Products Addressing the Pleasure Gap

Everyone should be equal in their ability to feel sexual pleasure. While stimulation needs may vary between people, the ability to orgasm is a universal desire that everyone is capable of feeling. When looking at cis-heterosexual sexual interactions, the reality is, there is a large gap in the ability to experience pleasure to orgasm between men and women. This gap is so big, that men are 20-50% more likely to orgasm in partnered interactions whereas women are four times more likely to say they have not had pleasurable sex in the last year. 

But how can this be fixed? Multiple companies have begun taking initiative in battling this pleasure gap and, in some cases, have found great success! Here are some products and corresponding initiatives that can help you regain control of your pleasure!

Kip Silicone Vibrator - Dame Products - $89.95

Helping lead the charge in closing the pleasure gap is Dame Products, a company founded by Alexandra Fine (CEO, Sexologist) and Janet Lieberman (CPO, Engineer.) Dame stands for inclusivity on all fronts; focusing on initiatives surrounding reproductive rights, gender equality and survivor advocacy. They let this message translate into their luxury products based on sexual pleasure. 

The Kip vibrator is one of these products and features a unique design made specifically to help deliver stimulation with both broad and pinpoint accuracy. Made from medical grade silicone, the Kip has a soft body and flexible flutter tip with rounded edges and a cupped face, allowing for it to better shape to the vulva. It comes with 5 different vibrations at 5 different intensities. With it being so ergonomic, it is easy to maneuver and sits comfortably in your hand without being bulky. These designs are specifically made with vulva pleasure in mind in an effort to help push pleasure equality and close the pleasure gap. 

Read all about Dame and their initiatives through their wellness site https://swell.damewellness.co! 

Majesty 2 - Vush - $119.95

Based in Australia, Vush is a brand with nearly identical values as Dame in their desire for pleasure equality. With a message based on normalizing sexuality and its correlation to self care and self love, breaking stigmas surrounding sexual health is an important goal in their work. In doing this, they engineered a select few products that are specifically designed to put pleasure first for vulva owners. They developed the Majesty 2, a rechargeable wand style vibrator with 50 combinations of vibration levels and intensities. Waterproof and made of medical grade silicone, it is incredibly soft and is designed to be compact and powerful. It is small enough to be comfortable to use with a partner as well as not being bulky enough to be uncomfortable during solo use! The Majesty 2 was even featured in Cardi B’s music video, “Up.”

To read more about Vush’s initiatives in normalizing the topic of sexual health and pleasure, check out their wellness site, https://www.selflovenation.com! 

Impulse Intimate E-Stimulator Remote Kegel Exerciser - CalExotics - $99.99

One of the oldest and most recognizable brands on the market, CalExotics is a female founded company that has been prioritizing vulva focused pleasure for decades. Part of their Impulse line of electro-stimulation vibrators is the Remote Kegel Exerciser, a wireless vibrator that also features a small electronic charge that will zap the inner walls of the vagina. Preset with 7 different vibration functions and 5 additional, independently controlled, electro stim functions, this E-Stim vibrator has the ability to stimulate in unique ways, putting pleasurable sensations first. 

Kegel products also help tone, strengthen, and tighten pelvic floor muscles, making orgasms much more intense. By adding E-Stim to the area, similar to external muscle stimulators, electronic pulses can help increase muscle activation, aiding in strengthening the pelvic floor. Made of primarily silicone and a metallic plating, the Kegel Exerciser is both smooth and comfortable for long term use. With the combinations possible from the mix of shocks and vibrations, it can provide a niche amount of stimulation pushing pleasure to the forefront of each use!

Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation - Satisfyer - $89.99

Our most highly reviewed clitoral stimulator, the Satisfyer Pro 2 Next Generation is one of the most popular toys on the market right now. Featuring a 4.7/5 star average and 94% of people recommending it to a friend, the Pro 2 NG is paving the way for clitoral stimulation to be the focus of new toys and to show that, for many, effective clitoral stimulation can be the make or break point for orgasming in many vulva owners. 

It’s hard plastic exterior is a little large, but makes it easy to grip when using in the shower or bath and utilizing its waterproof design. The softer silicone tip is shaped like an oval, allowing for the device to rest well between the labia and over the clit. This suction and vibration mixture also lightly stimulates the areas surrounding the opening, giving a much broader sensation as well. It also features a magnetic charging port for its 11 programs. The over 100 reviews can’t be wrong, when it comes to clitoral pleasure, the Pro 2 NG should be at the top of your list of considerations.

CG Nip Nibs Cooling Arousal Balm Classic Brands - $10.95

If direct stimulation to your genitals isn’t your preferred way of getting pleasure, the Nip Nibs Arousal Balm by Classic Brands might help you get the additional stimulation you need to reach a satisfying orgasm. 

Pleasure can stem from multiple sources, so utilizing additional sensations in areas like your nipples may aid in your overall experience. Nip Nibs is a nipple stimulant balm that gives cooling and tingling sensations to the area applied. This means that you could even use it in other places you might be sensitive, like your neck or other erogenous zones. Think of it as an aid that could bring additional pleasures to masturbating or your sexual interactions, making things more satisfying overall. 

The pleasure gap is an unfair reality between cis-heterosexual people, but luckily there is a growing awareness surrounding this issue and people have taken the initiative to create change. With these sex positive and pleasure forward companies becoming more mainstream, as well as people actively taking back their pleasure in their relationships, the pleasure gap may shrink over time. For this to happen, people must continue to be aware and work towards pleasure being equal in the bedroom, and not just end after the first person orgasms.

Strokers are a great tool to use for penial stimulation. While some are designed to give it the look and feel of real skin, others take more initiative to offer different and unique sensations that can aid in its use to give you a mind blowing orgasm. This is the idea behind the CalExotics Optimum Power Pulsar Stroker and many other products within the CalExotics Optimum line. 

Overview:

The Pulsar is one of the high end powered strokers within the Optimum line. Designed to be a luxury stroker, it features many different functions for the user to explore while still using it as a standard stroker. With four different vibration settings, 3 preset levels of suction as well as a manual suction and air release button, there are plenty of different combinations to discover. It includes a soft, interior sleeve and charging via USB-C. While the casing is not waterproof, the sleeve is and can be removed for easy cleaning. The easy touch pad keeps controls simple with 5 buttons, one for powering the device, buttons dedicated to both preset vibration and suction settings, and both the manual suction and air release buttons. It advertises itself at roughly 1.5 hours of runtime at low speed and can be charged fully within two hours!

Build Quality:

After opening the box, the first thing I noticed was the weight of the Pulsar. While not extremely heavy, it’s enough to surprise you, but it ultimately feels premium and of solid materials. The case is made of a hard external plastic that is easy to grip and fits comfortably in the hand. However, people with smaller hands might find it to be a little too large to comfortably grasp for long periods of time. It features two flat ends as well, so storing it upright is easy rather than letting it roll around under the bed or on a nightstand. 

Located on the back of the device, right under the manual suction button, is the charging port. The placement is good, and with the protective overlay, it seems well protected from lubed up fingers while in use, although the overlay feels flimsy and may tear off easily. The buttons are soft and click well with embedded designs for their use. The cap at the end, protecting and preserving the internal sleeve when not in use, fits well with a slight locking ‘click’ when removing or replacing it. 

The sleeve is incredibly soft and squishy with plenty of ripples and bumps to provide stimulation. It does feel relatively easy to tear if too aggressive with cleaning. There is also a ring around the outside of the sleeve opening in order to help preserve its shape which is extremely well crafted, though it does make stretching out the sleeve for cleaning much more difficult.

Performance:

When being used as a stand alone stroker, without any additional uses, it feels just like any other one on the market. It’s soft design makes it comfortable to use and its closed back is pretty standard. The buttons are very satisfying with an audible ‘click’ and immediate additional stimulation. The motor is housed in the far end of the external shell, making the vibration setting most prominent the deeper you go. The suction, however, can be felt around the entirety of the penis, and it is pretty strong. The presets are nice, but the manual suction is where you can tailor it to your own liking while consistently altering the air release to immerse yourself in a new type of stimulation. At a high enough setting, it can be difficult to even stroke with it still. The vibration alone left a lot to be desired. It’s too tame to get much stimulation from it on its own, but it does provide a nice addition to the suction when it’s at its highest setting, though still not much more to set it apart.

My Experience:

Strokers alone are pretty tame for me, but after some time exploring what the Pulsar can offer, I can confidently recommend it due to my own enjoyment. It took a little bit to get used to, but with enough exploring of the settings, it’s easy to find a way to give yourself the best stimulation. I was very impressed with the suction itself; It was powerful and didn’t feel unnatural. When using the suction midway down the shaft, it was so powerful that it would slowly suck me in further. Even with a curved penis, it didn’t feel uncomfortable. At the absolute highest setting, it did feel a bit tight, but not enough that it hurt. 

While the individual presets were nice, I found myself using the manual controls the most. It helped me use it the way I enjoy being stimulated rather than being locked into the presets. I was, however, disappointed in the lack of powerful vibration. I feel that if the vibration came from the sides rather than the tip, it would have been a much better sensation. Regardless, it didn’t give me enough additional stimulation to warrant using it on its own. 

The couple issues I do have are minor for the most part. The suction may be powerful, but if you attempt to stroke while using it, any gap lets out a loud “fart” from the air being released and that, as I’m sure you could guess, takes you out of the moment. My other gripe is cleaning. The device itself isn’t waterproof, so any lube you may get on the sides of the outer case cannot be rinsed off easily. The outer ring around the opening is great when in use, but it does not allow for easy cleaning by flipping the sleeve inside out like most other strokers. Any attempt at trying or simply stretching the sleeve made me think it was going to tear, so cleaning the inside of the sleeve was very difficult. Other than those minor flaws, it’s still very nice to use.

Ultimately, the CalExotics Optimum Power Pulsar Stroker is a very nice stroker to have at your disposal. It provides a unique pleasure experience that many other strokers will not give you. While there are still some flaws in its design, I don’t think that they are prominent enough to make you avoid this product entirely. If you are a penis owner that gains any type of satisfaction from suction, I highly recommend that you consider the Pulsar in your next shopping trip.

Enjoy 20% off all Optimum products by CalExotics during the month of June.

 

There’s only one day left in Masturbation Month and that means only one more day to nominate someone who you think deserves to be given an extra hand! Our “Give Her a Hand” promotion is to help showcase all those people who deserve a little extra in their pleasure journey. Whether it be a friend who is a single parent throughout these trying times or someone who is always there for you when you need it, we want to give THEM the chance to win an Evolved Novelties vibrator valued at over $100! There will be 50 different winners so chances of winning are high! The rules are simple, head on over and follow our Instagram account, @lionsdenadult , and find our original post for the promotion (Hint: it was posted around mid-May). Then, simply like the post and comment who you think is most deserving! Boom, three steps and you’re done. Can’t get any easier than that, right? Well, it might be a little bit more difficult because you have less than 24 hours left! Nominations close tonight, May 31st, 2021, at 11:59pm EST, so make sure you get them in before midnight on the east coast! Eligible individuals MUST be 18 years or older with a valid Instagram account prior to the beginning of the contest period. They must also have internet access to receive notifications on if they win or not. For more rules and regulations, check them out at https://www.lionsden.com/contestrules!

Whether it’s initiating sexual interaction with a partner, keeping it going in the moment, or even in a solo session, sometimes you might need a little help to enhance your experience for the better. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and, over time, it becomes much more common as people get older. Luckily, there are numerous different products available to help anywhere you might need it, such as desensitizing lubricants, pheromone oils, or even lotions that can enhance your experience. These products aren’t just limited to people who need help though, so be sure to consider them when looking for new ways to potentially improve your sexual activities!

Desensitizing Products:

Perfect for anyone who might be prone to overstimulation or may prematurely ejaculate, desensitizing gels, lubricants and other styles have become increasingly popular. The properties within these products allow for the user to feel a wide variety of sensations. Many balms help numb specific areas, such as the clitoris, for a short period of time to protect from over stimulation. Others act as a lubricant that can be slightly absorbed into the designated area while still providing a slick surface for intercourse. Both share similar properties, but have different uses. There are even some that can help affect your throat in order to perform oral sex without gagging or feeling strain on your tongue or jaw.

Pheromone Products:

These types of products can come in many forms. Through the use of oils, colognes and perfumes, or other scented items, pheromone products play into the body’s natural response to this chemical, attracting you to the scent or other person. There have been studies that show evidence linking these pheromones to aphrodisiacs in a way that make them extremely similar. While it may not induce sexual attractions between you and another person, it can potentially help build up confidence when interacting with others as well as improve sexual satisfaction if the situation arises. These scents and oils often mix with your own body’s natural pheromones creating a unique scent specific to you. This you’ll find most effective with a partner, but pheromones can help when you're masturbating as well.

Temperature Variant Products:

Sometimes, regular stimulation is satisfying, but just a little more could bring it from good to great. Temperature variant products like heating and cooling lubricants can be extremely useful in providing additional sensations that may be the missing piece in finding total satisfaction. While some are much more intense than others, some can provide a mixed effect, like variant condoms that provide heat for one person and cooling for the other. It is important to note that these are unique materials that allow for this type of effect, so make sure that you are not allergic or overly sensitive to them before use. Also, these products are specially made for the body and safe for intimate use, DO NOT use any muscle relaxing temperature variant patches, sprays or creams as an alternative.

These various enhancement products can be very useful in both personal and partner use when it comes to exploring new sensations. While for some they may not be necessary, for others they can be the thing that helps make sex or masturbation pleasurable again. Luckily, for the remainder of the month of May, 2021, Jelique is on sale for 20% off and features a wide variety of these products both in store and online. Be sure to consider them before your next shopping trip!

Not everyone likes the same stimulation when it comes to masturbating. For many penis owners, masturbation has always been strictly through stroking the shaft until orgasm. But did you know, even with a straightforward approach like that, that it can be varied even further? Stroking alone doesn’t need to be the only way you masturbate, so let’s look into even more ways of self pleasure with a penis!

Vibration:

Vibrators are often associated solely with vulva-centered pleasure, but there are just as many uses for penis owners as well! Depending on where you are most sensitive, vibration can be an incredibly effective way to enhance your stroking methods, or even receive pleasure without the need to stroke. Specialized vibrators are made that can surround common sensitive areas like the penial glans (penis head), or be more focused on areas such as the frenulum. Some even act as a cock ring as well, increasing sensitivity while extending duration. An often overlooked area where these vibrations could be effective is the perineum, as this can provide sensations between the anus and scrotum. In some cases, this can even help stimulate the prostate without having to penetrate your anus!

Sounding:

Urethral sounding can be a terrifying concept at first, and it is not for everyone, but for many people it is the gateway to many more pleasurable sensations than they could have dreamed of! Sounding is when you carefully insert a long rod into your uretral, penetrating your penis. Some are smaller and act as a plug of sorts, while others are longer and can go much deeper into your body. This provides a stimulation unlike any other that can help stimulate areas where you otherwise will never be able to be stimulated. Training sets are commonly found and can include various girths to help meet your needs, whether it be to stretch or to simply fit snugly in your urethra. While many are made of metal, there are some made of high grade, flexible silicone to make it easier to start with. Be sure to ALWAYS completely sanitize your sounds in boiling water for the safest experience.

Edging:

Prolonging your orgasm over time isn’t something that can only be utilized by penis owners, as this can be done with vulva owners as well, but for many, it may be something you’ve never experienced or considered! With roots in the kink community, edging is when you bring yourself close to climax without pushing yourself past that point of no return. By building yourself up, you experience the same pleasurable sensations that you would by normally masturbating, only extended by the amount of times you edge. The more you do it, the more pleasure you gain, making the climax even more satisfying. This can even be used as a way to practice lasting longer with a partner by teaching yourself the proper ways of holding back, slowing down and focusing on the lasting sensations that don’t occur just while actively masturbating, but during the entire experience.

Masturbation for penis owners is often mistaken as a very straightforward activity. One where your options are solely left hand, right hand and how fast you go, but it doesn’t need to be so basic. By utilizing other methods, you can discover many other forms of self pleasure that you may not have experienced before and can bring an orgasm like no other. Don’t be afraid to try new techniques or to branch out with things you may have never thought of, you never know what kind of pleasure can come from it!

Exploring your body and the things that bring you pleasure is an important part in discovering your sexuality. For some, masturbation may look one way, while for others it can look completely different. Specific sensations might be necessary to hit your erogenous zones just right for you to have a mind-blowing orgasm. This could be due to being overly sensitive somewhere or even needing more intense pressure. No matter what you need to be satisfied, here are some other ways to consider getting that proper stimulation you crave!

Shower Head Stimulation:

That detachable shower head has more uses than just for rinsing off and a makeshift microphone, it can also be your best friend for stimulation in the shower! Water is completely body safe and it allows for many different sensations based on the type of settings it has. The narrower settings shoot out water aggressively for a sharper, more direct sensation which can be more in tune with a vibration. Wider ones, on the other hand, have more of a pulsating sensation due to the lower pressure of the water coming out. There are even some settings with a mix of the two to find the perfect balance.

Stimulating the Senses:

Pleasure isn’t just the body’s response to physical sensations, it’s also heavily influenced by stimulating your senses! Putting yourself in various settings prior or after masturbating can often help your attempt at pleasuring yourself. For some, an elegant, sexier atmosphere set by a lit candle, sensual bath and all those movie-esk scenes might be exactly what they need to be relaxed enough to masturbate. For others, it can be much more intense like the smell of leather and the crack of a whip that puts them in that mindset. Whatever you need to set that mood, utilize it to the best of your ability. While you might not need it all the time, these little sensations brought on by playing with your senses can be a great addition to any solo or mutual masturbation session!

Grinding:

Sometimes direct stimulation to your genitals can be too intense. Whether you’re overly sensitive in a specific area, have pain, or are blocked by other reasons, you might need something a little gentler and not so aggressive. Grinding is something you can do, even while clothed, to help give a different sensation while rubbing against something like a couch armrest. With a mix of your body weight and movement to create this pressure, you can allow yourself to move naturally to match what sensations you crave in that moment, similarly to if you were doing it with a partner. If done while wearing clothes, the barrier can provide a gentler sensation that isn’t as intense directly grinding with your genitals exposed. This can be great at preventing overstimulation or if you have medical reasons that prevent you from directly stimulating the area. This can also be great to utilize with a partner if you are practicing abstinence, masturbating together, starting foreplay or cannot have sex for other reasons.

Pleasure can come from multiple different sources depending on the person. Some may need straightforward stimulation directly to their erogenous zones while for others it might be a little more complex. When these endorphins are buzzing, it doesn’t matter how you got there, only the pleasure you’re experiencing is important. Whether it’s a mix of the mental and physical, or strictly one or the other, the possibilities are endless and subjective to you and what you derive your pleasure from, so if you’re having trouble finding that sweet spot, don’t be afraid to try something new!

Being apart from your partner(s) can be difficult. Apart from missing out on dates, late night cuddles, and every other moment you cherish, that desire for sexual stimulation doesn’t go away. Mutual masturbation is a powerful tool for stimulation within a relationship, not only in person, but also with long distance! But how can mutual masturbation be sexy and just as stimulating without being right there with your partner? 

Voice or Video Calls!

Sometimes all you need to feel that intimacy you crave with a partner is their soothing voice on the other end of the line. Utilizing mutual masturbation while talking on the phone can bring you to notice even the slightest reactions you may not pick up before. Hearing their breathing change as they stimulate themselves or maybe the little moans you don’t think about in the moment can be heightened by the inability to see them, similarly to a blindfold. When in a video call, you may gain sight, but muting yourself or your partner and forcing them to strictly view or be silenced can also be a powerful tool to utilize. And that leads to...

Power Exchange Play!

Power exchange is a common practice within the kink and BDSM community where one person has a more authoritative role over their partner. This doesn’t need to be done in a way that is extreme or demeaning of your partner, but can be simple and sexy. In fact, it doesn’t need to include masturbation or direct genital stimulation at all! Requesting your partner to wear a specific outfit that day or suggesting that they treat themselves for all the hard work they’ve done when you know they deserve a break. In more direct cases, consensually instructing your partner to touch themselves in a specific way while in a private and more intimate setting can add an additional layer to phone sex while making it more personal as well. Especially while hearing it in their voice, with your eyes closed, it could even trick your mind into thinking they are actually the ones doing it themselves!

Remote Couple’s Toys!

Toy companies keep pushing for new innovative ways to impress their customers, and one of the latest trends with wireless toys is the inclusion of apps that can be used in place of a remote. These apps often utilize bluetooth to directly connect to the device, then use wifi or LTE to connect to your partner’s phone, even from around the world! This means that no matter the time of day or distance, you can directly control the stimulation your partner feels when using these products. With brands like Svakom, WeVibe, and many others leading the charge to make pleasure more accessible and discreet, trying this type of play with a partner is becoming easier and easier. You can use it to tease over a long period of time or to help achieve a quick orgasm with a wide variety of styles like prostate massagers, internal vibrators, cock rings and more. Many of these apps also allow for direct message capabilities as well as video calling through the app itself, making it easy to utilize those methods at the same time. This is one of the best ways to directly stimulate your partner over long distances!

As hard as distance can be with a partner, there are plenty of ways to still interact with them in an intimate setting. With toys, other means of contact, and consensually playing with each other's thoughts, you won’t have to be truly alone when exploring your sexual needs. Mutual masturbation might be the method for you, but remember, you don’t need to have a partner to enjoy all of the pleasures that masturbation can help you discover!