In ancient times, husbands would often direct their wives to physicians when the women experienced anxiety, mood swings, and depression. These physicians would diagnose the condition as “hysteria” and recommend a remedy involving a procedure called a “pelvic massage,” which aimed to induce what we now understand as an orgasmic response.
The demand for “hysteria treatment” among female patients became so significant that doctors would find themselves fatigued and with shaky hands by the end of each day’s work. To tackle this issue, they developed a practical apparatus that produced rhythmic vibrations, streamlining the process of achieving a hysterical paroxysm without relying on manual massage.
This marked the birth of the vibrator. During that time, this device was seen as a therapeutic tool; even wealthier women kept it at home for moments when they perceived “hysteria episodes.”