Women finding pleasure in rose toy

Fascinated by her new toy, Tracey*, a 28-year-old call centre agent, finds herself reaching for her bag regularly in order to indulge in sexual pleasure. Her rose, a suction and vibration-based sex toy, has captivated her. It has become a sensation among women like Tracey, who affectionately refers to it as a 'soul snatcher'.

"I'm not one for penetrative sex, so I often have to pretend to enjoy it to spare my husband's feelings," she said.

But since getting her rose, Tracey has been hooked.

"It's like the rose snatch mi soul, man cannot beat it," she shared.

Dr Elon Thompson, a prominent urologist, noted an increase in men seeking help for erectile dysfunction (ED) but wasn't certain if it related to the toy's popularity. He highlighted various reasons behind women embracing the toy, from curiosity to dissatisfaction with their partners and societal trends.

"You can argue that you are seeing more coming in with ED, but you would have to do studies to identify if the rose is the cause," Thompson told THE WEEKEND STAR.

"Women will tell you different reasons they use it, including the desire to satisfy their curiosity. Also, that their partners are not meeting their expectation sexually. We also have to look at and understand that societal trends add to why there is an uptick in the demand for a product," he reasoned.

Alecia*, who regularly incorporates the rose into her sexual experiences, sees it as a symbol of her independence.

"The rose is so good. When I use it, it feels like fireworks goes off in my body. Every woman should have one. My partner uses it on me as well, and when it is combined with penetrative sex, mi feel like mi head a burst. My boyfriend gets turned on just watching my reaction and he knows that he doesn't have to worry about me cheating because the sex is bomb," she said.

The product retails for about $US 22 on the popular e-commerce platform Amazon.com. A staggering 76 per cent of persons who wrote reviews on the product gave it five-star ratings. One of the users wrote the following: "A review on a sex toy is not something I would normally do . My husband and I are in our 70s our children out of the house. I googled sex toys just as a curiosity. I decided to order one. Wow it has added a new layer to our sex life!! Yes people in their 70s still enjoy sex. We are very very satisfied So if you are wondering if a sex toy is for you give it a try."

Locally, Pat* intrigued by the rave reviews, eagerly purchased the rose. Despite finding the sensations intense, she wasn't sure if she'd reached climax.

"I've used it twice, and though the sensations are powerful, I'm not sure if I've orgasmed. What I do know is it makes me feel like I need to pee. My friend called it 'squirting,' but I'm not convinced. Midway through, I had to dash to the bathroom," she chuckled.

But while many females have been having fun with the rose, some of their partners are not thrilled about this newfound craze. One woman had her toy destroyed by an enraged partner who felt threatened.

"My boyfriend cut it up when he found it, claiming it was inviting 'sex demons' and that nothing beats him. I'll replace it, though--it's my little indulgence," she said, undeterred.

*Names changed to protect identities