Ask the Doctors: Is My Hitachi Causing This Blister?

I have developed a very painful blister next to my clitoris. My gyn said it looks like an ulcer and has given me a tube of steroid cream to apply. It’s somewhat better, but still there. She wants to do a biopsy (ouch) to make sure it’s nothing to worry about too much. Question: could this have been caused by my friend Magic Wand? We do visit quite a bit… ever heard of anything like this? Thanks

Thanks for your question! Of course I’m neither an MD nor someone who can diagnose from afar, so I definitely defer to your physician’s decision to test the lesion on your genitals. You also don’t say how long it’s been under treatment, whether you have continued to use the Hitachi during that time, or whether there might be any other external reason for the blister (tight panties with latex elastic might conceivably be enough to cause something like this if you were allergic to latex, and you might want to  mention this idea to your doc).

I am very familiar with Hitachis, however. And I can tell you that even frequent and intense use of these pleasure devices is not likely to be the cause of your ailment. Here’s why. It would of course be possible to rub something against a body part long enough to cause a blister–it happens all the time with new shoes. But a person rarely uses her vibe as long as she wears her not-yet-broken-in footwear! And that level of pressure and rubbing would hurt. The body has a feedback loop and uses pain to tell you to stop the action that’s leading to the pain response, and long before your body would respond with a blister, your mind has said “Owwww!” and directed your arm to lighten up on the pressure or switch the thing off.

So your doctor’s decision to check the blister is probably a good one–it might be something bacterial or otherwise treatable, or something you need to watch–and a biopsy may not be as painful as you’re worried it will be; if it’s an intensive procedure (as opposed to a swab, which would not be terribly ouchy), you can talk to your doc about how she plans to palliate the discomfort with anesthetic and aftercare. And after the procedure, best to lay off the Magic Wand until it heals up, since using a vibrator over broken skin is not a good idea.

We’re dedicated to getting you the information you need about sex, pleasure and your health. If you have any questions, please email our staff experts, Dr. Carol Queen and Dr. Charlie Glickman, at education@goodvibes.com! For product-related questions, please email our customer service staff at customerservice@goodvibes.com.

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