Men's health vocabulary: Condom sales surge and competition from Viagra market.
Men's health vocabulary (click here):
Technology changes lives
Cui Lixin
October 28, 2004, marked the 5th "Men's Health Day." On this occasion, let's click on some popular terms in the field of men's reproductive health to understand the changes in men's health in recent years.
Condom sales continue to soar
Condoms now occupy a prominent place in the family planning product sections of major pharmacies, with numerous brands and various types available. Sales statistics from many pharmacies show a continuous increase in condom sales in recent years. At the same time, condom vending machines are increasingly appearing on city streets. Some condom manufacturers are experiencing annual sales growth of 30% to 35%.
Experts believe that the increasing number of people choosing to use condoms is not only due to their contraceptive and birth control effects, but also because their preventive function against sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS is widely recognized. Men's awareness of self-care for reproductive health has undergone an unprecedented change.
The Viagra market is highly competitive.
Viagra (Sildenafil) is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Since its approval for marketing in my country in 2000, it has been the subject of numerous news events. The first was the patent dispute. Pfizer, the American company that produces Viagra, and 12 domestic pharmaceutical companies have been locked in a bitter dispute over who should own the patent rights to Viagra.
Just as the patent controversy was still ongoing, the State Food and Drug Administration and the Ministry of Health jointly issued a document allowing Viagra to be sold in pharmaceutical retail enterprises from October 1, 2004, and further liberalizing its prescription authority.
Meanwhile, the German-made "Levitra" claims it aims to end Viagra's monopoly in the Chinese market. Another new American anti-ED drug, "Tadalafil," is also accelerating its entry into the Chinese market. While these foreign Viagras are vying for market share, the development of domestically produced ED treatments is also proceeding rapidly.
A series of news events related to Viagra undoubtedly illustrate one fact: there is a huge market demand for Viagra. Whether it's the competition between foreign Viagra brands or the accelerated research and development of domestically produced Viagra, it's good news for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). This means they will have more and lower-priced products to choose from.
The development of andrology as a discipline is in full swing.
A decade or so ago, if a man had a problem with his reproductive system, he would be directed to either urology, dermatology, or traditional Chinese medicine. Many men had to shuttle between different departments in the hospital because the wrong treatment wasn't provided. For a considerable period, my country lacked dedicated andrology hospitals, andrology departments, and even dedicated andrologists. Things have changed dramatically. Andrology hospitals and dedicated andrology departments within general hospitals are springing up in many cities across the country. Furthermore, my country's first andrology research institute has opened in Shanghai. Independent andrology programs have become a key discipline in many higher medical colleges in my country. Meanwhile, standardized diagnostic and treatment criteria for common male diseases such as infertility are being developed.
Sperm banks have great potential for growth.
In modern society, delaying childbearing is a common phenomenon among young people. However, some worry that sperm quality may decline with age or other reasons; furthermore, those engaged in radioactive or high-risk work, as well as those about to undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy, also face the risk of impaired sperm quality. The emergence of "sperm banks" undoubtedly helps solve this problem for these individuals. By paying a certain fee annually, they can store their sperm cells at their most active and healthiest stage in a "sperm bank." It is understood that there are currently five officially approved human sperm banks in Guangdong, Shanghai, Chongqing, Jiangsu, and Hunan provinces in my country offering this service. Men aged 20-45 can store their sperm.
Although the number of people storing sperm is not yet large and some people are still taking a cautious wait-and-see approach, industry insiders believe that "sperm banks" have great potential to gain popularity.