicker fingers, the bands might be uncomfortably tight.

They're connected by a thin cord to a power pack on your arm. It takes two AAAA batteries, included. Press the bottom button and your fingertips vibrate; press the top button and they stop. I have no idea why the sleeve is marked with a middle button -- there is no middle button.  I had trouble working the buttons until I realized it takes a firm press of the finger in just the right spot, which isn't always obvious.

The Hello Touch is designed to stimulate clitoris, penis, nipples, G-spot -- almost anywhere you want. It isn't advisable to use it anally -- although the bands are tight, you don't want to risk one sliding off the finger during anal use.


JimmyJane was smart about the instruction booklet. I'm used to getting booklets with page after page of tiny print in a dozen languages. This instruction booklet just has illustrations of how to put the thing together and use it, and they're very clear. It also comes with a fabric travel bag.

It is a strange contraption indeed. I think you'll have to get some nervous laughter out of the way before you try it -- at least, I did. It's very unsexy in appearance.

Who cares what it looks like if it works? The problem is that it doesn't work for me. Not at all.

Oh, it vibrates, but the buzzy vibration is very light, nowhere near what this woman needs. Plus it doesn't even feel good to me -- it's too easy to pinch the skin or irritate tender tissues with the cord or bands. I would love to know if any of you succeeded in joyful G-spot stimulation with this -- I tried and failed.


Was my reaction unusual?  I decided to read a few reviews. This will doubtlessly change as more sex toy reviewers get hold of it, but now as I write this, the reviews are on tech gadget sites, and none of the writers actually used the product -- they're just quoting from the PR and ruminating about it.

I'm not a snarky reviewer who pans a product entirely if it doesn't work for me. Maybe it's just me. It probably would be more fun during partner play than solo. And it could work for either clitoral stimulation during intercourse or solo, if you need just light vibration to get you over the edge instead of the turbo power I need.


Some toys work fabulously and become favorites; others are okay but not special. But some -- like this one -- are just interesting experiments to try once and put away.

I'd love to know how you like Hello Touch for solo or partner sex. Please comment!

Thank you, Good Vibrations, for sending it to me for review, and for always appreciating an honest review.

We-Vibe Thrill

Hurray, Good Vibrations sent me the We-Vibe Thrill in time for a pre-Valentine's Day date with myself. This is a dual-action vibrator, which means it stimulates the G-spot internally and the clitoris externally simultaneously. Insert the bulbous part vaginally, position it to your liking with the silver part pressed to your clitoris, and you'll feel its rumbly vibrations in both places.

I like that the fit is adjustable -- the middle part bends easily to conform to your shape. So many rabbit-style vibrators that intend dual stimulation don't fit right - but the bendy midsection makes this one easy to fit. That said, we're all different, and no one shape works for everyone.

The Thrill is completely waterproof (as long as it's not connected to the charger, of course), and I enjoyed wearing it in the shower before settling down to earnest solo play!

Some reviewers report that the handle opening is useless because their fingers don't fit through it. I have tiny hands and could insert a thumb or finger to the first knuckle, which is all that's needed.

But you don't even need to hold it that way -- just hold the top of the handle to guide the Thrill into place, and it stays there -- hands-free! This is terrific for those of us who have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or any other reason that gripping a vibrating object is uncomfortable or impossible. It's also cool for reading erotica or using your hands on a partner while you vibrate!

 The Thrill will appeal to many older women because the thickest part of the insertable section -- the "bulb" -- is only 1-1/4" inches wide and tapered for insertion, and the part that rests in the vaginal opening is extremely slim. Many women won't need that degree of slimness, but for those who do, it's ideal.

The controls are easy to find (end of the outside end) and use: just press to start, press to change intensity or pattern, press and hold to turn off. Unlike many vibrators, the controls are out of the way while you use it -- you won't accidentally turn it off.



Here's what I don't like: it's not strong enough for me, even on the highest setting. For some reason, the insertable part seems a bit stronger than the external, clitoral part, which makes no sense to me. I know I can't expect  Hitachi Magic Wand power, but this was just too subtle. Other reviewers point out that it works well by rocking it, rocking on it, or even sitting on it -- but though it feels nice internally, there isn't enough clitoral stimulation for this old gal.

If you don't need the intensity that I do, it could be just right for you, though. The multi-speed motor offers eight different modes and intensities. I have simple tastes -- I go straight to the strongest, steady vibration. It also does va-va-voom and cha cha patterns if you prefer.

This clever fellow recharges via USB. Attach the magnetic end to the cord, plug the other end into your computer (or other USB charger, like your phone charger, or power adapter), and voila. Or at least, that's what's supposed to happen. I found that I had  to keep an eye on it during charging because the magnetic parts separate too easily. There's no stand -- you have to lay it on its side -- and it's easy for the charger to fall right off. So check it frequently.

This may be minor, but the silicone, as smooth and lovely as it feels, picks up every bit of lint in the room. It washes easily, so just wash it right before each use. Be sure to use only water-based lubricant.

All in all, I think the Thrill would be thrilling for a woman who appreciates the hands-free, ergonomic design and likes a slim, insertable toy with simultaneous -- though moderate -- clitoral stimulation.


You may know the Thrill's older sister -- the We-Vibe 3 couple's vibrator. This popular toy is for use during partner sex, providing both vaginal and clitoral stimulation during intercourse. (One male reviewer reported that this gave him the sensation of having a vibrating lover!)  The Thrill is similar in concept, design, and body-safe materials, but was designed for solo pleasure.


Thank you, Good Vibrations, for sending me the We-Vibe Thrill.

Tenga Flip Hole and 3-D Sculpted Ecstasy: Sex Toys for Men

Thank you, David Pittle, for continuing to review sex toys for men here. My readers and I are grateful! Readers: your comments are always welcome. -- Joan Price

Tenga Flip Hole and 3-D Sculpted Ecstasy: Sex Toys for Men

Guest blog by David Pittle, Ph.D.

Tenga, a Japanese company that makes sex toys for men, recently sent me the Flip Hole and 3-D Sculpted Ecstasy for review, two different types of male masturbation devices. I heartily recommend these to men for solo use, for couples who enjoy mutual or simultaneous masturbation, and for anyone who wants to pleasure a male partner.

Flip Hole

While most of the male masturbation market has churned out artificial vaginas, Tenga’s Flip Hole is a real improvement. 

The Flip Hole is designed to open up completely. This allows you to lay your penis down on one side, then close it up for use. Or you can close it with the clip and enter the hole.

The vacuum pump formed by the material is controlled by the buttons to create a squeezing pleasure. The wing gate has big ribs midway in to grip and hold you. The side ribs add side stimulation for maximum feel. The lip flat provides a good grip upon insertion, while the shield flap helps to keep lubricants inside. 

The innovative opening makes for cleanliness not often possible with male masturbation devices. The entire unit flips open for easy cleaning. Then hang it on the clip for drying.

I received two of the four versions of the Flip Hole. Aside from the coloring of the case -- Black, White, Silver and Red -- the pattern of the soft elastomer material inside varies, giving each version a significantly different feeling. The two I tried both felt great. I understand that the Black Flip Hole has a firmer inner material for a more intense experience, but I didn’t have that one to test.

My one criticism is that the weight and bulk of the Flip Hole make it a bit awkward and tiring to use. I’m sure that the choice of the stimulating material must be the reason, as the shell can’t weigh much. Was it worth the effort? Absolutely. I just hope that Tenga will find a way to make it lighter without giving up the advantages of this fine masturbation device.

3-D Sculpted Ecstasy

Built with the same foam material as the Tenga Egg, which I previously reviewed, the Tenga 3-D Sculpted Ecstasy comes in five textures. The photo shows (left to right) the Pile, Module, Spiral,  Polygon, and Zen (an interesting undulating series of shallow spirals). 

Each comes in a package with the texture side out and on a mounting stand. For use, we take it off the stand, a dowel that goes up the middle, and turn it inside-out. (Actually it comes inside-out, so we turn it “inside-in.” See the photo where the Module texture is partially turned.

With the exception of the Zen, I found all the textures pleasant and virtually indistinguishable. The Zen had a softer and gentler effect—but the difference was not extreme. Of course, you might have a different preference.

The 3D Sculpted Ecstasy comes with a packet of lubricant for the first use. Squeeze the lubricant liberally around the hole and inside. And go to town.

Clean-up is easy. Just reverse the inside-out process and wash with your favorite soap and water or toy cleaner.

I really like this product. For personal use, I will return often to the Tenga 3D Sculpted Ecstasy. Between these two products, the Flip Hole and the Sculpted Ecstasy, competitors will have to struggle to keep up. These are far ahead of other devices I have used.

David M. Pittle, Ph.D., is a therapist in San Rafael, CA, who has been helping people with sexual issues for over thirty years. Many of his clients are age 50-80, when good sex is important, and dissatisfaction may lead to loss of shared intimacy that can threaten the total relationship. David specializes in helping women who are not experiencing sexual satisfaction and men with non-medical and medically-related erectile dysfunction or other issues. Visit his website here.

LELO's GIGI: slim, smooth, sensual

This review was originally written in 2009. I just updated it November 2012. GIGI has become a favorite sex buddy, one I reach for regularly even though I have many dozen to choose from after reviewing sex toys from a senior perspective for four years!  

Sex-toy designers are catching on to the notion that sexual enhancement products (okay, vibrators) that work best for women's anatomy might not be in the shape of a penis (or dolphin, rabbit, and so on) but rather a design that actually fits the way we're shaped and makes contact with our hot spots most effectively. As we age, our bed buddy also needs to be pleasant to hold for an extended time without inflaming arthritic wrists or burning out before we do.

I've had the pleasure of testing the lovely GIGI "sensual pleasure object" from LELO. The rechargeable GIGI specializes in G-spot stimulation, and indeed the flared shape at the tip easily locates, stimulates, and hugs my G-spot. Great design! 

It's also dandy for clitoral stimulation. If you like both, just alternate placement, or use a clitoral vibrator while the GIGI is vaginally inserted -- which is what I do. The curved shape makes it easy to keep GIGI inserted and out of the way when you're using another vibrator on your clitoris.

 I love the shape and size -- not girthy (so helpful for post-menopausal vaginas), shaped for easy insertion, flared for the best sensation. The velvety silicone surface "tugs" a little when you move it in and out, a most pleasurable sensation.

 Choose from five intensities/modes, or vary as your arousal increases. I would have liked just one more, extremely intense setting, but for the size, it's amazing.

It's also quiet, in case the grandkids are in the next room. The part that does its magic is available in rose (pictured, though it's not as shocking a color as my point-and-shoot camera thinks), turquoise, or "petal pink" to match the decor or your lingerie, or make it easy to find in the toy box. A lovely product!
 
Use a water-based lubricant like Liquid Silk, Blossom Organics, or Wet Naturals. Don't use a silicone-based lubricant with silicone toys -- it can degrade the toy and make it tacky.

As you'll see from other recent sex-toy reviews, we now have a swell selection to choose from or alternate, if you like variety. Thank you, designers, and enjoy, dear readers!

Tenga Egg reviewed by David Pittle

I invited David M. Pittle, Ph.D. to give us a senior male perspective on a sex toy designed for men. Here he reviews the Tenga Egg.

Tenga Egg Male Masturbation Sleeve
reviewed by David M. Pittle, Ph.D.

One of the perks of working in sex therapy is that I get to discover a lot about the various toys that come to market. Tenga is a small Japanese company which has made a big entry into sex toys for men. They have several products. One quite innovative is the Tenga Egg. The Egg comes in a package of half-dozen. 

The Egg is a complete kit for a single use. Packaged within an egg-shaped shell is a very stretchable elastomer “stimulator” with ribbing designs to give a variety of sensations. To make this a complete, one-use kit, it includes a packet of lubricant, as well as the “stimulator” itself. The stimulator expands to fit almost any normal penis length and diameter to give a very good sensation.

While sold as a one-use device, it will actually last up to about 10 uses. You can flip it inside out for cleaning and then add your own lubricant to use it again. At about $8.50 each, that makes the Tenga Egg a real bargain.

If there was one weakness in the egg that I tried, it was the lack of instructions in English. The only instructions were printed in Japanese on the lubricant package. One would think that instructions were not needed for such a simple device, but applying the lubricant to the inside of the stimulator is done with an included funnel device and the method of doing all this preparation is not self-evident. Actually there is a video instruction on the Tenga website (see below) but it would be better to have it in the Egg.

However, aside from the lack of instructions, this is an excellent product. It provides marvelous sensations, comes in a wide variety of interior ribbing designs and as a bonus, is usable even by men suffering from erectile dysfunction. The penis does not have to be hard to get the benefit of the Egg. I certainly could feel that there was ridging, but I doubt I would feel the differences between the different egg designs. Maybe someone who has a more sensitive penis might. I really liked this Egg and will probably buy them in the future.

Tenga Egg inside out to show texture

 Notes from Joan:

The Tenga Egg comes in a variety of textures and designs. Dr. Pittle reviewed the "Wavy" design, pictured here inside out so you can see the texture.

The Tenga Eggs are available from our friends at Good Vibrations or get a variety pack from Amazon. (You can even sign up for "Subscribe & Save" to receive regular deliveries!


You might enjoy the "official" Tenga Egg video:

David Pittle

David M. Pittle, Ph.D., is a therapist in San Rafael, CA, who has been helping people with sexual issues for over thirty years. Many of his clients are age 50-80, when good sex is important, and dissatisfaction may lead to loss of shared intimacy that can threaten the total relationship. David specializes in helping women who are not experiencing sexual satisfaction and men with non-medical and medically-related erectile dysfunction or other issues. Visit his website here.Please see Dr. Pittle's review of the Hitachi Magic Wand here.

Note from Joan: Please see my other vibrator reviews by clicking here. Keep scrolling down -- there are many! I love to hear from you and welcome your comments about any sex toys reviewed here, because our experiences are all different, and your experience will help other readers decide which toy is right for them. (However, if you're a sex toy retailer, I don't permit links that compete with the retailers I endorse -- spammy, highjacking comments and links won't see the light of day.)