trends

Sexperts Tout Men’s Wellness Benefits of Pleasure Products

Sexperts Tout Men’s Wellness Benefits of Pleasure Products

Sex, more and more, is being discussed not only from an erotic standpoint, but also, from a health and wellness standpoint. MensHealth.com, MensJournal.com and many other mainstream websites have been reporting that sexual activity can have numerous health benefits for men, from preventing heart disease to combating high blood pressure and hypertension. And the adult industry is taking notice; with the sex toys/pleasure products sector and prominent sexperts touting the ways in which an active sex life can help men live longer.

Aneros manufactures a variety of men’s pleasure products, including stimulators and lubricants — and according to Brent Aldon, Aneros’ director of sales and marketing, stressing health and wellness has been an important part of the company’s marketing strategy.

With our background in the medical field, we made it our mission to educate the consumer. -Brent Aldon, Aneros

“With our background in the medical field, we made it our mission to educate the consumer about the sexual health benefits achieved through our products,” Aldon told XBIZ. “We are the pioneers of prostate play.”

Aneros’ male customers, Aldon noted, include heterosexual, as well as gay and bisexual men — and all of them, he stressed, can benefit from prostate play.

“There is a misconception, stigma and taboo when it comes to anal prostate play that anal play is (only) meant for gay men,” Aldon explained. “In reality, it is not.”

Aldon continued, “Prostate products set the foundation for improving male sexual health and functions. Not only does research show that massaging the prostate can improve sexual wellness — such as improving blood flow, maintaining a healthy prostate and helping with prostate-related issues — it aids in stronger ejaculations, clearer semen, erectile dysfunction and even lowers the risk of prostate cancer.”

Dr. Ava Cadell, one of the U.S.’ most prominent sexperts, has written and lectured extensively about men’s sexual health — and she is glad to see more pleasure products being marketed to men than in the past.

“Men’s products are becoming a lot more mainstream, sophisticated and high-end luxury items,” Cadell told XBIZ. “Men’s sex toys are the third bestselling category on SexToy.com and other retail sites, next to vibrators and dildos. So, they are very popular. Men have more disposable income and are more willing to spend money on themselves now when it comes to sex toys.”

Cadell continued, “There is no doubt that sex toys were originally marketed towards women, then couples and finally, men. I think it’s because men are so good at giving themselves a hand job, and sex toy manufacturers didn’t want to invest unless it was a guaranteed return on their investment.”

Products that promote masturbation, Cadell said, can play an important role in men’s health.

“There will always be a stigma around anything that includes the word masturbation even though we’ve being doing it since the beginning of time,” Cadell observed. “That’s why I write so many articles on why masturbation is good for your health. For men, this is important because it replenishes and rejuvenates sperm, with ejaculation making for an excellent preventative against prostate cancer and improving reproduction.”

Dr. Hernando Chaves, another well-known sexpert, stressed that given the health and wellness benefits of masturbation for men, it is regrettable that self-pleasure is still being stigmatized.

“Unfortunately, stigma still exists surrounding male masturbation and sex toys,” Chaves told XBIZ. “Some of the stigma is associated with false beliefs of masculinity, where masturbation is seen as a step down from having sex with a partner. Another aspect that can create stigma is conservative and religious cultures where masturbation and sexual enhancement products are viewed as sinful, degrading or improper. These cultural messages can become entrenched in our belief systems and can fuel shame, guilt and stigma with masturbation and sex toys. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, though. We’re now seeing sex toys, often doubling as massagers, in mainstream outlets and more visibility in the media. While I think female sex toys will pave the way, male sex toys will eventually gain more mainstream exposure and begin to reduce the stigma.”

Patrick Lyons, VP of marketing for Diamond Products (which includes Pipedream Products, Jimmyjane and Sir Richard’s Condoms), described men’s sexual wellness and male sex toys as attractive growth markets for the adult industry.

“While the women’s sexual wellness market has seen dramatic innovation and technology advances in the past decade, the men’s sexual wellness market has lagged behind,” Lyons told XBIZ. “However, we know that there is opportunity in this category. PornHub’s 2016 review showed that 64 million people visit its site daily, and 74 percent of all visits are men; men are looking for visual stimuli to enhance their masturbation experience, and there is also an opportunity to enhance their physical stimuli.”

Lyons continued, “Socially, male masturbation habits and porn consumptions are pretty widely spoken of; however, male sex toys remain a bit taboo. The items haven’t been marketed as aspirational, like in the female market. That is what we are trying to do with Sir Richard’s: speak to men and demonstrate how we can enhance the experiences they are already having. We don’t speak to the Sir Richard’s customer like they need help in a certain arena, but like he is a connoisseur who wants to have the best possible experience with top-quality ingredients or design elements.”

Chad Braverman, COO and CCO of Doc Johnson, noted that although male sex toys have been stigmatized, they have considerable growth potential — especially when men’s health is part of the discussion.

“One of the biggest marketing challenges in this sector is the lingering stigma that still exists regarding straight men owning sex toys,” Braverman told XBIZ. “As frustrating as this stigma is, brands and products can often leverage a couples-friendly approach or emphasize couples-friendly features to help remove some of that reluctance and help to normalize sex toys for men by offering an alternative experience centered around interaction — not just solo masturbation.”

Braverman added, “The male sexual enhancement market is one of our leading growth categories in 2017. We have seen a definite trend toward men taking a greater interest in their sexual health as part of their overall health and wellness regime, and the stigma of men owning a sex toy is slowly but surely fading away.”

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Mitigating Retail Shrink Through Intelligent Video Solutions

Retail shrink isn’t just a cost of doing business — it’s an existential threat. Theft, fraud, operational inefficiencies and employee mismanagement chip away at profits in ways that many business owners don’t even realize.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

The Power of Authenticity in Selling Pleasure Products

I’ve been working in the pleasure industry for more than two decades. For a significant chunk of that time, I thought that to be successful in sales, I had to fit a mold. I assumed that selling meant following a formula: say the right things, use the right voice and present myself in a way that was guaranteed to convert.

Kimberly Scott Faubel ·
profile

Dennis DeSantis on Building a Blockbuster Career in Adult Retail

The adult industry and the mainstream Hollywood scene often intersect, and few executives are more familiar with that crossover than Dennis DeSantis.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

'Pleasure Professionals Place' Facebook Group Marks 5 Years of Fostering Connections

Where can you find the pleasure industry’s most tantalizing, trending and relevant conversational banter? For once, we’re not talking about a trade show after-party!

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How Cannabis Culture Is Reshaping Sexual Wellness, Pleasure

April is a month of celebration: Lovers Day, Earth Day… and 4/20. Once a subculture symbol, “420” has evolved into a movement that bridges cannabis advocacy, wellness and an increasingly vital discussion around sexual health and pleasure.

Ian Kulp ·
profile

WIA Profile: Holly Corbella

Even during last year’s retail slump, the adult home party business continued to rock and roll — at least in New Jersey. Just ask Holly Corbella. Based in the Garden State, Corbella is the founder, CEO and lead party planner for Parties by Bellas, an intimate, in-home sex toy event company focusing on creating budget-friendly home parties for women on the East Coast.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Friday Bae Founder Benoit Palix Discusses Brand's Gen Z Focus

French sexual wellness brand Friday Bae is aiming to disrupt the market with its genderfluid, inclusive pleasure products. With bright pops of color for Gen Z and millennials to swoon over, Friday Bae is merging creativity and education for fans, dubbed the “Bae Squad.”

Namma Karp ·
profile

Self Serve's Matie Fricker on Promoting Sex-Positivity in Albuquerque

For 18 years, Self Serve has been providing a sex-positive space for adult toys and resources to folks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The story behind its success is all about making connections: connecting with your passion, with your business partner, with your customers, with your staff and with your community.

Justin Goodrum ·
opinion

Why Inclusivity in the Pleasure Industry Is More Important Than Ever

2025 has kicked off with a series of unsettling events. Tension and anxiety are high across North America as the unknown impact of tariffs, climate change and attacks on human rights loom ominously. In times of unrest, seeking pleasure is not frivolity but necessity.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

2025's Top Tech Trends That Adult Retailers Should Know About

I just got back from the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & Expo, also known as “Retail’s Big Show,” where I walked the floor, sat in on key panels, talked with industry experts and influencers, and did my best to sift through the b.s. so I could report back to you all on the things you need to care about.

Sean Quinn ·
Show More