By #LubeLife Team | March 26,
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Lube is the Swiss Army Knife of sexual accessories. No matter what (or who) you’re into, lubricants can be successfully applied to any steamy situation for increased pleasure and comfort. It’s a MUST for anal sex but can easily enhance vaginal sex, foreplay (think flavored lubes), and even masturbation. But before you decide to slip and slide your way through the sheets, you need to know what type of lube is right for you.
In this article, we’ll explore the three basic types of lube and offer some guidance on choosing the right one.
Broadly speaking, there are 3 common types of lube:
1. Water-based lubricants.
2. Silicone-based lubricants.
3. Oil-based lubricants.
Water-based lube is perhaps the most popular type of lube. It’s the safest option to use with latex condoms, most sex toys, and human skin. Best of all, it’s easy to clean up afterwards. The only downside? It may not last as long as the alternatives.
Silicone-based lube is safe to use on human skin. Unlike water-based lube, silicone lube can be used underwater for the ultimate hot tub or shower experience. It is long-lasting, which can be a bad thing if you need to clean up quickly afterwards. Unfortunately, silicone-based lube can stain or damage the surface of silicone sex toys so make sure you only use it for skin-on-skin (or latex-on-skin) contact.
Lastly, oil-based lubricant is a great choice for hand-on-penis action, as it offers a long-lasting, slippery-wet experience. The downsides: Oil-based lube damages latex condoms, potentially leading to unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Additionally, oil lubes tend to trap harmful bacteria in the vagina and lead to nasty infections. We recommend only using oil-based lube for external masturbation and massages.
Many #LubeLife products are water-based so you don’t have to worry about damaging sex toys, latex condoms, or vaginas.
Okay, now that we’ve covered the basic categories/ingredients of lube, let’s go over some additional considerations. Before making a purchase, ask yourself the following questions:
· Will I need to hide my lube from children or roommates? If you want to keep your bedroom activities discreet from nosy kids or roommates, you might not want lube bottles that feature overtly sexual labels. Make sure your lube bottles feature generic labels that don’t scream, “I’M A TOTAL FREAK WHEN NOBODY’S LOOKING!”
· Will I be applying lube to my sex toys? As we mentioned earlier, silicone-based lube can damage silicone sex toys. You can test out compatibility by applying small amounts of silicone lube to your toys to gauge how they react to contact. If that’s too much trouble, we recommend choosing water-based lubricants just to play it safe.
· Do I plan on getting lube in my mouth? Sex ought to be spontaneous and uninhibited. There’s nothing worse than stopping the action to clean off lube between penetration and oral sex. Flavored lubricants solve this problem by enhancing oral sex before or after penetration. Not all flavors are created equal, so you may want to sample several different types of flavored lube before purchasing a large bottle. Lastly, some flavored lubes contain sugar. Sugar can irritate sensitive vaginas, so make sure your lube is sugar-free (or at least contains a minimal amount).
· Am I trying to get pregnant? The viscous (thick) nature of lube can prevent sperm from crossing the finish fine. If you’re trying to conceive, stick to specialty lubricants designed for the explicit purpose of baby makin’. NOTE: DO NOT use lube as a contraceptive – it isn’t nearly as reliable as conventional birth control.
· Do I have I have a high-maintenance vagina? Some vaginas are more sensitive than others. If your cooter is prone to infections or irritation, look for organic or pH-balanced lubricants to reduce risk.
If you regularly incorporate lube in your sex life, you might be getting a bit bored of the conventional options. If so, consider specialty lubes that
· Cool
· Tingle
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· Numb
· Warm
Obviously, you’ll want to be a bit cautious at first and gauge how you and your partner’s body respond to stimulating lubricants.
We hope our brief guide has given you enough direction to make an educated #LubeLife decision. Now slide into action!
Learn about the three main types of lubricants and the pros and cons of each. Discover what to look for in your personal lubricant to protect vaginal health.
By OBGYN Dr. Kenosha Gleaton
No matter what kind of sex you’re having or what your family planning goals are, it’s important to know the different pros and cons to different types of lubricants. Let’s talk about the benefits of lube, what kind might be right for you, and what kind of lubricant to avoid.
Personal lubricant can be a great product to bring into the bedroom for a variety of reasons. Lube can be beneficial for everyone, regardless of the kind of sex you’re having or your family planning goals. Lube may be beneficial for those experiencing vaginal dryness or painful sex, and may support sexual function, pleasure, and enjoyment during sex [1].
Lube is often recommended for use with condoms to reduce breakage, which improves the protection against STIs, HIV, and pregnancy (although this isn’t the case for oil-based lubes, which we’ll get to later) [1]. For those hoping to conceive, there are sperm friendly or fertility-friendly lubricants made to be compatible with sperm, eggs, and embryos [2].
Whether or not you’re trying to conceive (TTC), it’s important to know what kind of lube you’re using and why the different types of lube matter. Above all, it’s important that you’re protecting the health of yourself and your partner(s) by practicing safe sex with safe products. Read more about lube, such as How Lube Can Affect Vaginal Health and Can Lube Cause a UTI?
There are three main categories of lube: water based, oil based, or silicon based. All lubricant is created to aid in pleasurable, frictionless sex, but there are pros and cons to each that you should know about.
Lubricants that are water-based are a popular choice. These lubricants are usually safe for use with condoms and silicon devices and aren’t likely to stain clothing or sheets. Water-based lubricants may also be more likely to have a healthy pH and osmolality. The con is that some water-based lubricants contain ingredients you may want to avoid, especially if you’re TTC, sensitive to artificial flavors, colors, or are prone to getting bacterial or yeast infections [3-4]. This is especially true for any lubricants marketed as “warming” or “flavored” lubed. Keep an eye out for ingredients like glycerin and parabens, and read the full list of what lube ingredients to avoid.
Oil-based lubes do tend to last longer than water-based or silicone-based lubes, which can be a pro for some people. Unfortunately, oil-based lubes are associated with an increased risk of yeast infections, which is something to keep in mind [5]. Oil is also more likely to stain clothing or sheets and can be hard to wash away. Another important fact to note about oil-based lubricants is that they can erode latex condoms. This isn’t ideal if you’re relying on condoms for STI or pregnancy prevention.
Lubricants made with a silicon base are usually waterproof, hypoallergenic (assuming there are no added allergens), and sometimes thicker than other lubricants [6]. These lubes are safe for use with most condoms, but shouldn’t be used with silicon devices. Some studies have found that silicon-based lubricants may be associated with some skin cell damage or irritation and may decrease condom puncture strength [7].
Shop fertility friendly, water-based lube →
You should always proceed with caution before trying any alternative lube options. Products that were not designed to be used as personal lubricants may contain ingredients that can be damaging to your health and fertility. Always avoid products that contain alcohol or chemicals.
Potential alternatives to lube include organic coconut oil, saliva, or pure aloe vera gel.
Keep in mind that even natural oils can damage condoms, and saliva can pass on some STIs [8-9]. Never use any scented lotions, soaps, baby oil, or other products as a lubricant. These products can cause infections or irritate the skin. You should stick to cleared fertility-friendly lubricants if you’re TTC, or speak to your healthcare provider for their recommendations on other lube options.
When shopping for lube, keep in mind that different types of lubricants all have their pros and cons. In general, it’s best to avoid any products that contain glycerin, parabens, and artificial fragrances. If you’re using latex condoms, avoid oil-based lubricants and keep in mind that some silicon-based lubes may weaken condom puncture strength [7]. If you’re TTC, avoid lubricants that haven’t been cleared by the FDA as fertility friendly. For those prone to infections or with sensitive skin, consider water-based lubricants. For specific questions or recommendations, you should speak to your healthcare provider.
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