opinion

Playing Doctor: Medical Play for All Experience Levels

Playing Doctor: Medical Play for All Experience Levels

Have you ever played doctor? Most of us have at one point or another. Maybe it was decades ago as an innocent childhood game or it was last weekend when your Bumble date took a naughty, playful spin. Playing doctor is one of the most common sexual roleplays, and for good reason: It naturally lends itself to dominant/submissive power exchange. Medical roleplay also allows for an infinite amount of exploration and creativity; the desire to be examined and cared for is common, as is the curiosity that drives exploration. Medical play is also perfect for people of all experience levels, and couples new to roleplay can find it just as satisfying as hardcore medical fetishists.

Medical scenes can be adapted to nearly any scenario, and you can recommend sex toys that may or may not have an obvious medical aesthetic. With so many possibilities at shoppers’ fingertips, it may be difficult for them to zero in on what they want to try first or next; play can range from a simple examination to full-on gyno fetish, enema play, electrosex and more. So be sure to keep an open mind when recommending products and get creative with ideas.

The main part of a medical scene is usually the examination. While we can do a lot with our hands, simple medical tools can kick the exam into high gear.

This type of roleplay is also perfectly suited for BDSM; by default, the doctor/patient relationship incorporates dominance and submission. It also often contains a good dose of humiliation, bondage, pain, sensory deprivation, or fear. When in doubt, take shoppers to your store’s BDSM section and start exploring.

Open Up and Say ‘Ahhhh’

The main part of a medical scene is usually the examination. While we can do a lot with our hands, simple medical tools can kick the exam into high gear. Using a Stainless Steel Speculum or Anal Hole Spreader from Kink Industries, or Petal Pusher Silicone Labia Spreader from Frisky, on a willing patient is a wonderful place to start. These kinds of items increase feelings of vulnerability and submission in an instant. They also leave the subject feeling wide open both literally and metaphorically. These tools also expose sensitive areas for the next step in the exam — therapeutic, orgasmic treatment.

The eroticism of medical play is often associated with the accessories found in medical settings. For this reason, hospital-themed bondage gear can really add to a scene and we recommend Strict Leather for shoppers looking for the highest-quality items. The look of Strict Leather Padded Hospital Style Restraints with their brown straps and hospital-white padding can put a patient into the right headspace upon sight. For more extreme scenes, a hood or a full straight jacket does the trick.

A number of common BDSM toys were adapted from real clinical tools, making them ideal for examination scenes and no-brainer recommendations to curious shoppers. The Cheek Retractor Dental Mouth Gag from Master Series is similar to retractors found in dental offices; it holds the patient’s mouth open and ready for probing. There’s also the Wartenberg pinwheel, a tool originally developed by neurologist Dr. Wartenberg to gauge nerve reactions. In medical play “exams,” users can roll the wheel sensually over the inner thigh, stomach, nipples or anywhere they wish to “test.”

Kicking It Up a Notch With General BDSM Items

Electrosex toys are a natural fit for medical play. The Electric Wartenberg Wheel Estim Kit from Zeus. Electrosex is an all-in-one unit that can up the pinwheel game. Rather than only having to worry about the pokes from the wheel, the patient now must contend with sensual shocks and zaps, too. Similarly, the Conductor Electro Conductive Estim Gloves can make a doctor’s innocent probing erotically exhilarating. For sadomasochistic play, crank up the juice to test patient endurance during medical experiments.

Breast exams lend themselves to sexy medical play. The Breast Cupping System from Size Matters is designed to engorge the breasts via a hand-pumped suction mechanism, which temporarily enlarges the breasts and increases their sensitivity. After pumping, users can “test” the nipples with a set of Bondage Ring Barrel Clamps from Master Series to gauge their patient’s response to the cupping “procedure.”

Although normally used for general play, the Silicone Open Flow Top Douche and Enema Bag from Clean Stream looks as if it came straight out of a doctor’s office. With this traditional enema bag look, users can incorporate enema play into any medical scene. Whether they’re using it to clean out their patient for some deep anal probing or as the main procedure, enema play is a natural choice.

When it comes down to it, almost any sex or BDSM toy can be adapted to medical play, so don’t be afraid to make a variety of recommendations from different sections of your store. A vibrator and set of wrist restraints may be all your customers need. Perhaps their patient is having trouble with reflexes – they may determine they need to be tied down and have the nerves in the most sensitive parts of their body massaged as a therapeutic measure. Or maybe they’re overdue for their routine checkup and need every part of their body thoroughly probed and examined. What couples interested in this kind of roleplay need most when creating dynamic medical-themed sex scenes is a vivid imagination and the right tools. Sometimes one medical-themed piece is enough to inspire a creative roleplay. Before you know it, you may discover renewed purpose for some of the more classic vanilla products in your store!

Rebecca Weinberg is the general manager of XR Brands, which specializes in fetish and BDSM with full-spectrum product development and design to create a series of fully merchandised collections dedicated to the lifestyle.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

trends

Meet the Up-and-Coming Pleasure Brands of 2025

Over the past year, the pleasure industry has witnessed the emergence of new brands across various adult retail categories — brands that are now entering 2025 with ambitious goals for success and growth in their sophomore year.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Nefertiti Mitchell

Local retailers are the backbone of the pleasure industry. Driven by passionate business owners who are deeply dedicated to sexual wellness, brick-and-mortar stores serve as safe spaces that uplift and delight customers — while greasing the wheels of commerce for manufacturers and distributors.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Industry Vet Mike Savage Discusses Comeback, Goals With Full Circle Distribution

"We never know where life’s going to take us,” says Mike Savage. He should know. The pleasure biz veteran, who describes himself as “a poor Irish kid from Philly,” first made his name in the adult retail biz over the course of a nearly 40-year career.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

Sensually Yours Founder Shellee Rose on Boosting Sex Positivity in Hawaii

Honolulu pleasure store Sensually Yours has served Hawaii for 40 years, establishing itself as a top destination for adult products. Founder and President Shellee Rose says her most important strategy for achieving four decades of success has been prioritizing customers.

Quinton Bellamie ·
profile

Gregory Dorcel on Building Upon His Brand's Signature Legacy

“Whether reflected in the storyline or the cast or even the locations, the entertainment we deliver is based on fantasy,” he elaborates. “Our business is not, and never has been, reality. People who are buying our content aren’t expecting reality, or direct contact with stars like you can have with OnlyFans,” he says.

Jeff Dana ·
opinion

Westridge Labs Celebrates the History, Future of ID Lubricants Brand

If you work in adult retail, you know ID Lubricants. With its classic, clear bottles and consumer-friendly pricing, ID has maintained a home on brick-and-mortar shelves since the brand’s inception, way back when physical stores were still the name of the pleasure game.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

A Look at the Implications of Texas' Potential Big-Box Sex Toy Ban

Imagine walking into your local big-box retailer, a place where you’ve come to expect accessibility and convenience, only to find that sexual wellness products — an essential part of your wellness journey — are no longer available. This scenario could soon become a reality in Texas, where a proposed bill aims to ban the sale of these products in mainstream retail spaces.

Ian Kulp ·
opinion

Identifying, Implementing Adult Retail Tech Solutions to Boost Business

Technology is the great enabler. For nearly every business goal, there’s a tech solution that can help make it achievable. The catch? You can’t do it all — at least not all at once. But you can pick one or two areas to focus on, then execute a strategy that yields results.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

Examining the Obstacles of Operating an Adult Business in India

The sexual wellness market in India is projected to experience significant growth in the coming years, yet sex remains taboo in this country of 1.3 billion people. Legal and cultural barriers prevent open discussions around sex.

Raj Armani ·
opinion

How Pleasure Brands, Retailers Can Tap Into the Popularity of 'Romantasy' Erotic Lit

Fans of the “Bat Boys” and demon-born princes alike, rejoice! Sarah J. Maas took 2024 by storm, claiming the title of bestselling author of the year with her raunchy “romantasy” novels, partly thanks to BookTok. With millions of fans worldwide, Maas’ works aren’t just dominating bestseller lists; they’re also encouraging people to embrace role-play and fantasy in their own sex lives.

Scarlett Ward ·
Show More