From March 2009 to February 2010, Playgirl appeared only online. The magazine covered issues like abortion and equal rights, interspersed with sexy shots of men, and played a pivotal role in the sexual revolution for women. In 1977, Lambert sold Playgirl to Ira Ritter who took over as publisher.

The magazine was founded in 1973 by Douglas Lambert during the height of the feminist movement as a response to erotic men's magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse that featured similar photos of women.