I am a creature of habit. I like my 15 minutes of TikTok time in bed every morning. I like my lil yogurt bowl with granola, berries, and peanut butter. I own ten pairs of the same high-waisted underwear in different colors, so I always have comfy panties. And before bed, I open my bedside drawer, pull out my cute lil vibe, and catch an O before I catch some Z’s.
But when I casually mentioned my nightly masturbation routine to a friend, she warned me that doing it every night can damage my ability to orgasm?? You can… masturbate away your ability to finish?? Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought this. Various Very Scientific Sources — AKA Reddit, TikTok, and the brunch table — have said the same thing.
I couldn’t help but wonder… is using a vibrator every night actually the worst thing you can do for your orgasms? So I put on my blue-light glasses, panic messaged a bunch of sex experts under the guise of “article research,” and got to the bottom of this buzzy myth. MythBusters: Vibrator Justice Edition.
Is It Bad To Use A Vibrator Daily?
The moment of truth. For this, Betches turned to Annabelle Knight, sex and relationship expert at Lovehoney.
“What’s really happening is that your body becomes familiar with a certain type of stimulation,” Annabelle reveals. “If you only use a super-powerful wand vibrator in the same way every time, then yes — your body might begin to expect that level or style of sensation. But it’s not permanent or damaging. You just need to reintroduce variety!”
So, What Is the Problem With Using a Vibrator Every Night?
Spoiler alert: You’re not going to damage your clitoris. Let’s just get that rumor out of the way. Using the same vibrator over and over doesn’t physically mess with your parts — it’s more about what’s happening in your brain.
Samantha Marshall, Head of Brand and in-house sex educator at Smile Makers Collection, clarifies that your clit is safe.
“The short answer is no, not permanently,” Samantha reassures. “You may feel temporarily less sensitive if you frequently use intense stimulation, but this usually resets with a break or by changing the type of sensation.”
Betches spoke to SheSpot’s resident sexologist, Emily King, to further separate fact from fiction:
“Through habitual behavior in self-pleasure, you can become used to a particular way of reaching orgasm, making it trickier to orgasm in other ways. The brain learns pleasure through neuroplasticity, which gives us the ongoing ability to transform our experience of pleasure in response to stimulation. Diversifying the touch you explore will strengthen the connection you have to pleasure — as well as improve brain health!”
Basically: your clit’s fine. But your brain wants a little spice.
Should You Take Breaks From Masturbation?
Denise Kratzenberg, co-founder of CHEEX, urges us to check where this question is even coming from.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to female pleasure. If you’re wondering whether you masturbate too much or too little, that question alone often reflects how much shame and confusion still surround sexual wellness in our culture.”
Maybe we’re all convinced we’re damaging our clits beyond repair because we still see masturbation as shameful — rather than a totally natural, loving, and hot thing to do.
“Instead of judging yourself, try to get curious,” Denise says. “Why do I feel like I need a break, or like I should be doing it more? Are you feeling disconnected from the experience? Wanting to change up your routine? Looking to explore intimacy in a new way? These are all valid reasons to check in with yourself.”
TL;DR: Masturbate as often or as little as you want, bestie. Once in the morning or every night isn’t a problem. But if you want to keep your orgasms powerful and vibing, it’s worth mixing things up. Here’s how.
How Can We Keep Orgasms Fresh?
Set the mood
Sometimes you just want a quick O before sleep — fair. But when you do have time and energy, do something different! Light a candle, play some sexy music, wear lingerie for yourself, go over the covers if you usually go under. Occasionally, I even give myself an afternooner. Because why not???
Mix up how you use your toy
“It can be easy to get into a rut with your vibrator if you find it orgasm-reliable,” says Renée Denyer, sex educator at Sh! “But using your fave toy in a new position, trying a different setting, or exploring a whole new vibe (pun intended) can teach you new ways to experience orgasmic pleasure.”
Luv some lube
We often think of lube as something we either sorely need or don’t, or something reserved for partner play. But lube can actually be a simple way to mix up self-pleasure!
“Lube can also make a big difference, especially if you’re playing regularly,” Annabelle explains. “It helps reduce friction, increase comfort, and can even heighten sensitivity – making everything feel better and less likely to lead to overstimulation.”
Get curious
“Try moving your body in new ways, slowing down, and tuning into the subtleties of sensation,” Denise suggests. “What actually turns you on? What environments, thoughts, or fantasies light you up? Get curious about how your body, mind, and arousal are all connected. Sometimes the most liberating thing you can do is give yourself full permission to explore that.”
Different inspiration
You don’t have to change what you’re using — just what’s around it. I’m usually a “scenarios in my head” girlie, but when I want to switch it up, I’ll read something spicy, watch ethical porn, or maybe even indulge in some phone sex with a situationship.
“Ethical porn can be a fantastic way to spark new fantasies and keep things exciting,” Denise explains. “On CHEEX, we even offer full masterclasses led by sexperts to help you reconnect with your body, explore new techniques, and expand your pleasure repertoire.”
Try a different setting (literally)
Not a location. I mean, literally try a different setting on your vibrator. Most have multiple modes nowadays.
“Women and vulva owners tend to fall into one of two camps: those who need high-pitched thrills to orgasm, and those who need deep, rumbly stimulation,” says Renée. “If a bullet vibrator feels like an angry mosquito, a suction toy or wand might be a game-changer. Or vice versa — if deep throbbing doesn’t work for you, a high-frequency vibe might make your toes curl in the best way.”
New toy, who dis?
Not to play into Big Vibe’s marketing agenda, but yes, having more than one toy is a good thing. It’ll make them last longer, wear out less, and keep things fresh for the sexy parts of your brain.
Consider owning a clit sucker and a bullet vibrator. Or a rabbit vibrator and an internal toy. Also, did someone say finger vibrator? Rotate them like outfits. You’re not stuck with just one pleasure tool for life — this isn’t The Bachelor.
There’s nothing wrong with using a vibrator every night — unless you start to notice it’s the only thing that works. Think of orgasms like working out: switching things up keeps your muscles (and brain) more engaged. You don’t need to take breaks out of fear, but if you’re starting to feel a little stuck in your routine, that’s a good reason to explore new sensations.
