Yes, you can desensitize your vulva with your vibrator — but these 3 things will prevent you from going too numb

• Using a vibrator the exact same way during sex or masturbation can make your genitals used to it.
• This desensitization could make it difficult to reach orgasm in other ways, but that doesn't mean it's bad or wrong, an OBGYN said.
• Desensitization from sex toys is temporary, but a lasting lack of genital sensation could signal a nerve-related problem.

If you've developed a close relationship with your vibrator, you might find it difficult to reach orgasm without it.

But that doesn't mean you need to toss out your beloved toy, Aimee Eyvazzadeh, an OBGYN and medical advisor for Proov, told Insider.

A vibrator is a common tool to help women to experience more satisfying orgasms more often, but many women fear that their reliance on the sex toy could be causing irreparable harm, according to sex therapist Sarah Berry.

While it's possible to use one so frequently someone's genitals become desensitized, or used to that specific feeling, it's rare and not a cause for concern, Eyvazzadeh told Insider.

She said that feelings of sexual shame or inadequacy, often fueled by a societal focus on penetrative male-centered sex, could wrongly make women feel guilty for their vibrator use. But regularly reaching for your Rabbit doesn't suggest anything about you, your sexual abilities, or self-pleasure strategies, Eyvazzadeh said.

"If a regular vibrator user has sex or masturbates without it and realizes they have more difficulty reaching orgasm, then they should use it," Eyvazzadeh told Insider.

Desensitization is normal and nothing to be ashamed about, OBGYNs say

There's a difference between temporary desensitization and nerve damage that needs medical attention, but vibrators aren't the cause, according to Eyvazzadeh.

Using a vibrator in the same position or at the same frequency or pressure every time you masturbate can make your brain and body used to that particular type of stimulation, desensitizing it to other types of touch, according to Eyvazzadeh.

"It just means that someone's used to a certain feeling, which can be completely benign," Eyvazzadeh said.

Unless someone uses their vibrator in an unintended way, like scraping the genitals or hitting them with force, it's highly unlikely they'll damage the area, according to gynecologist Amir Marashi.

According to Eyvazzadeh, there are some conditions that lead to serious genital nerve damage, like pudendal neuralgia, but vibrators aren't the cause. As long as someone uses a vibrator "in moderation," which can still be every day, their genitals will be fine, she said.

Take a brief break from your vibrator, use a lower setting, or try it in different areas

If you miss the sensations your vibrator provided when you first started using it, Eyvazzadeh suggested going vibrator-free for an extended period of time while you masturbate without a toy.

Your body will become unfamiliar with that particular sensation over a period of hours or days, depending on the person, which could make your return to vibrator-fueled orgasms feel extra satisfying, Eyvazzadeh said.

If you tend to use the highest setting on your vibrator, or a particular vibrational pattern, switching it up could help undo your body's conditioning to that specific touch, according to sex researcher Zhana Vrangalova. 

"The nerve endings in the genital area get so used to this very high and fast vibration—they get conditioned, in a way—that slower and less-intense sensations just don't do the trick," Vranglova told Well+Good.

Experimenting with different kinds of touch, whether with your hands or a sex toy, is another way to overcome temporary desensitization and find more ways to experience pleasure, she said.