Why Valentine’s Day Satisfaction Depends on Your Partner

How well your Valentine’s Day goes often depends on whether your partner meets your expectations. Every relationship faces this challenge to some extent, but there’s a group of men who’ve removed that unpredictability from their love lives—they’re the ones who date sex dolls.

Sex Dolls: Companions Beyond Stereotypes

Most people assume sex dolls are cold, emotionless female toys, and that men who use them are lonely weirdos who just pound plastic vaginas. But the online community “The Doll Forum,” with over 18,000 members, paints a very different picture of these doll owners—who prefer to be called “sex doll enthusiasts.” For them, sex dolls mean far more than sex; they mean companionship. The reasons they love their dolls vary—from easing social anxiety to simply having someone they can truly trust.

A poll on The Doll Forum found that 50% of people bought dolls for reasons unrelated to sex. About 7% said they just wanted a doll to cuddle and sleep with, while 11% admitted they prefer dolls over real humans.

Real Stories: Loneliness, Emotions, and the Bond with Dolls

Lemm, a doll owner, told VICE, “My two daughters sleep with me at night, and I see them when I wake up in the morning.” He was referring to his two dolls, Nunoko Hara and Kylie Sutula. “When I come home, they’re there, smiling, patiently waiting for me. No drama, no pain—just care and acceptance.”

Lemm believes his connection to his dolls comes from childhood trauma. “I was the chubby kid next door who got teased all the time,” he explained. “I didn’t lash out anymore; I just became really introverted. I started creating a world filled with imaginary friends, and I think that’s why I’m so obsessed with lifelike replicas.”

Nunoko is modeled after Akiko’s stuffed animal and has a “wild side,” while Kylie, weighing 65 pounds, is his “private island beauty.” Lemm says Kylie is a tribute to his ex-wife, who holds a very special place in his heart. “She was someone I saved once. I blame myself for how that marriage ended—I was stupid, careless.”

Another male doll owner named Mandy said he doesn’t even think of his two daughters as dolls but rather as “adult daughters”—a substitute family. “I wish I had a real partner,” he admitted, “but dating feels too stressful. I have prostate issues that cause erectile dysfunction, and if I got married, I’d lose my retirement benefits—telling that to a real woman? That’s hard to accept.”

These life-sized dolls don’t just help with masturbation—they ease loneliness. Many men come home and talk to their dolls, enjoying their company and even admitting they have real emotional bonds with them.

Puma Uma owns a doll named Maria. He says, even though he knows Maria isn’t real, her presence heals him and brings him happiness. “It’s like a husband seeing his wife and kids come home. You know, I’m the same way—someone at home awaits me.” Puma says his days with Maria are his best—applying makeup, cuddling up on the couch, maybe seeing a movie together. “Girlfriend stuff is like a dream that I had no idea existed.”.

Like many others, Puma’s story comes from a rough upbringing. “I’ve dealt with a lot of anxiety and find it hard to be around real women,” he said. “I had a mental breakdown not long ago, and spending about a month with Maria made me feel pretty happy. It’s like a middle ground—you have someone, but you know she’s not really there.”

A Psychologist’s View: Satisfaction Over Right or Wrong

Melbourne psychologist Dr. Gabriel Rusu told VICE that although relationships with dolls are unusual, he wouldn’t discourage his patients if they feel satisfied.

“What right do I have to say what’s right or wrong?” Dr. Rusu explained. “In my practice, I follow my patients’ needs. Whether their habits bother them or not, I respect their choices. My personal judgment isn’t always the right guide.”

Breaking Stigma: Embracing the Diverse Needs of Sex Doll Consumers

Sex dolls will never become the generally accepted way of exploring sex and emotion, and hobbyists know that. To the stigma attached to dolls, Puma Uma responded with the following remarks on the negative image being put on them. “We are referred to as perverts, freaks, sex addicts, or even rapists,” he said. “But we all have our respective reasons for keeping dolls. Because you don’t understand doesn’t mean you can judge us.”