Dr. Shannon Chavez > Articles > Sex > National Sex Toy Day: Doctor’s Orders for a Curious, Comfortable, Pleasure-Positive Practice
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National Sex Toy Day: Doctor’s Orders for a Curious, Comfortable, Pleasure-Positive Practice

National Sex Toy Day: Doctor’s Orders for a Curious, Comfortable, Pleasure-Positive Practice

It’s National Sex Toy Day, which means one thing in my practice: we talk about pleasure with the same respect we give to sleep, nutrition, and mental health. Toys aren’t gimmicks, they’re tools, for learning your body, expanding communication with partners, and supporting comfort and function.

Today’s “pleasure prescription” follows a simple path: start soft, build sensation, pair curiosity with comfort. Last week I mentioned my favorite warm-up cue, the feather test. If a feather would feel too intense, your body isn’t ready yet. Begin at the lightest touch, let your nervous system say yes, and then add pressure, speed, texture, or vibration.

Below is a hand-picked set of pleasure products that support exploration across sensations, anatomies, and contexts.

1) Rhythm and body-mapping for men

Dame – Peach Vibrating Stroker

Great for learning rhythm, experimenting with edging, and building awareness of what kind of stimulation your body prefers. Think of it as a guided exploratory session for pleasure, try slower pulses, then steady vibration, then find patterns that help you relax or build arousal. Solo training often translates to more confidence and clearer communication with a partner.

This Peach from @dameproducts is part of a growing movement in men’s sexual wellness, helping men approach self-pleasure with mindfulness, curiosity, and intention.

Peach Vibrating Stroker

TENGA – “Masturbate better” mindset

@tenga_global designs encourage men to slow down and reconnect with their bodies through mindful self-pleasure. Their ergonomic shapes and textured details make each session a chance to tune into sensation rather than chase performance.

Doctor’s advice: “I coach men to treat solo time like practice, not performance, breathe, slow down, notice what changes when you adjust angle, pressure, or lube. That curiosity is a skill you carry into partnered sex.”
By reframing masturbation as intentional exploration, TENGA helps men build confidence, awareness, and emotional connection, proving that better pleasure starts with better understanding.

Tenga United States Store

2) Sensation play and arousal layering

Sportsheets – Peaches N’ Creame Kiss Crop

Pleasure is about curiosity, not control. The Peaches N’ Creame Kiss Crop invites partners to explore sensation play through gentle rhythm, trust, and communication. Start with the feather test, warm the body with touch, then introduce light taps to awaken new layers of arousal. The goal isn’t intensity, it’s awareness, noticing how anticipation and tempo change your connection.

Doctor’s advice: “Use sensation play to build emotional and physical trust. Start slow, check in, and focus on how your body responds. Pleasure should expand your comfort zone, not overwhelm it.”

Bondage Crops

3) Precision, portability, and external focus

LELO DOT™ Travel

Touch is communication, and small details often make the biggest difference. The LELO DOT™ Travel offers focused, rhythmic pulses that encourage mindful touch, exploring the clitoris, frenulum, or nipples with intention rather than rush. Its precision makes it ideal for practicing presence, layering breath with vibration, and reconnecting to how your body expresses pleasure.

Doctor’s advice: “Treat vibration as guidance, not goal. Use it to slow down, breathe, and stay present with sensation. The more awareness you bring to touch, the more your body learns what feels safe and satisfying.”

Clitoral Pinpoint Vibrator

4) Comfort is sexy: hydrate and soothe

Playground – Miracle Melts Hydrating Insert

Comfort isn’t optional, it’s foundational to sexual wellness. The Miracle Melts Hydrating Insert by @helloplayground, a brand co-founded by the one and only Christina Aguilera, helps soothe, nourish, and hydrate vaginal tissue for better everyday comfort and more ease during intimacy. Whether you’re managing vaginal dryness related to perimenopause, menopause, postpartum recovery, or medication use, these pH-balanced inserts restore natural moisture while supporting overall vaginal health.

Miracle Melts

Doctor’s tip: If you experience dryness, support hydration routinely, not just “right before.” Your body will thank you.

5) Make it a ritual, not a one-off

Womanizer – Romance Calendar
Pleasure deepens with consistency. The Romance Calendar from @womanizer_global transforms exploration into a daily ritual, offering small invitations to reconnect with your body and curiosity. Whether solo or with a partner, each moment becomes a check-in, an opportunity to notice what’s shifting, healing, or awakening.

Doctor’s advice: “Think of pleasure as self-study. When you return to it regularly, you build trust with your body. You learn its language, and that’s where true intimacy begins.”

24 Days of Pleasure Premium Advent Calendar

6) Deeper connection and shared vibration

iroha – SVR & SVR+ Smart Vibe Rings

For couples ready to explore pleasure together, the iroha SVR and SVR+ rings bring a new language of connection. Compact, gorgeously designed, and whisper-quiet, they amplify sensation for both partners while keeping closeness at the center. With five vibration strengths and three rhythmic modes, the SVR+ offers 1.5× more power than the original, yet remains soft, body-safe, and beautifully discreet.

Think of it as a pulse of intimacy you can share anywhere: deeper communication, synchronized rhythm, and pleasure that feels mutual by design.
Partnered Use Products

The Feather-to-Focus Method

(try this tonight)

  1. Feather check: Begin with the lightest touch. If a feather would feel like “too much,” you need more warm-up.
  2. Breathe and ground: Slow inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth. Notice where your body already feels safe.
  3. Layer sensation: Hands first, then a light tool (e.g., Kiss Crop), then targeted vibration (LELO DOT™ Travel), then rhythmic stroking (Dame Peach).
  4. Hydrate tissue where needed: If vaginal dryness is present, use Playground Miracle Melts proactively. Comfort = access to pleasure.
  5. Experiment with pacing: Try “slow-quick-slow,” add pauses, change angles. Take mental notes.
  6. Debrief kindly: What worked, what didn’t, what you’re curious to try next time. Share with a partner if relevant.

As we explore pleasure through presence and practice, it’s important to remember this movement isn’t just personal, it’s global. Around the world, conversations about sexual wellness, pleasure, and body awareness are growing louder, more informed, and more compassionate.

Global Pleasure Insights

Safety, consent, and care

  • Consent and communication are the baseline, with yourself and with partners. “Red/yellow/green” check-ins help keep play within your window of tolerance.
  • Hygiene matters: Clean toys as directed, use water-based lubricant unless a product specifies otherwise, and store toys properly.
  • Pelvic health is part of pleasure: If you experience pain, persistent dryness, or pelvic floor tension, seek guidance from a qualified clinician.

Final word from your Trusted Hollywood Sex Therapist

Pleasure is not a luxury, it’s nervous-system care, emotional connection, and body literacy.

On National Sex Toy Day, give yourself permission to start soft, build sensation, and choose tools that support comfort, curiosity, and joy.

If you want a personalized plan, whether for solo exploration, partner communication, or pelvic comfort, book a session. We’ll make your pleasure practice feel informed, gentle, and doable.

— Dr. Shannon Chavez, Licensed Psychologist & Sex Therapist

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