Sexual wellness comes for men too.
The trend, originally aimed at women, is perhaps one of the most surprising to emerge in recent years.
The idea that intimate pleasure is essential to long-lasting good health has given rise to a variety of online articles, products and even entire stores in recent years.
The items on offer could easily be confused with facial massagers or skin oils: sex toys are in elegant, discreet packaging and lubricant bottles are renamed “intimate gel”.
Department stores like Sak’s Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom even have entire sections dedicated to the stuff.
But now an upcoming product range will be aimed at men. While male sex toys are not uncommon in the LGBTQ community, such items are not often aimed at straight men.
The male sex toys market is expected to reach $39.39 billion by the end of 2032, up from $15,380 in 2019
Set to launch in February 2024, Butter Wellness makes two sex toys for men designed to stimulate the prostate
According to market research firm Future Market Insights, the market for men’s sex toys is expected to double from its current value over the next decade – to around $39.39 billion.
The most popular products range from the relatively tame vibrating rings to the more adventurous prostate “tickers” to mechanical masturbators.
Expected to launch in February 2024, Butter Wellness is a company that aims to break down this stigma.
“Butter solves these problems by creating a modern sexual wellness brand for men focused on education, innovation and accessibility,” the brand’s website says.
Arcwave sells solo sex toys that claim to be the “closest thing to a female orgasm for men”
“We develop products for the often overlooked, yet most pleasurable area of a man’s body – the prostate, also known as the male G-spot.”
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the base of the penis and the rectum. It produces fluid that mixes with the sperm to help it travel and survive.
The prostate has thousands of nerve endings, making it the primary erogenous zone for men, which is why it is also known as the male G-spot. The stimulation is intended to intensify the orgasm.
Butter’s products, which start at $89, use vibrations to stimulate the prostate and perineum, a tiny area of sensitive skin between the scrotum and anus.
The technology company Arcwave now sells solo toys and sets for sex with female partners. One of its products is Arcwave, which is said to be “the closest thing to a male orgasm” and stimulates the genitals by releasing bursts of air.
One man who regularly uses such devices is 35-year-old Ben Mey from New York, who began experimenting with sex toys alone and with partners when he was 16.
He said using different toys can lead to stronger orgasms because they can specifically target areas such as the prostate.
“Physically, sex is more intense and pleasurable when the G-spot is touched,” Mr Mey, who is in a long-term monogamous relationship, told .
“By using male sex toys, my partners and I have become closer and more intimate.” One or both of us were either bored in the bedroom or just missing something. So using toys spiced things up and allowed us to connect on a different level.”
Although he said he and his friends visit sex shops together to look at devices, the topic is still largely taboo among straight men.
“I believe that men are hesitant to buy male sex toys because of the stigma and the fear that women or even their friends will judge them or break off the relationship because of it,” he said.
However, he also said that many of his friends admitted to trying them and called them a “game changer.”
In addition to pleasure, masturbation can also provide numerous health benefits.
It also increases cortisol, a hormone that helps regulate the immune system. Some research also suggests that men who achieved solo orgasm had more infection-fighting white blood cells.
“Sex should be viewed as part of one’s well-being. So why not have fun with it with toys that make the whole thing even more fun,” says Mr. Mey.