Learn More About..... Lubricants

LUBRICANTS 101 – Answers for Men and Women

Q.  If a woman is turned on, why does she need a lubricant?

A.  Wow, what a myth this one is.   Yes, many women, when aroused do provide some natural vaginal secretions (not all women do this) but it is rarely enough lubrication.   There are many other factors that contribute to a woman's natural lubrication properties (i.e. menstrual cycles, medications, etc)  - see the question on vaginal dryness below.  

Q. Do I need a lubricant? 

A. Yes! Both men and women of all ages need lubricants for all kinds of pleasurable activities, whether by themselves or with a partner (opposite OR same sex). Lubricants are going to make any sexual activity much more pleasurable and in some cases, will prevent possible pain. The best type of lubricant will depend on the activity and we’ll talk more about that later. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to have several types of lubricants on hand to be prepared for any emergency.

Q. What kinds of lubricants are there and which kind is best?

A. Generally, there are three types of lubricants but there are some confusing subcategories as well. Lubricants may be water based, silicone based or oil based. Each type has its own positives and negatives.

WATER BASED: 

The Good: Safe for vaginal use, safe for toys of any material, usually will not cause yeast infections, condom compatible, less expensive (but you must use more), wash off easily, typically non staining, available in edible flavors and warming varieties

The Bad: May not last as long as desired, washes away easily so not great for hot tubs, pools, showers, etc., may not be slippery enough for some, flavored ones often contain sugar and/or glycerin which may be an irritant for some women.

SILICONE BASED:

The Good: Rarely causes irritation although some brands use higher quality silicone than others. Stays slippery, even under water, and lasts longer than water based lubes without having to add more, condom compatible, great for anal sex.

The Bad: Will harm toys that are made of silicone (differing types of silicone cause melting of many toys), does not wash off easily – you’ll need soap for sure, may stain sheets and clothing, more expensive (but you will use less).

OIL BASED:

The Good: Ok for men using this for masturbation purposes or for anal sex ONLY.

The Bad: Causes yeast and other nasty infections if used vaginally in women. What happens is the stuff coats the inside of the vagina and does not wash out. This makes for a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. NOT condom compatible and will harm all latex it comes into contact with such as diaphragms. Best to stay away from oil based lubricants all together. By the way, oil based includes such things as baby oil and Vaseline.

Q. I’ve had allergy problems, what should I use?”

A. Well, this is where the sub categories come into play. They fall under the Water Based variety of lubricants. Even though a lubricant is water based, it may still contain ingredients that could be a problem for some people. If you have very sensitive skin or allergies, you will want a lubricant that is glycerin free, paraben free and possibly sugar free. Lucky for you, there is a new trend emerging in lubricants now that embraces organic lubricants that are made from all natural ingredients. You may want to avoid buying large quantities of these at one time though because they don’t contain artificial preservatives and so their shelf life isn’t as long. Some brands are worse than others and we’ve discontinued selling these. 

Q. What brand of lubricant is best?

A. This is a real can of worms. What’s “best” for one person may not be for another. There are brands that may be more well known than others but this does not always mean they’re “the best.” In one case, it simply means they have far more advertising dollars to spend. Ok, we’ll be honest…. The brand we’re referring to is KY. KY typically does not live up to the advertising. We’ve heard numerous complaints about it drying up too quickly, having a foul taste, etc. All of the brands we carry are good ones or we wouldn’t sell them. It’s really a matter of personal preference. So have fun trying different ones and you decide which is YOUR brand.

Q. What causes vaginal dryness and is it common?

A. According to health experts, 20 million women in the U.S. suffer from vaginal dryness. Over half of all women between the ages of 18 and 29 will experience vaginal dryness, as will 80% of all menopausal women. A good lubricant provides an easy, effective means of relieving the discomfort caused by vaginal dryness.

The causes can be anything from low estrogen levels to outside factors such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, tampons, condoms or diaphragms. Taking antihistamines or decongestants will interfere with your vaginal moisture, as will washing with certain soaps.

For most women, however, vaginal dryness is a direct result of lowered estrogen levels. This occurs during pregnancy or following childbirth, and when a woman enters perimenopause or menopause. Nursing, menstrual cycle changes, contraceptives, infertility drugs, hysterectomy or related surgeries, fatigue, stress and rigorous exercise also may contribute to reduced levels of estrogen.

Related link: Mayo Clinic on Vaginal Dryness

Q. Does glycerin cause yeast infections?

A. There have been several women's journals citing glycerin as a source of yeast infections. This is not true! In fact, some yeast infection cures contain glycerin. An existing yeast infection can be made worse by using products containing a large percentage of glycerin. This is because the sugars in glycerin act as a food source for the yeast. If you are prone to yeast infections, it is best to use products that are paraben free and glycerin free.

Q. Do lubricants prevent pregnancy?

A. NO! Do NOT use a lubricant as a form of birth control! However, IF you are trying to become pregnant, you may wish to discontinue use of lubricants. The two issues to consider from this perspective are the motility of sperm (their ability to swim) and the longevity or viability of sperm (basically, how long the sperm is good for). One study found that four commercial lubricants inhibited sperm motility by 60 to 100 percent after 60 minutes (A 1996 study published in the International Journal of Fertility and Menopausal Studies). As always, check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Back to "Learn More About" Guides

Learn more about...