I’ve heard a decent amount about sex toy brand Hot Octopuss from my male friends, but it wasn’t until the Pulse Duo arrived on my doorstep that I had my first experience with its products. I was excited to give it a try because I love penis toys that both partners can enjoy.

The Pulse Duo isn’t a cock ring—at least not in the traditional sense—it does help produce longer and stronger erections. More of a sleeve than a ring, the person with the penis wears the Pulse Duo while dry humping or gyrating up against a partner with the vulva. In other words, this isn’t a device to be worn during penetration, nor would the size and shape allow for such a possibility. Instead, it’s to be used in a way that gives both partners another avenue of sexual pleasure to explore: frottage.

The inside of the Pulse Duo doesn’t just contain vibrations (there are seven patterns to choose from) and texture, but there’s also an oscillating plate that stimulates the frenulum of the penis. On the outside of the Pulse Duo, there’s a grinding hump that exudes strong vibrations. It’s here that the person with the vulva rubs their body, or more specifically their clitoris, against the Pulse Duo. In doing this, it not only arouses the person with the vulva, increasing natural lubrication in some cases, but also brings them closer to an orgasm—if that’s their sexual goal.

An Important Tool

I found the Pulse Duo to be hard, uncomfortable, and not a device I’ll likely use again. But while that’s my personal experience, Pulse Duo is an essential sexual aid device. As someone who has many friends with vulvas who struggle to enjoy penetrative sex because of pain, the Pulse Duo offers a level of intimacy without penetration that other products don’t.

As much as it’s not talked about or, even worse, sometimes dismissed when brought up, painful intercourse for those with vulvas isn’t uncommon. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as many as 75 percent of people with vulvas will have painful intercourse at some point in their lives. For some, this may be something that pops up from time to time, while others may have medical conditions that prevent them from having pain-free intercourse.

It’s for these people that a device like the Pulse Duo comes into play. It offers the illusion of penetrative sex, as well as the eye contact and the intimacy, while giving both partners what they need: a stimulated clitoris and a stimulated penis. Water-based lube, both on the vulva and on the Pulse Duo, intensifies this feeling for both partners. I should also point out that the remote control for Pulse Duo is excellent. It’s not just easy to use but also extremely tactical, so even if you’re not looking directly at it, your fingers can scope out what each of the four buttons is for.