Your sex life forecast. Yes, there will be smart vibrators
Everything from AI to evolving attitudes is shaping what will go down in people’s bedrooms over the next year. Think: sex toys like you’ve never seen before, yoga instructors teaching pleasure classes, and wearables worn... where?
SEX TOYS BECOME INCLUSIVE
- They’ve come a long way since that hot pink (for girls!) Rampant Rabbit, and the next generation of sex toys promises to be more inclusive than ever. ‘Companies are moving beyond phallocentric shapes to think about what’s accessible and pleasurable for different types of bodies,’ says Dr Kate Moyle, psychosexual therapist and host of
podcast. She rates Ohnut (ohnut.co) – squidgy, skin-like rings that stack on the base of the penis or sex toy to customise the depth of penetration – pointing out that this could prove particularly useful for the 75% of women who experience pain during intercourse. Meanwhile, Handi (thatshandi.co), a line of sex toys created by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities will hit shelves early next year – offering innovative solutions to hand limitations, such as devices that can be strapped on to other body parts or activated by voice.
YOU’LL HAVE AN STI PASSPORT
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With experts anticipating that a decidedly un-socially distanced summer will have a tangible impact on STI rates, perhaps it’s no surprise that dating apps are now cottoning on to the need for one unexpected vital stat – your STI results. That’s according to Dominique Karestos, CEO of sex tech consultancy Healthy Pleasure Group. iplaysafe, an at-home STI testing kit, is leading the reveal. Your test results are sent to its app; if you’re clear, you’ll get a confirmation e-badge that you can share with other users. ‘Apps and platforms such as iplaysafe mean it won’t be long before you tick a box on your dating app profile to show you’ve been tested,’ she explains. Gay apps like Grindr already encourage users to disclose their STI and HIV status, as well as the date of their last test, and this openness is a natural development following a period of infection-based caution. On the subject of Covid, Okcupid revealed that users who indicate they’ve received the vaccine are being liked at double the rate of those who say they’re not interested in getting the jab. Finally, a pleasurable side effect.
YOGA RETREATS TURN RANDY
- If your last asana-oriented trip occurred pre-covid, you’re in for a rude awakening. Quite literally, because the well-worn wellness holiday has had a new-normal pivot. Secret Yoga Club, the chic, globetrotting wellness brand known for its yoga pop-ups, now hosts ‘pleasure gatherings’ for women and couples. Events for 2021 include a weekend Zoom workshop on the Female Arousal Cycle (£250) and a Summer of Love retreat in Norfolk (£950 per person), led by sex coaches. Although there’s no pressure to get hands on in front of others, you can expect ‘eye-gazing’ and ‘wild dancing’ to help you reconnect with your sexual self. SYC founder Gabrielle Hales believes the events’ appeal is a safe, non-judgemental learning environment. ‘It’s never easy to learn how to do something new – that’s why we have teachers – and sex is no different,’ she explains. ‘These gatherings let people learn about their bodies and sex through guided practices, discussion and breathwork.’ Also opening up the space for women to explore their sexuality is Fiona Mccross, who leads guided female pleasure slumber parties (both online and in person), featuring dance, pleasure practices and ‘pussy gazing’ (yep, that’s communing with your nether regions in a hand mirror) in the company of a tantric priestess. Because when was the last time you spent Saturday night with one of those?
CBD REACHES LUBE
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The newest product sliding into the sexual wellness market? CBD lubricants that claim to promote arousal and help smooth over pain and anxiety during sex.
The science of exactly how the goo works is still being unravelled, but it’s thought to relax muscles and increase blood flow – both precursors to arousal. For the uninitiated, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, which interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). That the ECS is involved in just about every bodily process from sleep to pain explains why researchers suspect it could be a useful intervention for sexual dysfunction, too. Early research is promising: a study from the US found that 76% of women who used CBD products – with strengths varying from 60mg to 200mg of CBD – during sex said they experienced stronger orgasms, and 98% said CBD alleviated post-sex soreness. ‘Vaginal dryness is a huge issue for many women at certain times of the month, postnatally, and for those approaching or going through the menopause, so some kind of lubricant is a great idea,’ says Dr Mitra. As for lacing it with CBD? ‘We don’t have much data on how much CBD can be absorbed through the vulva in a lubricant, but there’s no reason why it wouldn’t work, because the skin tissue in your vulva and anus is very absorbent,’ she adds. But any improvement could also be explained by the placebo effect. ‘I wonder if some of the effects of CBD lube might just be the novelty and excitement that comes with trying something new and focusing more on sensation because you’re using a new product,’ she says. It’s worth noting that CBD oil can break down latex condoms, so always check usage instructions first. And with a lag of 15 to 20 minutes between application and impact, you’ll need to slow things down, too. Some brands call themselves a ‘pre lube’ and suggest applying it ahead of foreplay. High times, indeed.
YOU’LL SEE AN AI SEX THERAPIST
- ‘Okay, Google, how can
I make my orgasms last longer?’ is one of many intimate questions you can ask Pleasure Finder, the world’s first sex therapy voice assistant for Google. It’s part of a cohort of new interactive interventions looking to remove the stigma around seeking sex advice. Lover, an app founded by sex therapist Dr Britney Blair that received $5million in funding from Tinder founder Sean Rad, features educational videos such as The Vulva Tour, and has a quiz to help you explore turn-ons with a partner. If you’re worried about rising to the £9.99 weekly subscription fee, 87% of users reported greater sexual satisfaction after just seven days – suggesting you’ll get bang for your buck. Other apps bringing the therapist’s couch to your pocket include Blueheart (for sexual dysfunction), Paired (to aid sexual communication) and Coral (guided exercises to boost sexual confidence).
‘Sex problems such as lack of desire or difficulty reaching orgasm are incredibly common, but very rarely do people seek professional advice,’ says Dr Karen Gurney, psychosexual therapist and author of Mind The Gap: The Truth About
Desire. ‘I’m all for apps that help people do this, especially if money, geography or embarrassment are a barrier.’ She recommends choosing one that’s been developed with a psychologist to ensure the advice is reputable.
FEMALE VIAGRA GETS CLOSER
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It’s the ultimate ‘coming soon’ trend. Now, more than 30 years since Viagra provided a synthetic solution to male impotence, we could – at last – be looking at the female equivalent. The timing couldn’t be better; in research that will surprise precisely no one, a study published in March found that lockdown restrictions significantly reduced sexual desire, particularly among women. While it’s true that funding for female sexual dysfunction hasn’t always been forthcoming, the delay isn’t just for want of trying. There was progress in 2015 when a drug called Addiyi was approved in the US. It worked on the central nervous system in a similar way to an antidepressant, but it was never licensed in the UK and the list of side effects put many women off (as well as the fact that it wasn’t compatible with alcohol). As for anecdotal evidence that Viagra can increase desire among women, when Pfizer tested it on 3,000 women, the results were inconclusive. But now there’s good news from down under, where clinical trials are underway on a nasal spray that could help the estimated one third of women who experience libido loss. Called Libicore, it contains a synthetic peptide called BP-101, which activates the amygdala and the septal regions in the brain, both of which regulate female sexual function.
Scientists hope a single spray of Libicore every day could up desire and the number of orgasms a woman has after just one week – like a supp for feeling sexy. Dr Gurney, however, remains sceptical. ‘We all want a quick fix for lack of desire, but I don’t think medication will be the answer,’ she says. ‘Issues around libido are more psychological than physical and related to many things, from stress to exhaustion and relationship issues. It’s more useful to build your understanding of what triggers spontaneous desire for you, and creating space for those moments to occur in your life.’
SEXUAL AFTERCARE GETS CHIC
- Nothing kills that postcoital glow quite like a bout of cystitis. But brands are waking up to the fact that post-sex products should look cool enough to keep on your bedside table. And it’s worth investing – if for no other reason than to avoid a ‘penis beaker’ situation (if you’re unfamiliar with the viral Mumsnet thread about the post-sex willy rinse, google immediately). To mop up leaks, Awkward Essentials makes a handy Dripstick – a medicalgrade sponge to absorb excess fluid in the vagina after sex (£10 for 10), while Private Packs sells hot and cold relief packs to soothe any chafing (£25 for three). Vegan sexual wellness brand Hanx also recently started selling cystitis, bacterial vaginosis and thrush treatments, as well as its existing range of condoms and lube (from £6.99). ‘It’s great that women have more options for dealing with these problems,’ says Dr Anita Mitra, gynaecology doctor and author of The
Gynae Geek, with the caveat that the vagina is self-cleaning, so you don’t need to clean it with anything but water to prevent infection.
‘But if you’re repeatedly getting conditions like cystitis, visit your GP,’ she adds. Yes, doc.
MORE WOMEN ORDER SEX DOLLS
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Hyperrealistic sex robots are already here – take Realbotix’s Henry (£7,600), which comes with a customisable silicone penis and is (we kid you not) programmed to recite poetry to you. But over the next 10 years, sex robots will become even more female-focused and – thanks to 3D printing – affordable, too. Experts predict you’ll soon be able to get your hands on one for a fraction of the price (albeit still probably the priciest shag you’ll ever have) – around £2,000 to print your own sex robot. ‘With AI, they could remember your hobbies, interests and what turns you on – plus, thanks to electrochips under the skin, they can even react to your touch,’ says Dr Julie Carpenter, an expert in robotics research at California Polytechnic State University. But you wouldn’t go there... would you? ‘During the pandemic, we saw a huge increase in orders from couples and single people – women and men,’ confirms Janet Stevenson, co-founder of Sex Doll Genie, the company behind a male doll launching later this year with an audible ‘heartbeat’. ‘Singles have felt the lack of human connection, and couples who have been quarantined together seem much more open to trying something new.’ So, you could soon be calling yourself ‘digisexual’ – someone who prefers to date robots, not humans. After all, if it doesn’t work out, you can simply pull the plug.
TRACKERS COME FOR YOUR ORGASM
- The ability to track everything from your park run to your period divides wellness camps as effectively as fasting. So the intuitive types among you might want to look away while we tell you that biofeedback technology (using electronic monitoring to change a bodily function) is here to tell you all about your orgasm. The Lioness (£223) is marketed as ‘the world’s most advanced vibrator’. Developed using data from 30,000 orgasms, it allows you to measure every aspect of your big finish. Embedded sensors measure tension via pelvic floor movement (to detect arousal and orgasm) and motion (to keep track of how you’re moving the device). And, by tagging your toy-time with anything from ‘fivestar’ to ‘drunk’, and noting where you are in your menstrual cycle, you’ll learn how different situations and contexts affect your ability to get there. ‘I’d question whether tracking the strength of an orgasm is a marker of a good sex life. In fact, measuring it might well interfere with your ability to be mindful, present and just feel it,’ says Dr Gurney. ‘But for people who love information and want to gadget-ify their sex life, this will be amazing.’