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Survey and health assesment of chemicals substances in pleasure gel

1 Survey

• 1.1 Introduction
  • 1.1.1 Objective
  • 1.1.2 Delimitation
  • 1.1.3 Method/procedure
  • 1.1.4 Product purchase
• 1.2 Purchase
  • 1.2.1 Internet search process and trade
  • 1.2.2 Shop visits
• 1.3 Sexologists
  • 1.3.1 Sexological Clinic, Rigshospitalet
  • 1.3.2 Danish Association for Clinical Sexology
  • 1.3.3 Letters editors at Danish magazines
• 1.4 Investigation by questionnaire
  • 1.4.1 Implementation
  • 1.4.2 Results
• 1.5 Products
  • 1.5.1 Product outline
  • 1.5.2 Selection criteria
  • 1.5.3 Selected products

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Objective

The objective of the survey was to identify the products that are used most often and to try to assess the popularity of pleasure gel.

The examination of which products within the category of pleasure gel exist on the market and of which chemical substances are used in the gels has formed the basis of the further evaluation of the products.

1.1.2 Delimitation

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency chose to focus on the so-called pleasure gels (creams that promise an effect in excess of glide properties and/or flavour and fragrance). That means that distinct glide lubricants and creams that solely have flavour and/or fragrance were not included in the project.

Besides pleasure gels, erotic massage oils were also included in the project's section on analysis.

1.1.3 Method/procedure

The following activities formed part of the survey:

• Contact with the retail trade
• Search on the Internet
• Contact with sexologists
• Use of questionnaires.

In connection with pleasure gel it is in general difficult to chart the consumption pattern.

It was not possible to carry out a quantitative survey of the consumption of pleasure gel via Statistics Denmark. The Danish Ministry of Taxation informed that there is no KN code^[1] that merely deals with these products.

Consumption is closely correlated with the sexual behaviour of the individual consumer and therefore it was chosen – in addition to the other traditional analysis methods – to use questionnaires. As the survey involved tabooed behavioural patterns anonymous questionnaires were used.

The purchasing culture is expected to be strongly influenced by the selection on the Internet and therefore it was decided to base a substantial part of the survey on the possibilities existing on the Internet.

Participation in the investigation was advertised for through a Danish Internet Portal in a forum for debate, which is linked to a printed Danish periodical for women, and participation required the completion of a questionnaire with 12 questions.

Information was searched for about pleasure gels and erotic massage oils/creams - partly through Internet based shops and partly in physical shops.

1.1.4 Product purchase

The selection criteria for the purchase of products mainly comprised products that through advertisements on the Internet or other modes of advertising promise an effect in excess of glide properties, flavour or fragrance. In addition, products sold to a certain extent have been chosen. It has only been possible to include this criterion to the extent it has been possible to obtain information about sales through the dealer – most often in the form of information such as e.g. ”this product sells well”.

1.2 Purchase

The part of the survey concerning the purchase of products comprises:

• Internet search – purchase in Internet shops and contact with dealers
• Shop visits – purchase in physical shops and interviews given by dealers.

1.2.1 Internet search process and trade

A search was performed via Google.dk with different words and combinations.

In addition, a list of Danish Internet shops appeared on the E-guiden.dk when a search was made with the word ”sex”.

Table 1.1 Words searched for and combinations carried out via Google.dk

As it appears from Table 1.1, many pages are in question. Subsequently, it was chosen to limit the search so Danish home pages and/or pages with Danish text were in focus.

A rough scan was carried out of the Danish pages concerning sex articles. 29 Internet shops were the object of a detailed analysis. On the home pages of the shops all advertisements/references concerning pleasure gel and massage oils were examined with a view to investigating if the product in question ”promised” an effect.

When studying the home pages of the Internet shops, it appeared that the different shops often offered the same products for sale.

1.2.1.1 Communication with dealers

In the light of the search on the Internet a number of the businesses behind the Internet shops dealing with pleasure gel were contacted. The enquiries partly dealt with information about the substances of each product and partly with information about the extent of sales. The enquiries gave rise to very few reactions from the dealers.

1.2.2 Shop visits

A total of 11 shops were visited, including:

• 6 sex shops
• 2 chemist's
• 2 health food shops
• 1 pharmacy.

In connection with the shop visits an interview form was prepared, i.a. in order to create an overview of the sales extent of pleasure gel.

The interview form included questions about:

• Which products form part of the shop's product range?
• How is the sales distribution of the different products evaluated?
• Estimated total sale of the category?
• Is resale in question?
• Which age and sex distribution applies to the purchasers of the products?
• How is the sale of pleasure gel compared to the sale of glide creams?
• How is the sale of pleasure gel compared to the sale of cream with fragrance and/or flavour?
• Which advice is offered in connection with sales?

Table 1.2 shows an outline of the shops that were visited, their product range within the category and an estimate of units sold per month. In addition, each shop has given an evaluation of the sales related distribution between pleasure gels and glide lubricants and creams with flavour and/or fragrance, respectively.

Table 1.2 Outline of visited shops, products within the category of pleasure gel and the total amount of units sold per month.

As it appears from Table 1.2, the main part of what is sold from physical shops takes place through sex shops. In connection with sex shops, 5 out of 6 of the shops that were visited also have an Internet shop besides the physical shop.

The age distribution of the customer groups in the 5 shops that sell pleasure gels is characterised by having an even distribution from app. 20 years and upwards.

Two of the visited shops estimate that most of their customers are women while two other shops estimate that their customer group mainly consists of men. Finally, the fifth shop believes that the customer group has an even distribution of men and women.

It has not been possible through the contacted Internet shops to obtain information of the scope of their sales and therefore it has not been possible to estimate the extent of the products sold.

However, the visited physical shops (incl. their Internet shops) have unambiguously expressed that the sale of pleasure gel is poorer than the sale of glide lubricants.

1.3 Sexologists

In the course of the survey, various consultative bodies were contacted in order to obtain insight into their experience with pleasure gel. The following were contacted:

• Sexological Clinic at Rigshospitalet (The State University Hospital in Copenhagen)
• Danish Association for Clinical Sexology
• A number of letters editors at Danish magazines.

1.3.1 Sexological Clinic, Rigshospitalet

The Sexological Clinic^[2] at Rigshospitalet treats people who have sexological problems of e.g. psychiatric, psychological, somatic or social nature. The clinic mainly deals with examinations, counselling and treatment. In 2004, the clinic had just fewer than 3.000 outpatient consultations.

We communicated with the Sexological Clinic and an employee at the clinic informed us that the clinic never recommends distinct pleasure gels as the clinic does not believe that they have an effect.

The Sexological Clinic has received the prepared questionnaire about experience with pleasure gel and has commented on the structure and the contents.

1.3.2 Danish Association for Clinical Sexology

The Danish Association for Clinical Sexology^[3] was contacted in order to get into touch with sexologists to find out if they in connection with their work had encountered/or had actual experience with the use of pleasure gel.

The Danish Association for Clinical Sexology referred to 2 sexologists who subsequently were contacted.

1.3.2.1 Sexologist 1

Sexologist 1 is a qualified classic sexologist and couple therapist with handicap sexology as specialist area.

By e-mail the sexologist informed that neither he nor his business partner (who is a specialist within sex appliances) have encountered the use of pleasure gels through their work with clients at the clinic.

1.3.2.2 Sexologist 2

Communication with sexologist 2 took place by mail and telephone. Sexologist 2 is a specialist within gynaecology and obstetrics and has several years of experience with sexological counselling at Danish Public Health Authorities.

Through series of lectures, sexologist 2 has been in touch with many women. The sexologist recommends silicone based glide lubricants but not distinct pleasure gels. In connection with massage, sexologist 2 recommends almond oil.

In relation to pleasure gel, sexologist 2 never recommends this type of product and points out to his customers that pleasure cannot be purchased as a remedy.

The sexologist has commented on the questionnaire.

1.3.3 Letters editors at Danish magazines

Many Danish weekly and monthly magazines have a correspondence that deals with sex and marital relationships or health-related questions.

A number of these magazines were contacted with regard to uncovering the letters editors' knowledge of pleasure gels, the extent of counselling concerning their use and inquiries about them.

The magazines were graded according to whether they mainly aim at women, at both women and men or mainly at men.

1.3.3.1 Magazines that mainly aim at women

In the category of magazines that mainly aim at women, 3 magazines were contacted.

The letters editors at the 3 magazines informed that they have no knowledge of pleasure gels neither in relation to enquiries from readers nor in relation to the editorial content of the magazine in question.

1.3.3.2 Magazines that aim at both women and men

In the category of magazines that aim at both women and men, 3 magazines were contacted – one of the magazines is for homosexuals.

None of the magazines have received enquiries from readers with questions concerning the use and effect of pleasure gels. Likewise, it has not been a topic that has been treated editorially.

1.3.3.3 Magazines that mainly aim at men

In the category of magazines that aim at men, 4 magazines were contacted.

One letters editor at one of the magazines informed that 9 out of 10 questions concern glide lubricants. So far, none of the questions have concerned pleasure gels. Most of the people who write to the correspondence are male.

The letters editor in question also runs a home party business where sex toys are sold - especially to women. The letters editor also informed that the interest in pleasure gel is very poor at the home parties.

Another two magazines have not received enquiries from readers with questions concerning the use or effect of pleasure gels, and it is not a topic that has been treated editorially.

One of the magazines that had received questions from readers no longer answers questions concerning sex or martial relationships.

1.4 Investigation by questionnaire

A questionnaire was prepared consisting of 12 questions. The questionnaire was commented on by the Sexological Clinic at Rigshospitalet and by one of the sexologists from the Danish Association for Clinical Sexology who was contacted.

1.4.1 Implementation

The questionnaire was accessible on a Danish Internet Portal in a forum for debate which is linked to a printed Danish periodical for women. The questionnaire received high priority in the particular forum for 4 weeks.

During the period, 226 users entered the questionnaire. 137 users answered all or part of the questionnaire (45 participants answered all questions).

1.4.2 Results

The questionnaire consisted of the following questions:

• Due you use pleasure gel?
• How often do you use pleasure gel?
• For how long have you used pleasure gel?
• To which extent do you use pleasure gel today compared to when you started?
• Which type of pleasure gel do you use?
• Where do you buy pleasure gel?
• Which products/brands do you use?
• In which connection do you use pleasure gel?
• Which positive experience do you have from using pleasure gel?”
• Which negative experience do you have from using pleasure gel?”
• Sex?
• Age?

82 % of the participants in the investigation were female and 18 % were male.

With regard to positive experience from the use of pleasure gel (here there were several crosses per answer), 83 % stated that it increases moistness. 50 % stated that it is different and exciting. 40 % stated that pleasure gel increases sensitivity, 10 % stated that it improves erection and 40 % stated that it increases the feeling of pleasure. With regard to negative experience from the use of pleasure gel, 91 % stated that they have no negative experience. 7 % stated that the use of pleasure gel results in burning, 2 % stated that the use results in itching and 4 % stated that using pleasure gel results in fungal infection.

80 % of the participants who use pleasure gel and who stated their age were between 19 and 40 years of age.

From the answers it appeared that pleasure gel is purchased in sex shops just as often as on the Internet – however, slightly more is purchased on the Internet.

1.5 Products

Acquaintance was made with the main part of the products through the Internet. It was not possible to find information about the substances in the products on the home pages of the Internet shops and therefore it was necessary to purchase more products than the amount finally selected for analysis – merely in order to obtain knowledge of the informative labelling on the products.

A total of 33 products were purchased. Furthermore, knowledge of 4 additional products was obtained through one of the sex shops.

1.5.1 Product outline

Table 1.3 shows the labelled substances stated on each of the purchased pleasure gels. The information shown is a direct copy from the label on the product.

Table 1.3 Outline of purchased pleasure gels.

Table 1.4 shows the labelled substances stated on each of the purchased massage oils/massage creams. The information shown is a direct copy from the label on the product. In addition, remarks concerning the directions for use appear from the table.

Table 1.4 Outline of purchased erotic massage oils/massage creams

1.5.2 Selection criteria

The survey resulted in the purchase/registration of 33 products, comprising 22 pleasure gels, one glide lubricant and 10 erotic massage oils/massage creams.

In consultation with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, 22 products were selected with regard to further examination in the project. 15 pleasure gels and 7 erotic massage oils/massage creams were in question.

Selection took place on the basis of information concerning the contents of the products – the substances that had been informed by the manufacturer.

In addition, selection took place according to the following criteria:

1. If two or several products contained the same substances, only the one product was chosen.
2. Products containing substances that immediately are regarded as irritating and/or allergy-causing in contact with skin were given high priority – e.g. cayenne pepper extract, limonene.
3. Several different manufacturers are represented.
4. Popular products.

1.5.3 Selected products

The following 22 products were selected for further analysis:

In the category of pleasure gels the following 17 products were chosen:

Product no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 32.

In the category of erotic massage oils the following 5 products were chosen:

Product no. 15, 18, 27, 29 and 30.

In the following, the product numbers from the survey have been maintained.

Footnotes

^[1] KN code is a 8-figure product code number (KN ~ combined nomenclature)

^[2] www.rigshospitalet.dk/rh.nsf/Content/sexologiskklinik

^[3] www.klinisksexologi.dk

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Version 1.0 September 2006, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency