A sexy survey and what it reveals

MANY South Africans know and appreciate what sex toys can do for them.

In a survey done by one of the leading sex toy brands, Désir, it was found that the vibrator still scored the highest, most frequently bought and most used.

Most people buy sex toys to use them as a couple.

The Désir survey involved more than 700 respondents and collected data on sex toy perceptions, usage and attitudes from both users and non-users.

For those who shy away from the idea of owning one, the survey revealed that it was because of ignorance.

Of the respondents who took the survey, 23.3% did not know about the choices available to them and did not know what the products could do for them.

They did not shy away from them because of embarrassment or being ashamed to use them.

About 76.7% use sex toys, 42.9% buy them online and 20.7% prefer getting their merchandise in person from a store.

The respondents’ main reason for buying the toys was to spice up their sex life.

Other key findings from the survey included the problem of achieving orgasms, which nearly 30% of the test group attested to.

Also, 43.2% preferred to use sex toys as a couple and when asked how sex toys could improve relationships, 20.8% said sex toys extended foreplay, with 26% saying that sex toys made orgasms stronger or better.

Most of the respondents (80.4%) used the toys at least once a week, 73% were having sex multiple times a week, and 94% of them reached orgasm when using a sex toy.

But not everyone is a fan of sex toys. The respondents who didn’t use them said they didn’t have enough sex, and only 24.8% were satisfied with their sex lives.

The CEO of Désir, Brodie Meyer, said the non-user group responses confirmed many of the outdated biases and stigmas that challenged the brand.

“People want to be able to buy sex toys safely, in nonjudgmental environments which aren’t associated with smut or porn.

“There is still so much shame around sexuality and sexual expression in South Africa, and it needs to change,” he said.

Meyer said the brand would continue to strive to combat negative sentiment by introducing more awareness about sexual health to free people from “sexual prisons”.