Beyond pleasure: exploring the role of sex toys in female sexual functioning and wellbeing—From enhancement to functional necessity

Background: Sex toy use is a common yet complex component of female sexuality, often serving dual roles as an enhancement tool or a functional necessity. Grounded in a biopsychosocial framework, this study examined the associations between sex toy usage patterns, sexual functioning, and sexual risk behaviors in young adult women. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 199 female university students using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Sexual Risk Survey (SRS), and a study-specific questionnaire on erotic accessory usage. Results: Over 50% of women reported using sex toys during masturbation, and 30% integrated them into partnered activity. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that while the 'perceived necessity of a sex toy for orgasm' was a significant independent negative predictor for specific FSFI domains- arousal, lubrication and orgasm -it did not independently predict the total FSFI score. Furthermore, frequent toy use during masturbation emerged as an independent positive predictor of FSFI arousal domain. Higher frequency of sex toy use across both solo and partnered contexts was independently associated with an increased propensity for sexually risky behaviors across all SRS domains. Conclusions: Incorporating erotic accessories serves as a positive intimacy-enhancing strategy in stable relationships, while subjective reliance on these devices represents a functional adaptation to reach physiological thresholds rather than a marker of global sexual impairment. The correlation between frequent usage and elevated sexual risk scores underscores the need for stigma-sensitive sexual health education focused on safe exploration and hygiene.