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From the treatment of "hysteria" to the symbol of sexual autonomy
One of the central moments of the program will be the special guided tours, "The history of the female orgasm," led by the museum’s sexologist, Sigrid Cervera, as part of her educational and cultural project Art and Sexology.
During the tour, visitors will discover how, during the 19th century, many doctors diagnosed numerous women with so-called "female hysteria" and what this diagnosis actually has to do with the history of the vibrator.
Those devices, which today seem almost unusual, represent one of the most surprising chapters in the history of sexuality and help us understand how the way of understanding women’s bodies, pleasure, and sexuality has radically changed. The tour will also cover the technological and cultural evolution of the vibrator until it became an object associated with well-being, bodily autonomy, and the claim to female pleasure.
The orgasm: less pressure and more knowledge
The program also seeks to dismantle some of the most widespread myths about the orgasm.
"For decades, we have turned orgasm into a sort of final exam of sexuality, when in reality it is part of a much broader experience," explains Sigrid Cervera, sexologist at the Erotic Museum of Barcelona (MEB).
From a sexological counseling perspective, Cervera reminds us that each person experiences pleasure differently, that there is no single way to live the orgasm, and that its intensity or frequency does not determine the quality of one’s sex life.
Special activities during the months of August and September
In addition to the well-known Tours with Marilyn Monroe, the museum offers various activities aimed at both the local public and international visitors.
• "When Harry Met Sally" Contest: On August 8, the museum will bring back one of its most popular contests inspired by the unforgettable scene starring Meg Ryan in the film When Harry Met Sally.
Throughout the day, anyone who wishes can freely perform the famous cinematic orgasm and have a chance to win their special "Orgasmic Kit."
• Participatory installation: "Describe an orgasm in a single word": The museum will set up a participatory space where visitors can anonymously answer a very simple question:
"How would you describe an orgasm in a single word?"
The goal will be to build a large collective mural reflecting the vast diversity of experiences, emotions, and meanings associated with pleasure.
• Guided tours "The history of the female orgasm": With advance booking, MEB sexologist Sigrid Cervera will offer a special tour focusing on the cultural history of the female orgasm, the historic vibrator collection, and the evolution of ideas about pleasure from the 19th century to the present day.
Art, history, and sexology
The Erotic Museum of Barcelona (MEB) is an institution dedicated to research, outreach, and cultural mediation around eroticism throughout history. Through works from different periods, from Japanese shunga to the historic collection of vibrators, as well as representations of female ecstasy in Western art, the museum invites us to understand how societies have represented, regulated, and transformed sexuality over time.
Practical information
Special programming: throughout the months of August and September 2026.
- Featured activity included with admission to the MEB: International Female Orgasm Day, August 8.
- Special guided tours with the sexologist: with advance booking.
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