Editing Sexual stimulation (section)

===Genital===
[[File:Erogenous zones of an adult female and adult male.jpg|thumb|Erogenous zones listed on a man and woman]]
[[Masturbation]], [[erotic massage]], and [[Non-penetrative sex#Manual sex|manual sex]] are types of physical stimulation involving the genitals. This stimulation is usually from sensitive [[Somatosensory system|touch receptors]] in the skin or other erogenous zones, which detect when they're being touched. [[Sexual arousal|Arousal]] is triggered through these receptors in these body parts,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schober |first1=Justine M. |last2=Pfaff |first2=Donald |author-link2=Donald W. Pfaff |date=2007 |title=The neurophysiology of sexual arousal |journal=Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=445–461 |doi=10.1016/j.beem.2007.04.006 |issn=1521-690X |pmid=17875491}}</ref> which cause the release of pleasure-causing chemicals ([[endorphin]]s) that act as mental rewards to pursue such stimulation. Someone may become aroused by simply touching another person, though the [[bulbocavernosus reflex]] only occurs when a sexual organ (penis or clitoris) is stimulated.<ref name="Wheeless">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-07-22 |title=Bulbocavernosus Reflex |url=https://www.wheelessonline.com/bones/bulbocavernosus-reflex/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics |language=en-US}}</ref>

One study found that women benefit more from pleasurable sex with a committed partner, while gender did not impact the relationship with masturbation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Goodman |first1=Rachel E. |last2=Snoeyink |first2=Megan J. |last3=Martinez |first3=Larry R. |date=2022-12-15 |title=Conceptualizing Sexual Pleasure at Home as a Work-Related Stress Recovery Activity |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2022.2150138 |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |volume=61 |issue=2 |language=en |pages=184–195 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2022.2150138 |issn=0022-4499 |oclc=9711069013 |pmid=36519736|url-access=subscription }}</ref> 

The purpose of [[sex toy]]s is to provide pleasure and stimulation through an alternative route than just using people's bodies. They can be used by someone on their own, with partnered sex, or group sex. They can be exciting and provide new types of stimulation that the body cannot produce, such as vibrations.

Sex toys have been used as a source of sexual stimulation for thousands of years. There have been [[dildo]]s found from the [[Paleolithic|Palaeolithic era]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=2005-07-25 |title=Ancient Phallus Unearthed in Cave. |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4713323.stm }}</ref> made of [[siltstone]] and polished to a high gloss. Dildos were also made of camel dung and coated with resin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Christina |first=Eva |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SFcWmcGLXJ4C |title=The Book of Kink: Sex Beyond the Missionary |publisher=Tarcher Perigree |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-101-54509-6 |location=New York |oclc=883308309}}</ref> Historians are uncertain whether these have been used for [[religious ritual]]s or for personal pleasure. It is known that dildos were used for [[fertility ritual]]s,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/sex-toy|title=The long, strange history of sex toys.|work=Alternet |date=2013-06-19|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=2018-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110080435/https://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/sex-toy}}</ref> however. The [[ancient Greeks]] created their dildos from a carved penis covered in leather or animal intestines to create a more natural feel.<ref name=":1" /> The Romans created double-ended dildos for use with a partner. Ancient Chinese dildos were made of [[bronze]] or other metals and some were hollow allowing them to be filled with liquid to simulate an [[ejaculation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=van Driel |first=Mels |title=With the hand: a cultural history of masturbation |publisher=Reaktion Books. |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-86189-957-6 |editor-last=Vincent |editor-first=Paul |location=London |oclc=1055406389}}</ref> These were used because wealthy Chinese men would often have too many wives to please. In Persia, it was thought that the blood of the [[hymen]] was [[Ritually impure|unclean]], and should be avoided by husbands. On the night before a woman's wedding, a local holy man would come and break her hymen with a large stone dildo, a ritual also used to confirm the virginity of the bride.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Monger |first=George Peter |title=Marriage customs of the world: from henna to honeymoons |publisher=ABC-Clio |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-57607-987-4 |edition=2nd |location=California |oclc=879074157}}</ref>