“They want simple, palatable solutions for everyday problems, not luxury escapism.”
Advancing our mission to provide our readers with the most up-to-date information on the state of sex and technology, we’re proud to add Natasha Marie Narkiewicz, head of communications and sexual wellness expert of MysteryVibe, and previously one of our managing editors, to our acclaimed Sex Expert Series.
Natasha Marie Narkiewicz – Sexual wellness expert, head of communications at MysteryVibe
“While most companies may be looking to the future for new breakout technologies and innovations, the real opportunity is in creating practical and tangible solutions for underserved areas at the intersection of women’s health and sexual health.
“2022 and 2023 were a buzz with AI technology and all the ways this cryptic, revered, and feared acronym would appear in our lives and influence our intimacy. From high-end sexbots to erotic chatbots like Replika and interactive VR porn, the sex tech industry has lived up to its reputation of early adoption and discovery. However, like all larger-than-life trends, the pendulum swings.
“The sentiment surrounding 2024 seems marked by AI and tech fatigue. Interest in adopting enigmatic technologies has plateaued and consumers seem disengaged from the AI hype. Instead, there is renewed interest in addressing the sexual issues that directly affect our physical bodies with science-backed solutions, specifically those stemming from menopause.
“By 2030, the world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is projected to reach 1.2 billion. Approximately 55% of menopausal women experience sexual dysfunction, such as low sexual desire, poor lubrication, dyspareunia, genitourinary syndrome, and vaginal atrophy. The most advanced menopause treatment is hormone therapy, which has many inevitable side effects and is incredibly costly and inaccessible to the average person.
“These numbers become much more depressing when you see that:
- 70% of women are not receiving treatment for menopause symptoms.
- 77% of women were uncomfortable seeking medical attention
- 42% didn’t know treatment options were available.
“These statistics indicate a real need for more sexual health and intimacy solutions for women. The sex tech industry has a real opportunity to capitalize on a natural biological occurrence that has historically been overlooked due to gender bias, lack of funding, awareness, and ageism.
“The 2024 McKinsey report indicates that one of the top wellness trends is embracing doctor-recommendation and science-backed solutions as a shift away from influencer “health-washing” on social media platforms that often present misleading information to sell. The emphasis on science-backed solutions shows that people want fact and vetted information, not sensationalism. They want simple, palatable solutions for everyday problems, not luxury escapism.
“Sex tech could lead the way in creating a profitable ecosystem that treats systemic issues related to menopause with tangible tools and technologies that are backed by science. Sexual health and technology companies like MysteryVibe have been leveraging input from leading doctors and the results from clinical trials to create vibrators that are medically rated to treat sexual issues that come alongside menopause, such as vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, and female arousal disorder.
“Other sex tech companies have the opportunity to galvanize the wave of women who will be seeking real technologies in the not-so-distant future, whether these technologies are app-based, wearables, repurposed sex toys, or something entirely novel.”
Image Sources: MysteryVibe
