An artificial vagina designed for collecting semen will imitate some or all of the anatomical features and behaviours of woman's vagina. An artificial vagina for the purposes of sexual stimulation is essentially an aid to human masturbation: it is designed to simulate the sensation of sexual intercourse on the erect penis. It will often have moving parts such as vibrators that increase stimulation rather than accurately simulating a woman's vagina.
Usually the artificial vagina has a realistic or close to realistic appearance with a sleeve, where the penis can be inserted. The sleeve, or as it is also called "vaginal tunnel", measures in average from 10 to 20 centimetres (4 to 8 inches) and can have an open end for inserting vibrating bullet, if the user wishes.
The elastic properties of all materials that are used in manufacturing artificial vaginas are combined with a porous nature and therefore vaginas require special care to avoid bacterial accumulation. Manufacturers recommend protecting them by applying a condom during use.