The release of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2011 corresponded with a notable rise in the number of emergency room visits attributed to sex toy-related injuries, according to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). While it can’t be proven that the book itself is responsible for the increase in toy use and injury, it’s pretty clear that the inclusion of a little kink in the bedroom is becoming more mainstream. Partners who decide to use sex toys should take steps to ensure proper vaginal, anal and penile care.
Increase in Injuries
The increase in reported injuries from sex toy use is not entirely new, but a trend that has been documented since the 1990’s. In 2009, researchers from the University of Alabama School of Public Health published a study that found the number of injuries from such products to have doubled from 2.41 per million people in 1995 to 5.46 per million in 2006. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission show that, between 2011 and 2012, the number of people going to the emergency room for toy-related injuries jumped from about 1,800 to over 2,500.
Who’s Most Affected?
According to the CPSC data, men are slightly more likely to report to emergency rooms with sex toy-related injuries, accounting for 58% of all such emergency Sexshop Lisboa room visits. The median age for injured men is 44, whereas, for women, it’s 30.
What Type of Injuries?
According to the earlier 2009 study:
– 74% involved a vibrator
– 13% involved a dildo
– 2% involved a ring
– 11% involved a different toy
– 78% of injuries were anorectal
– 18% involved the penis or vagina
According to the CPSC data, 83% of injuries reported involved “foreign body removal.” These bits of information combined suggest that most people who are getting injured from sex toy use are doing so by getting the toys stuck inside them, especially in the rear entrance, something that can be prevented with a couple safety steps.