Hello there!
My name is Renee, and I am the Senior Store Manager at Sh! , the UK’s first truly female-focused sex shop. Founded by Kathryn Hoyle 25 years ago, the shop is located in Hoxton Square and still very much focused on women’s pleasure. I have been with the company for over a decade, and I suppose you could say my hobby became my job!
Whilst sex should be associated with pleasure (and most often is), for many that is simply not the case. And for that reason, I’m delighted to be visiting the Vaginismus Network today – it is such an important topic and I look forward to seeing this website grow as more and more women find out about it.
Over the years, we have met thousands of women with Vaginismus and through this, we came to realise this condition is much more common than you may think. The problem is that many (most?) women don’t feel comfortable talking openly about their experiences of painful sex, and often end up feeling alone and isolated as a result.
We decided to do something about this.
We created Vaginismus Awareness Day on 15th September 2016 and in time for this day; we launched the world’s first soft silicone vibrating dilating kit!
After having spoken to so many (so many!) women about the dilators available to them, we found that many thought the NHS dilators were too plastic, too blunt and even too painful to use. So naturally, we set about designing dilators with women’s comfort in mind.
It took a while, but the end result was definitely worth the wait: four dilators in graduating size, flexible shafts, tapered tips and pièce de résistance: a wide base where a small vibrating bullet slots in!
Vibration helps to relax tense nerve endings and can make the process easier, the discomfort less and of course, it can also offer pleasure – an important component, I’m sure you’ll agree!
Each dilator is hand-poured in our studio in London. We use only silicone, which is non-porous and hypo-allergenic, meaning it is the very best material for intimate products. It warms up to body temperature, and it is easy peasy to keep clean.
Lubrication is really important when it comes to vaginal comfort and painfree sex, and for this reason we always include sample sachets of lube with the Sh! Soft Silicone Dilating Kits. We also have our own range of water-based lubes in store; Pure Lube and Pure Plus Lube. I recommend giving Pure Plus a go, especially if extra moisture is needed. The thickness of Pure Plus adds a nice, padded layer between finger or dilator and the delicate skin on the vulva or in the vagina. This should help keep pain to a minimum.
It is also important to work on arousal, so I recommend purchasing or downloading a good erotic book or sexy clip – whatever you prefer. An aroused body makes insertion easier, as the vagina expands when a woman is aroused.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at Renee@sh-womenstore.com.
Alternatively, you can pop into our shop on 57 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB (Monday – Sunday 12-8pm) and speak to a member of staff. We have a friendly all-female team, who are always ready with a cuppa!
Before I sign off, I’d like to say **Thank You* to Lisa and Kat for inviting me to the Vaginsimus Network!
Renee xx