NOTE (added May 10, 2013, the day after this blog entry first appeared): We received this note, from which we have redacted the name of the teacher and the school. The school is in Indiana, USA):
May I start by saying I have enjoyed using your website for educational purposes for my 5th graders. I was shocked today though to see the story about vibrators. I had to stop my 5th graders and ask them to continue on to the next website on their list and cross that one off. Please consider keeping the material clean and fit for educational purposes. I would love to be able to let the kids surf on the site.
Sincerely,
[name redacted]
Computer Teacher
[name redacted] Christian School
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A note was sent to journalists, in an attempt to create what’s known as “buzz”. One of those journalists sent it to us. Here’s the text of that note, with identifying info removed:
Subject: OPPORTUNITY: Leading ____ OB/GYN Prescribes Vibrators as Alternative to Hormone Therapy
How are you? I wanted to gauge your interest in unique story: I’m working with Dr. ____, a leading OB/GYN from ____, for an alternative, non-hormonal approach to help peri-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal women ward off pelvic conditions: vibrators.
While most people today wouldn’t think of vibrators as medical aids–ironic since the devices were first created by Victorian era doctors to cure women of “hysteria”–the reality is, vibrators offer more benefits than just orgasms (although that is a nice side effect, clearly). Dr. ____ is one of the first nationally-known gynecologists to tout the preventive and therapeutic benefits for women and deflect any embarrassment or stigmas about using a vibrator. Sexual stimulation, particularly dual stimulation products like the ____ that Dr. ____ recommends to her patients, increase blood flow and help release natural hormones and prevent conditions ranging from sexual dysfunction, painful sex and vaginal atrophy to incontinence. Like any muscle: If you don’t use it, you lose it.
Deterioration is particularly common as more middle age or older women find themselves in situations where they aren’t sexually active (single, divorced, widowed or aren’t having regular sex with partners). Dr. ____ is working to educate women that vibrators aren’t something to be embarrassed about–and in fact, they’re a great option to keep them healthy, particularly if hormonal therapy isn’t an option.
Does this sound of interest? I would love to facilitate an interview with Dr. ____. Her bio is below. Please let me know either way. Thanks!
(Thanks to Ivan Oransky for bringing this to our attention. Thanks to Denise Graveline for the wholly appropriate, if only partly wholesome, pun on “buzz”.)