Press Release: Demand for Sex Toys That Aid Sexual Health on the Rise

Britain’s leading adult toy wholesaler reports sexual wellness products edging towards top online sales

Net1on1, a leading supplier to the UK’s most successful sex toy retailers including Ann Summers and Lovehoney, reports a whopping 20% increase in sales of toys in its sexual health category this Valentines compared to 2015. This figure echoes a new global sexual wellness report released this month forecasting market growth of more than 7% by 2020.

The wholesaler’s overall sales of sex toys have also risen year-on-year since the launch of the first Fifty Shades of Grey book in 2011, illustrating a now less inhibited market and a growing mainstream appetite for sex toys.

This could be especially true amongst men, as male masturbators were Net1on1’s second most bought category of items over the Valentines season (January – February) this year, followed closely by vibrators and then dildos.

Tony Gonzalez, Managing Director of Net1on1 said: “It’s great to see so many people losing their inhibitions, enjoying sex toys and asking retailers for sex toys that aid sex health. However, advice online about their safe use is often very conflicting, and the incorrect use of any sex toy can still lead to the passing on of STIs like chlamydia, syphilis and herpes, often unwittingly. With this in mind we’ve put together the top dos and don’ts of sex toy use. However, I urge anyone who is still unsure and needs further advice on how to protect their sexual health, to visit the sexual health charity FPA’s website www.fpa.org.uk.”

FPA is a leading voice in the sexual health arena, and also launched a new website called FPA Pleasure in 2015 providing advice and retailing sex toys.

FPA’s CEO Natika H Halil said: “Toys are a great way for people to enhance pleasure with partners or while enjoying solo sex, but it is important to take care of your health when using them. They can harbour dirt and bacteria, as well as pass STIs to another person or another part of the body. Remember to wash toys between uses – they will come with instructions from the manufacturer for the best method – and use condoms. Using condoms with toys is the best way to protect yourself from getting or passing on infections, including when moving the toy between different parts of the body. For example, bacteria which live naturally in the anus can cause infections in the vagina. If you are worried you may have an STI, make sure you get yourself checked out. Our Find a Clinic tool can help you find your local services.”

How to Know that You are Using Sex Toys Safely

• 1.Practice Good Hygiene
• 2.Talk About It
• 3.Protect Yourself
• 4.Avoid Sharing
• 5.Get Regular Check-ups
• 6.Be Safe when Solo
• 7.Be Safe when Online
• 8.Be Safe when Role Playing

It may sound obvious but good personal hygiene isn’t always a given. Wash toys before and after use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but generally this means keeping squeaky clean and using hot soapy water on sex toys after use. Store them in sterilised compartments or cases. Note that some toys made of special silicone, and which do not have electrics, can be sterilised in the dishwasher too.

Brits are notoriously tight-lipped at the best of times, let alone when it comes to talking about hygiene¹. It is surprising how often sex and even using sex toys can creep onto the agenda at the end of a very successful (or unsuccessful!) date or a night out. Lovers should never use a toy unless they can be completely sure of its history. Be upfront and clear about limits early on to avoid a sticky situation, or worse, being pressured into anything.

One survey suggests that nearly half of young Brits think that they can’t contract STIs like HIV when not using a condom². Condoms are the only method of contraception which can help protect against STIs, including HIV. As STIs can be passed on through the sharing of toys (such as dildos, vibrators and butt plugs), condoms should be used, even if the toy belongs to the user. Make sure that you buy condoms which have been tested to UK safety standards.

Using one sex toy on more than one person, or swapping between body parts, presents a risk that an STI could be transferred. Be strict with him or her and share the love, not the toys. It is safest to indulge in separate sex toys for each partner but for those set on sharing, a new condom will need to be applied for each partner. Large sex toys also need larger condoms to prevent breakages.

People with STIs do not always know they have one. Anyone sexually active, or sharing sex toys or bodily fluids, should get tested regularly, even if they use a condom. Every type of sexual intercourse poses a risk, so lovers who are unsure of their status, or who have not been tested recently, should visit their GP or GUM clinic before lovemaking and using sex toys with a partner.

The rise of new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app enabled toys such as vibrators and knickers (operated remotely) is great news for those in long-term relationships. However, if a toy has been used by someone else before, there is still a risk. Wear a condom, do not share or swap roles when using remote operated toys, and wash and store them correctly.

Dating apps such as Tinder and Grindr have made dating easier, but over the last few years they have also been blamed for a surge in the number of new STI cases³ as they make casual sex more accessible. Be clear as to the purpose of the meeting before it actually happens. If the plan is to stay out of the bedroom on the first date, avoid situations where there may be pressure to have sexual intercourse or use a sex toy.

Bondage is big thanks to Fifty Shades of Grey, and Net1on1 saw a rise in sales of bondage sex toys like chains and wrist cuffs last year. Protect mental and physical sexual health by talking about limits before and after intercourse. Use a safe word, stick to it and start off gently.

For more information about Net 1on1, visit www.1on1wholesale.co.uk