Application of Sex Aids in Men With Sexual Dysfunction: A Review

Background: Although sex aids have been used in clinical practice for ages, the scientific literature assessing their application in men with sexual dysfunction is limited. Aim: To summarize medical literature regarding scientific uses of the most common sex aids in men with sexual dysfunction and assess their clinical applicability. Methods: An extensive literature review was performed with regard to the use of sex aids in sexual medicine. Our search included journal articles, books, and guidelines in different databases: Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane. The key words were "sex aids," "sex toys," "pornography," "lubricants," "constriction bands," "dildos," "vibrators," "vacuum devices," "external penile devices," and "sex swings" were searched. Date of last search was December 4, 2018. Main outcome measures: We assessed the utility of sex aids in men with sexual dysfunction and formulated recommendations for clinicians. Results: Various sex aids are available for men with sexual dysfunction. We present a comprehensive review of the most common sex aids currently available: pornography, lubricants, constriction bands, dildos, vibrators, vacuum devices, external erectile support devices, and aids to positioning. We discuss their indications, outcomes, precautions, and complications. Clinical implications: This review is intended to provide sexual medicine practitioners and academics an overview of sex aids for men with sexual dysfunction for use in both clinical practice and research. Strengths & limitations: This is a compilation of scientific data for a topic that has broad application in sexual medicine and yet has been poorly addressed in the scientific literature. Because of the lack of sufficient data and the heterogeneous nature of different sex aids, a systematic review could not be performed. Conclusion: Having a comprehensive understanding of the sexual dynamics of individuals and couples combined with the appropriate integration of sex aids may have a positive effect in the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions.