Personal lubricants can help to alleviate friction, add moisture and even create sensation. There is a wide selection of forms and sizes of personal lubricants on the market today that may meet this need.
Lubricant use has been found to increase sexual pleasure and comfort for individuals experiencing vaginal dryness.2 However, without proper knowledge and education about its use and applications it may lead to irritation or infection of the vaginal tract.
How to use
Personal lubricants, commonly referred to as “lube,” can provide additional pleasure and comfort during sexual acts or masturbation. Lube can also be applied directly onto sex toys or genitals to reduce friction and facilitate penetration.
Women often turn to lube when experiencing vaginal dryness or discomfort caused by pregnancy or menopause hormonal fluctuations, certain medications and stress. Lube can provide essential slipperiness while decreasing friction to alleviate symptoms.
Coconut oil or cooking grease may seem like a tempting solution, but experts warn against its use due to the risk of infectious pathogens entering your vagina or rectum. Instead, consider choosing a high-quality personal lubricant designed to fit with the natural pH balance of your body such as AH! YES; such products will not contain fragrance, flavor or cooling ingredients which could irritate sensitive areas and alter its delicate ecosystem; additionally they don’t contain preservatives that could potentially irritate sensitive areas or change its delicate ecosystem; additionally preservatives could potentially irritate sensitive areas or upset its microbiome balance within.
Ingredients to look out for
Lubricants often contain ingredients that can irritate the delicate skin of the vagina and vulva, potentially diminishing comfort, increasing arousal levels and alleviating symptoms associated with PMS. By limiting exposure to such irritating substances, it may help improve comfort, boost arousal levels and minimize PMS symptoms.
Oil-based lubricants can make sensual massage sessions even more pleasurable, yet can trap bacteria that degrade latex condoms, making cleaning them harder than with water-based alternatives.
Consider choosing an iso-osmotic consistency when selecting your lubricant as this will closely resemble the body’s natural lubrication process. Osmolality measures how concentrated liquid is; when two environments with differing particle concentrations come into contact, their particles will try to equalize themselves out; more particles in one environment will transfer moisture to lower-density areas – this process is known as homeostasis.
Size to consider
Personal lubricants come in an assortment of sizes and forms, such as travel bottles. Travel sized bottles provide an ideal way to bring along a small amount of lube in your bag or purse or share it with someone.
Many lubricants contain additives designed to enhance your experience, including glycerin for moisture retention; botanical extracts like aloe vera for soothing qualities; warming or cooling agents. It is important to read labels thoroughly when selecting an appropriate product for yourself.
Lubricants designed for condom use offer peace of mind when exploring sexual pleasures, while providing a safer and more comfortable alternative for people whose natural lubrication diminishes over time due to age-related hormone changes (for instance women entering or experiencing menopause). This enables couples to continue exploring intimacy and connection in ways which bring out their joy.
Considerations
Personal lubricants have long been seen as products marketed exclusively to postmenopausal women or those engaging in masturbation; however, lube has the power to enhance pleasure for everyone. From partner play through anal play and everything in between lube reduces friction for maximum comfort and increased orgasms.
Lube can help ease any associated vaginal dryness-related pain or chafing, particularly for new mothers or during menopause. Lube may also prove useful if taking an estrogen and progestin-containing birth control pill that causes vaginal atrophy and dryness for some women.
If you’re shopping for lube, there are many choices available at pharmacies, health stores and supermarkets; but not all lubes are created equal. When reading ingredients labels of potential lube purchases, be wary of those containing glycerin, parabens, propylene glycol spermicides or petroleum oil as these substances could upset the delicate ecosystem in your vagina and alter pH balance; some lubes could even damage body cells causing irritation or infection.
