MUMBAI, India - Health officials in India have reported a significant drop in the number of men visiting commercial sex workers in the past year, while the use of sex toys has dramatically increased during the same time period. The shift is attributed to younger generations' fear of AIDS, officials said.
"Targeted intervention in HIV/AIDS control has been happening by promoting self satisfaction as a tool to reduce the chances of the spread of the epidemic," Tushar Deshmukh, director of the Family Planning Association of India, told Mid-Day.com.
Estimates are that there has been a 30 percent drop in brothel visits in the past year, and a 50 percent increase in the use of sex toys during the same period.
"GenNext is concerned about sexual safety and performance, and so there has been a substantial rise in patients asking for life-sized inflatable sex dolls and vibrators," sexologist Prakash Kothari told Mid-Day.com.
The problem is that the sale of sex toys is illegal in India, punishable by imprisonment up one to seven years and a fine up to 5,000 rupees (about $96 USD).
Despite the threat of criminal charges, shopkeepers continue to stock the items, many of which are smuggled in from the U.S. and China, the news agency reported.
"The demand for sex toys is quite high. However, the economic slowdown has affected our business in the last six to seven months. Sales have dipped slightly," Aatish Jain, a shopkeeper told reporters.
The hottest selling items, he said, are life-sized inflatable dolls.
"We sell at least 10 to 12 of these dolls every month," Jain said.
