People may spend a lot of time thinking about places to have sex and sex partners, but precious little time considering the mechanics. Lube is a very important part of lovemaking. It’s essential for anal sex, but that’s not the only use for it.
Sometimes, additional vaginal lubrication is needed. Most women produce enough on their own, but some can struggle with it due to issues like age, medication, stress, and more.
5 Factors Exacerbating Vaginal Dryness
Here’s a quick look at the factors that influence vaginal lubrication.
Age
Women take longer to get aroused after passing menopause. As their levels of estrogen are lower or they have none, it takes longer for vaginal lubrication to begin.
The Menstrual Cycle
The period in the menstrual cycle also affects estrogen and vaginal lubrication respectively. Around ovulation, estrogen levels are highest. This is in the middle of the cycle. Correspondingly, arousal is highest then and decreases at other times of the cycle.
Stress
Stress can reduce blood flow, focus, and libido, making natural lubrication challenging. The reason for the stress is irrelevant.
Medications
A lot of cold and allergy medicine results in dry mucus, which reduces the much-needed moisture down there. Some antidepressant medication also does this.
Other Reasons to use Lube
Even if you or your partner doesn’t have issues with dryness, lubricants are lots of fun to use. There are four main types of lubricant: oil-, water-, and silicone-based and a hybrid kind that combines water and silicone. We introduce each type in this section.
5 Types of Sex Lubes
Oil-based Lubricants
These are typically the most expensive kind because they last longest. If you’re thinking that hand cream or baby oil will do the same job, think again. They don’t last and can damage the latex in condoms. They don’t always have quality control or oversight for use as lube and can expire and damage sperm or even embryo development in pregnant women. You can also use oil-based lubes for massages.
Like oils found around the house and elsewhere, they aren’t safe to use with condoms. Plenty of people report the condom tearing with such lube. Another disadvantage is their association with higher rates of candida, which causes yeast infections.
Silicone-based Lubricants
Silicone-based lubricant is really good and high quality. Those with reduced salt concentration feel more natural. They also have no taste and won’t irritate sensitive skin, so they can be used for all kinds of sex play. They are less lasting than oil-based ones, but more than water-based varieties. In most cases, they are safe to use with condoms.
Silicone is also hypoallergenic, which means there’s no risk of an allergic reaction. This lube doesn’t need to be applied very often. Don’t use this kind of lube with silicone toys.
Water-based Lubricants
This kind is usually cheapest because it’s the least lasting of all kinds. It can’t be used in water because, obviously, it will just wash away. On the plus side, it’s very easy to clean and it’s the safest kind you can use with condoms.
Hybrid Lubricants
Hybrid lubricant is a mix of water- and silicone-based lube that’s less thick than silicone lube and more lasting than water-based. A very popular subcategory of the hybrid type is so-called cum lube. This is lube that looks like cum, which has two purposes. It’s both a lubricant and made to feel and look like real sperm. While there are some amazing water-based cum lubes out there, hybrid cum lubes will give you the ease of cleaning water-based lube and the durability of silicone.
Natural Lubricant
This is still the least common kind, but it’s quickly gaining momentum. In the past several years, natural lube has been popping up more and more often in physical and online stores. The best kinds have both natural and few ingredients. Some consist of as much as 95 percent aloe vera. There are also vegan, paraben-free options that don’t taste or smell like anything.
A lot of people choose coconut oil, although it has some disadvantages. As we mentioned, oils make latex less effective. It also stains sheets. There is the risk of dipping your fingers into coconut oil that you also use for cooking without cleaning your hands. If you want to buy something all-natural for sex, don’t use it for anything else.
Next Steps
Once you’ve chosen the best kind of you, warm it up a bit in your hands before using. It can feel uncomfortably cold. Lube can help make sex more enjoyable as well as reduce friction regardless of whether you use diaphragms or condoms.
What to Lookout For
Always check the ingredients and look at the pH value. Ideally, the lube you get should be between 3.5 and 4.5 because that’s the ideal pH of a healthy vagina. You should avoid certain ingredients, which can cause inflammation or irritation.
These include glycerin, chlorhexidine gluconate, petroleum, propylene glycol, parabens, and nonoxynol-9. Parabens are on the list because they can cause infections. Get rubber-, latex-, and plastic-friendly lube if you’re using toys and/or condoms. Flavored lube is best for oral use – and oral use only, because it can cause irritation to the genitals and anus.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have more information, you can get started shopping for the best lubricant for your sexual needs. You can use it with a toy, a partner, or both. It will help you deal with menopause dryness as well.
Don’t wait: a study of almost 2,500 women found lube made sex more enjoyable and pleasurable more than 70 percent of the time. And don’t forget: choose a lube that’s easy on the skin, which will keep things moist for as long as necessary. You’re going to be using it on the most sensitive parts of your body.
If you’re shopping online and have never bought lube before, choose several varieties and try each one out one by one. There are all kinds of lubricants for different needs. Your body will thank you.
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