The Lube Guide: When, How, and Type of Personal Lubricant for You
Personal lubricant is a liquid substance designed to offset vaginal dryness to decrease pain or discomfort during sex. There is a major stigma against its use, and often seen as taboo.
For example: a partner with a vagina may feel insecure about not being able to ‘get wet’ or that there’s some sort of dysfunction. A partner with a penis/penetrating partner may feel insecurities regarding not being able to arouse his/her partner.
There’s a lack of information about this topic and it’s time to change the narrative. Sexual arousal and a lack of natural lubricant are not always linear.
Stress, dehydration, various medical conditions, side effects of medications, hormonal changes such as menopause or while breastfeeding, or simply timing (a lack of foreplay) are all reasons why vaginal dryness may occur. According to two studies, 65.5% of women and 70% of men have used commercial lubricants.
There are numerous reasons to use a lubricant, and they don’t all have to do with sex. Yes, lubes can improve sexual appreciation during penetration. It also is used as a moisturizer to the skin of the vulva and vaginal opening (like moisturizing your face, but for your privates), as well as to improve scar tissue mobility.
When purchasing lube it’s important to know that not all lubricants are created equal. If you care about the shampoo you put on your head and the soap on your skin, you also want to consider what you put on and in your privates. Like almost anything we buy nowadays, the longer the ingredient list the increased likelihood that there are added harsh chemicals, which effect the vaginal tissue and the vagina’s microbiome (like your gut, it has one too!). Exposure to toxic lubricant ingredients can lead to discomfort, irritation, and increased risk of infection, even from short term exposure. I recommend finding products that are paraben-, glycerin- and petroleum-free to minimize risk of infection.
Take a peek at the ingredient list of your lubricant or potential lubricant purchase. The biggest takeaway is the less ingredients in your lube, the better. Also, no need for the bells and whistles of flavors, colors, or temperature changes. Simplicity will take you and your vagina further.
Lube is made in a variety of bases that serve different purposes: oil, silicone, water, and hybrid. See the lube guide graphic below for descriptions and recommendations.
Personal lubricant is a tool. No matter what your reasons for using it are, it’s a simple way to enhance your sex life and decrease discomfort. So go ahead, and lube up!
Sources:
Reece, M., Herbenick, D., Schick, V., Sanders, S. A., & Dennis Fortenberry, J. (2014). Men’s Use and Perceptions of Commercial Lubricants: Prevalence and Characteristics in a Nationally Representative Sample of American Adults. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11(5)
Jozkowski, K. N., Herbenick, D., Schick, V., Reece, M., Sanders, S. A., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2013). Women’s Perceptions about Lubricant Use and Vaginal Wetness During Sexual Activities. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(2), 484–492.