Where Can I Use My Tools? Introducing Pleasure Charts, a Resource for Doctors and Patients

On what part of my body can I use Cerē’s tools? How should I use them?

All of our sexual wellness tools come with instructions on the inside of the telescoping box. (See how our boxes open here.)

But feel free to think outside of the box! Each of the tools can be used in creative ways, solo or with a partner.  They are designed to be used on the erogenous zones.

What are erogenous zones?

Erogenous zones are regions of the body that are very sensitive. Stimulating these areas can lead to feelings of pleasure.

Common erogenous zones include the vulva (especially the clitoris), lower third of the vagina, penis, rectum, mouth, neck, ears, chest, abdomen, arms, and inner thighs. But keep in mind, what feels pleasurable to one person might not feel pleasurable to another.

What are Pleasure Charts? How can doctors use them to help patients?

There’s no right or wrong way to position our sexual health tools – just experiment until you identify what feels most pleasurable for you. As long as you’re being safe, they can be used on any of the erogenous zones.

We made evidence-based diagrams to offer guidance about where to experiment with two of our most popular tools: the Spellbound Stimulator and Wand. At Cerē, we call these diagrams Pleasure Charts.

Charts can be found in almost every doctor’s office. Wouldn’t it be great if Pleasure Charts were there as well?

As physicians at Cerē, we are developing tools to facilitate conversations between doctors and patients about sexual wellness tools.

We think Pleasure Charts will help normalize these conversations, and offer guidance to doctors and patients alike.

We developed the following Pleasure Charts after reviewing research about the Topography of Human Erogenous Zones, and assessing the features of our sexual wellness tools (vibration, suction, etc.). 

 

How often do doctors talk with their patients about sexual health concerns? How does Cerē aim to facilitate these discussions?

Sexual wellness has long been overlooked as a vital pillar of overall health. Longstanding social stigma around female sexuality has created a gap in medical training and literacy on the subject. Today, many adult women in the United States go without equitable medical counseling and care for sexual health. Surprisingly, most physicians do not receive adequate guidance for these conversations during their medical training. Without proper care, direction, and community, women will continue to feel disempowered ashamed about their sexual wellness.

According to several studies conducted in the U.S. and abroad, most women do not discuss their sexual concerns with their physician. This was the case across different age groups, races/ethnicities, sexual orientations, education levels, and relationship statuses. Many women attribute their reluctance to initiate these conversations due to feeling embarrassed. Some patients might not view their sexual concerns as health issues. Another study revealed that 59% of women believed that their healthcare providers were not interested in their “vaginal problems.” Of the women who did bring their sexual health concerns to their physician’s attention, one-third believed that their concerns were not taken seriously or adequately addressed. Moreover, since women’s sexual health has not been explicitly championed by any one particular specialty, women might not know where to seek help.

If patients are reluctant to initiate conversations about sexual wellness, then physicians are tasked with starting these discussions. Unfortunately, this rarely occurs. There are several reasons why healthcare providers do not initiate these conversations. Many physicians cite the lack of time in short office visits. When they do broach the topic, some report detecting a sense of discomfort from patients. Of note, many physicians report feeling inadequately trained to have these conversations. A 2016 review of residency and fellowship curricula revealed that only a few programs included objectives related to sexual health. These objectives are often vague: OB/GYN residents receive training in infertility, contraception, high-risk sexual behavior, and menopause; Family Medicine residents receive guidance in “teaching of human sexuality.”

Because conversations around sexual health and wellness are not normalized, women experiencing painful sex, decreased libido or pleasure are unlikely to have their concerns addressed by a physician. By failing to recognize that these symptoms are abnormal, physicians inadvertently convey that intercourse that is painful or unpleasurable is normal or inevitable. Given the current state, is not surprising that many women and people with female anatomy don’t view their sexual health as a necessity.

By being the first physician-founded sexual wellness company, with tools engineered by a team consisting of an OB/GYN, and a chemist/engineer-turned-doctor, we aim to normalize conversations about sexual health. Our line of sexual wellness tools (which come in sleek packaging inspired by medical products) and Pleasure Charts are just the start.