What all this theoretically means is that we are more likely to emerge from the pandemic with a better understanding of our bodies and less shame about our sexuality.

So can sex toys improve sex lives? I asked Dr D Narayana, a globally acclaimed sexual health specialist and a Vvox expert.

Dr D Narayana Reddy: It depends on why the couples or an individual wants to use a sex toy. If it’s being used for novelty and curiosity, then it can enhance their sex lives.

In sex therapy, we recommend the use of sex toys and gadgets, especially for women, to stimulate the clitoris, because many feel guilty touching it with their hands. So by using a sex toy, they feel more comfortable exploring their sexuality. There is danger that sex toys can depersonalise your sex-life, if you depend too much on it.

Mishaps associated with sex toys too are not uncommon. (A US data shows that America reported a total of 18,547 vibrator injuries and 6,468 dildo injuries that led to emergency room visits between 2000 and 2019).

Several years ago, in India, we had to help a woman extricate a Ben Wa ball that went deep into her body during sexual exploration. So with any kind of sexual wellness product, safety should be the first priority. (Ben Wa balls are small spherical objects designed to be inserted in the vagina. The devices witnessed a surge in popularity after the success of erotic thriller Fifty Shades of Grey.)