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Trade News
Menstrubation study Shows Masturbation Helps Relieve Period Pain
Half of the world’s population get their periods each month and most of them struggle with different painful side effects. Although these symptoms are common, they are hardly researched – like so many topics around women's health. The socalled Gender Health Gap describes this gap and shows that women have historically been neglected in medicine and research. In May 2020, Womanizer and Lunette launched the Menstrubation Study (Menstruation + Masturbation) – the first clinical study worldwide to find out whether masturbation can help ease or provide relief against period pain.
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The result: Yes, masturbation helps against period pain.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jones, a clinical psychologist and sex therapist. Almost 20,000 people who menstruate responded to the call for participation last May. The final study participants were selected through a randomised process. Over a period of six months, a total of 486 people who menstruate took part in the study. In the first month, the participants recorded the current status of their period pain in a questionnaire. For a following three months (test phase), they were asked to forego their traditional methods of pain control and to masturbate instead. Each month they recorded their symptoms in another questionnaire. The fifth month served as a control month in which they went back to using their usual tools. In the last month, a final survey took place.
Why do women experience period pain in the first place?
Australian Certified Sex Coach, Georgia Grace, explains: "During menstruation, the uterus contracts spasmodically to shed the lining of the womb that built up over the month for a possible pregnancy. This causes cramps. The contractions of the uterus are also controlled by the hormone prostaglandin. This hormone is a pain messenger and is also involved in inflammation, for example. The higher the levels of prostaglandins, the stronger the period pain can be.”
90 percent recommend masturbation
When asked whether masturbation or medication worked better for period pain, equal numbers favoured each method: 43 percent chose medication, 42 percent masturbation. The most common answers from the remaining 15 percent were: A mix of both3, heat, CBD (oil), sleep and exercise. A full 90 percent would recommend masturbation for pain relief and 85 percent plan to maintain their (new) masturbation routine after the study.
Pain intensity and frequency demonstrably decreases - 70% of participants reported that regular masturbation impacted the intensity of their period pain
Participants recorded both the intensity and frequency of their pain each month on a standardised 10-point scale. The results show that both parameters decreased noticeably over the course of the test phase. Remarkably, after the control month, the values were still lower than at the beginning of the test phase. The average intensity in the initial survey was 6.7 points4, after the end of the test phase only 5.4. This corresponds to a decrease of 1.3 points. After the control month, this value was 5.9 and thus still 0.8 points below the initial value. The same effect was also visible in the frequency of period pain. On average, the score was 7.4 points at baseline5, but after the test phase the score decreased by 2.8 points and stood at 4.6. After the control month, the value was 6.7, which still corresponds to a decrease of 0.7 points.
pjur at China Adult-Care Expo in Shanghai
At this year's China Adult-Care Expo (ADC), pjur exhibited with its own stand. With this appearance, pjur, a leading provider of premium intimate products, is underlining its claim to supply customers in the Asia-Pacific market with excellent customer service and products that have been specially developed for the market. “We are very proud that we can welcome customers at a trade fair again. pjur’s enhancement products have developed very well on the Chinese market. In addition to the pjur top sellers, we will also show pjur ORIGINAL, pjur med REPAIR and pjur med NATURAL”, says Alexander Giebel, CEO & founder of the pjur group. Safety is also a top priority at this trade fair. Trade fair visitors must register online in advance and follow the safety measures on site. In addition, a mask must be worn and the safety distance must be maintained at all times.
Why can masturbation help against period pains?
Georgia Grace says: “Following orgasm, a number of hormones are released, including dopamine which reduces stress and activates an inner bliss. As a result, other physical processes take a back seat. This feels like pain relief. Furthermore, the metabolism and blood circulation are stimulated. Both counteract pain. Finally, during orgasm, the muscles contract and relax, which can relieve painful cramps. While these chemical processes are strongest during and after orgasm, they also take place during masturbation - just in a slightly less intense form”. Dr. Jones, head of the study: "It is remarkable how quickly the participants felt an improvement in their symptoms. After only one month of conscious masturbation the values already dropped significantly. In addition, my assumption that masturbation also has a longterm, positive effect on well-being was confirmed. Even after the participants returned to their usual methods of pain relief, the values for intensity and frequency remained lower than at the beginning. It is likely that both parameters would have improved even further with an even longer test phase."
www.menstrubation.com
ORION Wholesale Germany - Change of Management and Restructuring
The company is reacting to the changes in the erotic market in the last couple of years. Sven Jacobsen is retiring after being the ORION Wholesale Manager for 30 years. As a result of this, the ORION group’s Purchasing and Wholesale will be merged – under the leadership of HansJürgen Bähr as the Chief Product Officer (CPO) & Chief Sales Officer B2B (CSO). In order to meet the increased and more complex requirements, there will also be further restructuring at ORION Wholesale. Sven Jacobsen has been closely associated with the ORION group for almost half of his life. A time when a small, internal sales department originally supplied the ORION group’s subsidiary company and which then grew into one of the largest erotic wholesale businesses in Europe. “That was a lovely and intense time,” said Sven Jacobsen, “and it doesn’t feel like work when what you’re doing is fun. However, now is the right time to step down from my active role after 30 years at ORION Wholesale with fantastic colleagues in one of the most interesting industries in the world.
Maike Rotermund, Managing Director of the ORION group, is sure about this too. Nevertheless, she looks wistfully at Sven Jacobsen’s departure from the company: “Sven has had a strong influence on ORION and our Wholesale – both personally and professionally. I am very grateful to him for that. Maike Rotermund wants to set new impulses in the company and the industry with the modified company structure. This is also one of Hans-Jürgen Bähr’s goals as well. HansJürgen Bähr is very familiar with ORION and the industry: next year the qualified business economist will have been part of the ORION team for 25 years. He has been the Purchasing Manager for 20 of those years. Now he is looking forward to a new professional challenge. “It was time to bridge the gap between our Purchasing Department and Wholesale Department,” said HansJürgen Bähr. “This is the only way that a holistic product management is possible for us in the long term – from the creation of ideas and the product development right up to marketing and sales”. In this context, Hans-Jürgen Bähr emphasises the digitalisation of sales as a major task and opportunity for the future – in order to permanently improve the service for the customers and also to conquer new markets and be more broadly positioned internationally. “Not only will we analyse, optimise and significantly tailor our product portfolio to our customers’ needs, but we’ll also enter into new, promising partnerships in the industry,” explains Hans-Jürgen Bähr.
www.orion-wholesale.com
Swiss Navy Reports Record-Breaking Deliveries for 1st Quarter 2021
Swiss Navy Celebrate International Lubricant Day
M.D. Science Lab, makers of the iconic Swiss Navy brand, began 2021 by adding a few new additions to their family of team members and introducing two new collections, Desire by Swiss Navy and 4-in-1 Playful Flavors—and these moves have paid off. Swiss Navy is reporting solid increases in first-quarter global sales and product deliveries for 2021. “The first three months of 2021 really outperformed all our expectations,” said Briana Watkins, M.D. Science’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We received our first-quarter results last Thursday ahead of the Good Friday holiday and we were all very pleasantly surprised. It appears our team’s hard work and extra efforts have paid off. Swiss Navy’s record-breaking sales wouldn’t have been possible without the work of every team member.” Swiss Navy is about to hit its next stage of growth with production facility expansion plans and increased manufacturing shifts to keep up with continued product demands.
Swiss Navy has increased their sales and support team to continually fulfill the needs of their customers. There are additional plans in the works to add even more B2B customer support as Swiss Navy continues to expand their product offerings.
www.swissnavy.com
M.D. Science Lab, makers of the iconic Swiss Navy brand, and sponsors of International Lubricant Day with the first annual event taking place in April, are inviting everyone to a virtual happy hour celebration.
“We know how important lubrication is to so many people and we thought it would be appropriate to give it its’ own day of celebration to acknowledge the benefit it brings to intimate wellness,” said Briana Watkins, M.D. Science’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Our team has a lot of fun planned with a virtual happy hour, games, prizes, and much more.” “We have a video montage planned and would love to incorporate videos from retailers sharing their thoughts and enthusiasm for the first International Lubricant Day,” said Penny Clifford, Swiss Navy’s Social Media Manager. Swiss Navy encourages people to celebrate by giving a shout-out to how lubricants have helped their own lives. “We’ve been doing several surveys leading up to this celebration,” said Dr. Sunny Rodgers, M.D. Science Lab’s Intimate Health Advisor. “We found that almost half of our survey participants reported lubricants made sex feel better and they admitted lube was an essential part of their intimate experiences. Even if lubrication isn’t discussed often, it does hold a significant importance in people’s lives.”
Satisfyer and BERLINABLE Launch Global Campaign For Best Erotic Short Stories
SHOTS Plans In-House Show in September
If you have ever read the infamous 50 Shades books and thought, I could do that then look no further, as sex tech and wellness brand Satisfyer have teamed up with erotica platform BERLINABLE to launch an international erotic short story contest, with a difference. The competition, which is from running April 19th to May 2nd , calls for contestants to submit their own erotic short stories, taking inspiration from the remote function of the Satisfyer Connect App. Follow this link to take part: https:// www.satisfyer.com/uk/erotic-stories/. With many of us being forced into taking our relationships long distance over the last year, we’ve had to figure out how to satisfy our sexual desires remotely. Thankfully, the Satisfyer Connect App provides the opportunity to connect with your partner by controlling their sex device from afar. To take the heat up a notch, the app even allows you to lock eyes with your partner in a secure live stream whilst you take control, and even pair vibrations to the rhythm of your favourite songs. All participants need to do is summarise their erotic stories into 800-1200 words, with a £10 Satisfyer voucher up for grabs for the first 100 participants, as well as the opportunity win a Satisfyer Sexy Secret (Lay-on vibrator) or Satisfyer Royal One (penis ring) and get free access to the BERLINABLE platform for a whole year. The very best stories will even be published on both BERLINABLE and within the Satisfyer Connect App for people to read and you never know that book deal could be calling. Megwyn White, Head of Education & Training at Satisfyer and Certified Clinical Sexologist, says: “It is so important to express our sexual desires. This is one of the reasons why we launched the Satisfyer Connect app, to help couples stay in touch sexually, for example during lockdowns, no matter where they are. Also, to make it easier for singles to selfconfidently discover their own sexuality and to exchange ideas with others, e.g., in the Satisfyer Connect app chat." BERLINABLE publishes curated indie erotic stories and art. With over 350 eBooks and art covers, the project is a unique part of the booming sex tech and sexual wellness movement. Founder Giada Armani wants to enable social development through Erotica: "Sex is not our society's problem, sex is the solution. We just have to learn to communicate our wishes and experiences openly and to accept other people in all their colors and diversity."
www.satisfyer.com
During the period from the 8th to the 17th of September 2021, SHOTS is planning on organizing a physical in-house TRADE SHOW in the Netherlands. This, of course, only if they can guarantee a 100% safe environment for all participants. Hopefully, by this date, SHOTS will be able to welcome ALL clients from every part of the world. Also, if necessary, SHOTS will organize online sales talks for those who are unable to travel. “We have missed travelling and we have missed you, our esteemed clients from all over the world! For this reason, we have blocked these dates in our agendas, and we urge you to do the same!! SHOTS is always on the move, even when not physically possible, and we already have some MEGA OFFERS and TRADE DISCOUNTS lined up for you!” “If by that time it’s possible for us to hold a physical event, we are thinking a 1, 2 or even 3-day event. During the show we will be able to introduce you to our own new brand releases, as well as those of our partner-brands. We also would like to take you on a tour of the SHOTS and PHARMQUESTS offices and hopefully even throw a SHOTS PARTY. Now wouldn’t that be awesome?”
This September timeslot will allow you all to stock up in time for the festive Christmas period and profit from our EXTRA FAIR DISCOUNTS to pump up sales margins even more! Register now with your account manager and make sure to mark these dates on your calendar now!
Pipedream Real Feel Gets A Revamp
XR Brands Starts ‘Masked Mayhem Retail Road Tour’
Pipedream Products announces the relaunch of their best-selling, entry-level Real Feel & Real Feel Deluxe vibrating realistic dildos. Made with Pipedream’s new and improved Fanta Flesh TPR and driven by rumbly, battery-powered motors, the redesigned collections feature updated materials and upgraded power at the same great price points! The original Real Feel collection includes 12 top-selling lifelike vibrating dildos, ranging from 7.25” to 10.5” with and without balls, in light and brown skin tones. The new and improved motors have a multispeed dial on the base to control the vibration intensity, transferring power throughout the Fanta Flesh shaft from the bullet located at the tip of the vibe. The waterproof design makes it perfect for the shower or bath, and the vibes are compatible with waterbased Moist Premium Formula Lubricant.
With harness-compatibly and vibrating realism combined, the Real Feel Deluxe collection features Pipedream’s exclusive Wall Banger suction-cup technology and includes 18 lifelike vibrating dildos available in light, brown and black. Ranging from a friendly 6.5” to a hefty 12”, the strong suction-cup base sticks to nearly any flat surface for a wall-banging good time! Stick it to the floor, wall, tile, or bedpost – the suction-cup will stay in place during every passionate thrust and features a quick-release tab for easy removal. The suction-cup doubles as a harness-compatible base that remains snug in its place even when the action heats up Both brands feature carefully curated planograms and are in-stock and shipping from Pipedream’s Midwest distribution facility.
www.pipedreamproducts.com
XR Brands is thrilled to announce that, after a year of online-only trainings, Brand Ambassador and sex educator Josh Ortiz, along with Kristin Moore of Channel 1 Releasing, are embarking on the USA Masked Mayhem Retail Road Tour. The pair is bringing safe, in-person trainings to retailers all over the country and helping staff get back into the swing of in-store sales and promotion of XR Brand’s awardwinning product lines. After an unprecedented year that was difficult for the entire industry, XR Brands is excited to reconnect with retail partners on a physical level after a virtual year. Among the company’s goals with this road tour is to help retail partners rebuild their brands and establish a sense of industry normalcy while getting to see, feel, and learn about the many product innovations that have emerged over the last year. Retailers can feel confident about these Masked Mayhem Retail Road Tour trainings, as Josh and Kristin have both been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will both be masked at all times. Every associate attending the training is required to remain masked, and hand sanitizer will be distributed to associates before training begins. Any product that is handled by associates will be sterilized with alcohol between every training. “We are so excited about the Masked Mayhem Retail Road Tour!” Ortiz said. “In a typical year, we would see get to see retailers in person for trainings as well as at events and trade shows, but obviously the last year has been anything but typical. Our goal is always to provide quality and inclusive sex and product education to retail partners so they are able to meet and exceed every customer’s expectations, and we are thrilled to finally be equipped to safely do that via inperson, in-store trainings again.” In addition to trainings, XR Brands is willing to be present for in-store customer events and open to the public for ladies’ nights, workshops, sex ed classes, and more. The company is also willing to sponsor events, whether in person or virtual, held by retail partners.
