The demand for sexual health care products has increased by 15%, especially for intimate deodorants (64%), condoms (51%) and topical contraceptives (31%). These are data from the Cofares Trends Observatory which also highlights a 4% increase in sales of facial care treatments.
Cover of the Report of the Cofares Trends Observatory Has self-love reached personal health?
As part of the European Sexual Health Day, the Observatory has analyzed the demand for three areas of sexual and personal health care products: intimate health, facial health and supplementation.
Has self-love reached personal health?
Data from the report, called “Has self-love reached personal health?”, indicate that cumulative sales of sexual health products between 2022 and 2023 represent a 6% increase in unit volume. Comparing it with the previous two years, demand has grown by up to 15%.
In the pandemic and post-pandemic, according to the Observatory, the demand for sexual care products has remained “strong” and has been increasing. The one that has increased the most is intimate deodorants (64%), condoms (51%) and topical contraceptives (31%).
According to the data, in the case of condoms, consumption has grown by 51% between 2023-2021 and 9% between 2023-2022.
Sales of lubricants have grown by 7%.
As for intrauterine devices that prevent fertilization, known as IUDs, their consumption has stabilized in recent months.
From the beginning of 2022 to 2023, cumulative sales have increased by 11%. However, Cofares clarifies that pre-pandemic levels have not been reached and growth is lower compared to the accumulated in 2021 (-61%).
Lubricants, intimate soaps and condoms, the most requested
And in the period from 2021 to 2023, the products in the personal care and intimate hygiene basket most requested by pharmacies are lubricants, followed by intimate soaps and condoms.
There is an increase in the use of these products in the autumn and winter months. In this sense, the Observatory points out that there is a seasonal pattern in consumption, with significant peaks at these times of the year.
By communities
By autonomous communities, from 2022 and until January 2023 it has increased in almost all the autonomous communities where Cofares is a distributor. The greatest demand for all these products has been recorded in Madrid, Andalusia, the Valencian Community and Catalonia, accounting for 65% of the total.
And in 2023, annual growth has been 9% in Madrid; 5% in Andalusia; 13%, in the Valencian Community; and 8%, in Catalonia.
In the specific case of condoms, the autonomous regions where the most have been sold in the last year have been Madrid (a growth of 19%), Andalusia (11%) and Catalonia with (10%).
Facial care
The Observatory points out that confinement and mobility restrictions had their effect on the demand for facial treatments, a category that has been improving since 2021. Although it has suffered moments of lows until the end of 2022.
At the start of the year, sales show an annual balance of growth of 4%.