Sex Aids' Shelf Space, Sales Grow

Be careful letting your kids wander in Wal-Mart—the retail giant and other mainstream stores are devoting more shelf space to sex aids, Newsweek reports, and they aren’t hiding it. Lubricants, oils and even vibrators are increasingly appearing next to contraceptives and pregnancy tests. “Even the more conservative retailers have come over,” says an executive of one sex-aid company.

Sales of sex products, once bought mainly online, have shot up, and stores like Walgreens aim simply to “reflect trends,” said a spokeswoman. Over-the-counter lubricant sales, for example, increased by over 30% in 2007 over the previous 4-year period. Why the boost? “We're much more open now to experimenting sexually,” says a sex therapist. (More sex toys stories.)