Sex is an act of pleasure. It’s personal and incredibly intimate, whether you share it with someone or not. It shouldn’t feel wrong to enhance the experience with sex toys.

In the past few years, sex has become increasingly normalized as a topic of mainstream conversation. People are choosing to be more open about sexual pleasure with themselves and their partners. However, sex toys aren’t always in the picture. A common misconception around sex toys is that they’re purely used for masturbation, but that’s not necessarily the case. There’s a lot of stigma and misinformation surrounding sex toys and pleasure within partnered relationships. It’s seen as a weakness or something in the way of sex, rather than a popular pleasure enhancement. Sex toys in partner play are proven to increase pleasure and communication, all of which lead to a better sex life and often results in a better relationship.

Sex toys are a game-changer when it comes to partner play. It not only allows for personal exploration of pleasure and body but also allows your partner to gain that knowledge. It creates a line of honest communication that helps the relationship grow stronger through natural intimate connection and mature conversation. A huge aspect of intimate communication revolves around power dynamics while under the sheets. Who will be taking the lead? What do you like? What does your partner? Sex toys allow for an additional deeper discussion to take place; what it’s like to give directions, partner pleasure, listening to each other and taking direction. Sex is complicated. There’s no “one-and-done” routine. It’s a balance of situation and satisfaction.

Buying any type of sex toy leads to greater communication between partners, built by an entirely new set of questions. It’s not a natural part of someone’s body, but a product. There are so many different types of sex toys and accessories. If you’re purchasing one together, you have to be open in talking about what you want and what you don't want. It is difficult to get comfortable enough with your partner to be able to tell them intimate details about your pleasure, especially when they may be involved in how easy those are to achieve. The idea of using sex toys helps ease into that experience. Research has shown that 51 percent of those who bought sex toys frequently talk about sex, whereas only 28 percent of those who have not bought a sex toy could attest to the same.

Purchasing sex toys has become easier over the years. Because of the reclaiming of sexuality in the mainstream, the sex toy market has grown much larger, found in individual in-store locations and online.

Who’s to say your relationship has to run without outside help? It might feel intimidating to connect with the right toy. However, using a sex toy during partner play will not only increase your level of trust and communication, grow your relationship, but explore your own sexual pleasures and fantasies. The bedroom scene will never be the same again.

Sex, Love, and Toys