Amazon to classify pelvic medical devices as 'sex toys,' for some reason
Amazon will begin labeling some medical devices like pelvic floor wands as "sex toys" and "adult content" on Nov. 15, according to a message sent to sellers.
These products — wands, kegel weights, and more — are used by pelvic pain patients in order to feel some symptom relief. Like foam rollers, they're basically physical therapy tools. Yet, by marking them as sex toys, they'll only be searchable on Amazon within the adult content section.
"The upcoming changes in Amazon's classification of medical tools as adult products is harmful to consumers," said Amanda Olson, founder of pelvic health brand Intimate Rose.
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"Forcing people with sensitive pelvic health issues to scroll and search through provocative adult images of other products [is] damaging and will create a barrier to their access to important healthcare tools."
Olson said she's tried to urge Amazon not to classify FDA-cleared devices as sex toys, but hasn't been able to reach them. She started a petition to reverse Amazon's decision, which has over 8,000 signatures at the time of publication.
The petition states that one in three may suffer from pelvic pain, but some estimates say one in two — and that includes all people, no matter their anatomy. Pelvic pain is extremely common, but given that it's not often discussed, patients may not know where to turn for help.
Olson fears that people who'd benefit from these products won't find them due to this change. She also worries that patients with a history of trauma will have to navigate graphic sex toy images in order to find therapeutic tools.
"We deserve the right to safely and conveniently locate medical devices without unnecessary exposure to sexually explicit products," she wrote on the petition. "By grouping pelvic wands and kegel weights into the same category as sex toys, Amazon has taken a stand against the health of people with vaginas."
Amazon hasn't responded to Mashable's request for comment, but given that there's two weeks until this categorization goes into effect, there's still time to stop it.
Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.
