From wearable sex tech to period education to remote intimacy, here are the top trends in sexual health, according to sexperts.

Sex is becoming less taboo and more accepted, inclusive, and accessible.

When you feel comfortable talking about sex and exploring your sexuality, you can tap into more pleasure and improve your sexual health.

Psych Central consulted seven sex educators and experts to learn about the latest trends and innovations. Here are the top 10 sexual wellness trends to look out for in 2022 and beyond.

Sex education and marketing have long catered to cisgender heterosexual folks with a predominant focus on male pleasure — but not anymore.

According to sexperts like Angie Rowntree, founder of the female erotica website of Sssh.com, “adaptive sex” is making sex more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

“There’s a wonderful larger trend toward making sex adaptive for adults at all life stages, including those adults with differently abled bodies and/or chronic illness,” Rowntree says.

In 2021, the National Coalition for Sexual Health launched its Guide to Sexual Concerns and Pleasure to promote a pleasurable sex life regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, race or ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Adaptive sex is a growing trend that may be seen in:

As more education and marketing companies embrace adaptive sex, you can expect an increase in products, education, and resources to help you achieve pleasure.

Marla Renee Stewart, MA, a sexologist and sexpert at Lovers Stores, says that as more people explore their gender identity, there’s been an increase in sex toys that can be used on a variety of bodies and genitalia.

“This makes room for intersex folks who might have variances in their genitalia and gives them more room for pleasure,” Stewart says.

The stigma around menstruation is fading, and more people with uteruses — particularly Gen Zers — feel more comfortable talking about their period.

According to Jess O’Reilly, a sexologist at Astroglide, the monthly experience of menstruation is out from the shadows and no longer shrouded in shame.

Here are a few signs that menstruation is becoming accepted by the mainstream:

  • increased conversations about periods
  • self-pleasure to relieve symptoms (i.e., the 2020 “menstrubation” study)
  • Heinz’s drink for periods to soothe symptoms and promote period health
  • menstrual art installations
  • movements like PERIOD that distribute products to communities in need
  • period products like August

From podcasts to online forums, supplements, and beauty products, the stigma around menopause is starting to lift.

“Menopause is no longer a footnote but is finally being addressed as the main event,” O’Reilly says.

A 2021 report indicates that the size of the global menopause market is expected to continue increasing and reach $22.7 billion by 2028.

According to O’Reilly, menopause education and awareness will become more visible in:

  • medicine and nursing
  • therapy for people going through menopause
  • sex education (i.e., redefining your sexual identity and how you approach pleasure)

O’Reilly says she hopes to see more conversations about sex, dating, and relating during postmenopause. “Life — and pleasure — doesn’t stop when your uterus ceases to be an incubator for human life,” she adds.

Carol Queen, PhD, a staff sexologist at Good Vibrations, says it’s important to understand the physical and mental wellness effects associated with perimenopause. To learn more, Queen recommends checking out “What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, & You” by author and podcast host Heather Corinna.

“I feel sure this new take on an old topic will inspire much more up-to-date info and discussions,” Queen adds.

Experts like Rowntree agree that masturbation stigma is decreasing as more folks are embracing self-pleasure.

In fact, the pleasure-product industry is booming, with luxury brands like Maude and Lora DiCarlo going mainstream with celebrity endorsements.

According to Rowntree, other self-pleasure trends in demand include:

  • audio erotica
  • guided masturbation
  • ethical video streaming services

Sarah Melancon, PhD, a clinical sexologist at Sex Toy Collective, adds that masturbation may be an increasing trend among older adults, too.

For instance, a 2022 study of 4 European countries found that among adults ages 60 to 75, between 41% to 65% of men and 27% to 40% of women reported masturbating during the previous month.

“This has important implications for sexual counseling and overall health, as well as the sex toy industry,” Melancon says.

Sexual health supplements are becoming a popular addition to wellness routines.

“People are thinking about their sexual health more,” Stewart explains. “Vitamins that cater to our sexual needs are going to be important.”

Stewart adds that many folks are turning to natural libido and erectile tissue enhancers, like Vixen Pill and Kangaroo Supplement.

“In a world full of convenience, these pills and supplements enable you to have some natural and fast-acting, which is the primary key for any kind of sex tech innovation,” Stewart says.

Rowntree adds that supplements promoting sexual health may also be helpful at the onset of menopause.

A note on natural supplements

Before taking any supplement, consider talking with a healthcare professional first. They will be able to advise you on whether the supplement you are considering is safe or if it might interact with any medications you may be taking.

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A 2021 report predicts that the global sexual wellness market will hit $45 billion by 2026. The North American market alone will reach $10.5 billion by 2026.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s an app for everything, but you might not realize how many apps out there have been created for the sole purpose of helping your sex life,” Rowntree says.

Sexual wellness apps are available for conditions including:

To help you choose a high quality app, Rowntree recommends looking for ones that work with licensed physicians, therapists, or sexologists or are endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Some apps to consider include:

Sex tech is trending, including tech you can wear.

Natasha Marie Narkiewicz, a sexual wellness expert at MysteryVibe, says that wearable sex tech provides access to health and pleasure and mitigates factors that prevent the experience of healthy pleasure.

Narkiewicz says, “2022 is heralding the mainstream acceptance of sexual technology as assistive technology and changing the narrative around sexual health and sexual health products being ancillary.”

Examples of wearable sex tech include the OhNut, which helps folks who experience pain during penetration, and the Lioness 2.0, which has artificial intelligence (AI) and biofeedback capabilities to track pelvic floor contractions.

“Sex tech as assistive technology is the latest iteration of this trend in mainstream acceptance of health and wellness, and the applications and opportunities are endless to improve overall quality of life,” she says.

Many people experience periods of separation from their partners or a lack of sex, which became more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Rowntree points out that the sex tech industry is booming with wearable and remote-controlled toys for people of all genders, allowing people to share intimacy even when they’re apart.

A 2021 study by Justin Lehmiller, PhD, a sex psychologist in Indianapolis, helps to inform this trend.

According to Lehmiller, his research looked at a nationally representative survey of 2,000 U.S. adults and found that remote-controlled sex toy use increased by 45% during the pandemic, going from just over 9% of adults to nearly 14%.

“This is a very sizable increase in a very short period of time,” Lehmiller says. “It suggests that the trend of remote-controlled, wearable, and other high-tech sex toys is likely to keep rising this year and in the years ahead.”

Lehmiller notes that devices that promote remote intimacy may help:

  • contribute to the novelty aspect of sex
  • increase chances of discovering new sources of pleasure
  • create opportunities for partners to be intimate when they aren’t in the same physical space

Sex therapy is becoming increasingly popular among folks who want help in all areas of their sex lives, from their sexuality to sexual health. This includes counseling for individuals and couples and helpful devices for sexual disorders and dysfunctions.

For instance, a 2021 study suggests that urologists may benefit from incorporating sex therapy into their practices to help improve peoples’ sexual well-being.

From an educational perspective, there’s so much to gain from understanding and healing our sexual health through therapy.

If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of sex therapy, you can check out Psych Central’s list of the best online sex therapy services for 2022. You might also consult the national directory at the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) to find a certified sex therapist.

According to Stewart, many companies are looking for innovative ways to foster mental wellness and sexual health.

Some other examples of healing tools and devices include:

  • At-home STI tests
  • Tenuto (for erectile dysfunction due to post-colorectal cancer, back injuries, or vascular disorders)
  • Crescendo (a medical device that claims it can improve genito-pelvic pain in women by up to 480%)

Stewart adds that many companies are developing apps that assist people in various realms of sexual wellness — from pelvic floor health to bodywork to orgasm instructionals.

While many sexual health innovations are not yet covered by insurance, experts say that could soon change.

“The wave of popular sex tech doubling as assistive tech will hopefully steer debate and movement toward sexual health technology becoming covered by healthcare companies and providers and overall advancements in sexual medicine to improve quality of life,” Narkiewicz says.

According to experts, there are plenty of sexual wellness trends to consider, but these are the top 10:

  • adaptive sex
  • period acceptance
  • menopause education
  • self-pleasure
  • sexual health supplements
  • wearable sex tech
  • sexual wellness apps
  • remote intimacy
  • sex therapy
  • sexual healing tools and devices

In addition to exploring these trends, Psych Central encourages you to lean into pleasure and sexual well-being however it feels best to you. If you’re experiencing sexual dysfunction or a lack of pleasure, you may want to talk with a medical or mental health care professional.

And if you’re especially interested in mental wellness, you can check out Psych Central’s top mental health trends to watch.

To keep up with all things sex- and wellness-related, Psych Central and Greatist offer the latest information on sexual trends, news, education, and more.

A version of this article also appears on Greatist.