Have batteries, need toys.

November 17, 2008 1:19 PM

Tell me about electrical stimulation sex toys (NSFW, obviously).

I'm curious about experimenting with electrical stimulation sex toys (like these, for instance) but don't really know where to start. If this were something simpler and less costly I'd just pick one up and see what I thought, but I don't want to risk a) danger, b) disappointment, or c) poverty, so here I am asking you fine MF folk for thoughtful feedback.

So, have you or your lover(s) used e-stim toys before? What were your experiences? Do they live up the hype (e.g. hands-free orgasms!), or are they just another "nice to have but not earth-shaking" addition to the bedroom? Any problems or issues? Can you recommend a good beginner unit, or a somewhat more advanced one that I can, um, grow with? Ladies and gentlemen are both encouraged to chime in!

For what it's worth, I'm a late-20s guy who, due to an unfortunate combination of medication and good old-fashioned "that's just how I operate," takes a fair amount of stimulation to climax; part of the reason for my interest is to circumnavigate that issue with a different sort of stimulation. Besides, it just seems hot. I'll be using this primarily for my own enjoyment, though if all goes well I'll likely share it with others, male and female. Recommendations for non-skeezy brick-and-mortar shops in Chicago where I can talk to experienced sales staff about this would be appreciated.

The Fine Print: No, I don't plan on hot-rodding household appliances or otherwise risking Very Real Danger to get off. I'm interested in commercially-manufactured devices made by people who know more about about resistors, diodes, Ohm's Law, and other electro-stuff than I ever will. And yes, I play safe with others.

(Oh, and I figure it's only fair that I post publicly since you have to respond that way. Hi mom!)

posted by fracas to health & fitness (9 comments total)

I have no experience with electrostimulation sex toys - didn't know they existed before I clicked your link - but I have a good amount of experience using electric stimulation of nerves and muscles for medical diagnosis.

My patients generally find the experience interesting (because muscles move without their volition) and unpleasant (it hurts). In the few cases where I have been party to electrical diagnosis accomplished in the anal and genital regions (mainly watching professors at a major referral center do these unusual procedures), the patients found the procedures quite unpleasant.

Here's something I tell my patients for them to know what to expect: I ask if they have ever tested a 9V battery on their tongue. Most of them have. A dead battery barely makes a tingle; a new battery creates a strong, unpleasant shocking pain feeling.

That's what these devices are going to do, except they'll create those feelings in the areas where they are applied. If that sounds like fun to you, these types of toys will probably be a good investment.
posted by ikkyu2 at 2:00 PM on November 17, 2008

This might be a good one to start with. The page has links to compatible toys you can plug into the base unit (giggle snort).

e-sex can be a blast. Sites like xtube are overflowing with videos of people having hands-free orgasms. But then, like every toy, kink, partner, etc, it isn't for everyone and the only way to find out is to dive in. Sadly, versatile units are not readily available on the cheap. The kink is a comparatively expensive one if you find you really enjoy it and upgrade to the juicier units.
posted by munchingzombie at 2:19 PM on November 17, 2008

I suggest you check out smartstim.com
posted by majikstreet at 2:21 PM on November 17, 2008

google "violet wand"
posted by gnutron at 3:15 PM on November 17, 2008

Please start reading Uncle Abdul's page; by all means experiment on yourself first. The idea of electrical play polarizes an audience, IME: some people have a horrified fascination and others are just horrified.

Starting with an all-in-one unit is pretty cheap but as with buying a wrench vs. a socket set you may find you require more versatile toys including ones you make yourself. For that you should have a TENS box like this. (I have one of these and it is OK, but carry spare 9V batteries).

Sex toys are enablers. Not even the most technically exacting usage is a good substitute for imagination and playfulness. The sensations you can get from a well-applied TENS unit can be intense but whether that's intense bad or intense good is up to the players.

I have a prejudice against any toy that has a wall-wart adapter for AC power lines and would never use one. Take apart a wall wart sometime and decide whether you want to risk your life on never having a sneak circuit through the craftsmanship you see in there.
posted by jet_silver at 3:56 PM on November 17, 2008

Recommendations for non-skeezy brick-and-mortar shops in Chicago where I can talk to experienced sales staff about this would be appreciated.

Leather Sport on Halsted, near Belmont. I can't google it because I'm at work. There's another store on Halsted that *might* sell them - I want to say Tulips?

Also, search for Galleria Domain 2 or Leather SINS. Both are Chicago BDSM organizations/play spaces that have periodic educational events. Again, can't google, but there's a decent chance there's something coming up that's related to electrical play.

If you can wait until Memorial Day (!!) there is a huge expo of BDSM gear, including electro-stim stuff at IML (NSFW). However, Leather SINS will almost definitely have an educational expo before then, probably around Valentine's Day.
posted by desjardins at 4:15 PM on November 17, 2008

gnutron: A violet wand is going to be pretty useless for "hands-free orgasms." I personally haven't witnessed someone orgasming through e-stim alone, though my experience isn't that extensive. (FWIW, I've been the giver of stimulation, not the recipient, though I do try everything on myself first.)

I did learn not to take the pads off before turning off the power to the unit. :) No damage done, just some apparently really painful sensation and a delicious yelping that the neighbors may have heard.

Seriously, try before you buy. Hang out with a BDSM crowd, get to trust people, and present yourself as a willing e-stim victim - I've known plenty of people with toys that just love to use them on anyone who will consent.
posted by desjardins at 4:23 PM on November 17, 2008

Thanks for the feedback (and PM responses), everyone. It's clear that I have a lot of learning and reading yet to do, but for the moment here are a few responses:

gnutron: google "violet wand"

"Hello, police? Yes, Nikola Tesla has broken into my bedroom..."

jet_silver: Sex toys are enablers. Not even the most technically exacting usage is a good substitute for imagination and playfulness.

Agree 100%. Toys are just that: embellishments to the main event.

jet_silver: I have a prejudice against any toy that has a wall-wart adapter for AC power lines and would never use one. Take apart a wall wart sometime and decide whether you want to risk your life on never having a sneak circuit through the craftsmanship you see in there.

Hmm, noted and appreciated.

desjardins: Leather Sport ... [Tulip] ... Galleria Domain 2 ... Leather SINS ... IML

Leather Sport is on my list of places to investigate, as are Mephisto Leathers at Clark & Devon and the workshops at Early to Bed. I know a few folks from Tulip but unless they've added to their catalog recently ... oh, whoops, they have.

desjardins: Seriously, try before you buy. Hang out with a BDSM crowd, get to trust people, and present yourself as a willing e-stim victim - I've known plenty of people with toys that just love to use them on anyone who will consent.[Emphasis added]

Good advice there.

Again, thanks everyone for all the advice so far. Keep it, er, coming. (tee-hee)
posted by fracas at 5:39 PM on November 17, 2008

You mentioned that you have a hard time climaxing. I know this is tangential, but: are you circumcised? If so, consider keeping your glans covered - during the day - for a week or two. If it works, it will improve whatever other method you choose to climax. If this works out for you, there is a latex product that acts something like a synthetic foreskin, and allows for easy urination. It is removed before sex, however.I used gentle medical tape to pull my foreskin remnant over my glans. If you urinate frequently, you may need to tape your remnant around a smooth tube. If you are without a remnant, you'll have to find the aforementioned product. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it's called. Good luck!
posted by bone.eater at 7:14 PM on November 17, 2008