Lubricant is an amazing thing. It makes sex more comfortable, more slippery and just feels awesome. I am sure you have all heard the term ‘wetter is better’, and if you have used lubricant for sex, then you know this is completely true! There are also a whole lot of benefits to using lubricant for sex beyond just pleasure. It can help with vaginal dryness, it will prevent your condoms from tearing and it can also allow you to play for a lot longer than you can without it. So, if you want your sex to be the best sex that it can possibly be, I suggest you keep reading.
Do I need to use lubricant for sex?
You don’t have to, but using sex lube can certainly make the experience a lot more enjoyable for you. Vaginas self lubricate at different levels and the amount of natural wetness is not always a reflection of actual arousal levels. There are all sorts of factors which influence this from stress and anxiety to hormonal changes due to contraception, pregnancy or menopause. There are also medical conditions that affect this too, as well as medications including anxiety meds and anti-depressants. Even stress and tiredness play a large part and it is bound to affect us all at some point in our lives. Using a lubricant to replace that wetness removes stress and keeps things running smoothly!
Do I need to use lubricant for anal sex?
Yes, yes and yes! The anus is not self-lubricating, no matter how hard you try, so it is important to use adequate lubrication every time you play. It is also pretty absorbent so the longer-lasting and thicker the lubricant, the better. Silicone and oil based lubricants are great for anal sex as they won’t dry out. If you want to stick to water based lube, you can. Just make sure you pick one that is specifically for anal as it will be more vicious than regular water based lube.
What are the benefits of using lubricant for sex?
I think the real question here is where to start?! There are all sorts of benefits to using lubricant during sex, but here are the most important.
- It makes everything feel better
Lubricant is designed to keep everything slippery and comfortable and just feeling a whole lot better! It enhances pleasure and makes every thrust glide without getting rid of any sensation. It can even help you to orgasm faster and it just feels so damn good.
- It can replace the vaginas natural lubrication
As I mentioned above, vaginal dryness also isn’t the only indicator of arousal and sometimes the vagina won’t become naturally wet no matter how hard you try. And, this really isn’t a big deal! Lube can have you wet in a matter of seconds so you can get on with it without worry.
- It allows you to skip the foreplay
Lubricant can actually quicken the process if the body isn’t responding as fast as you would like it too. I don’t suggest skipping out on foreplay but if you are in a hurry and a quickie is all you have time for, then lubricant can help make it a lot more enjoyable.
- It lets you go for longer
No need to worry about your natural lubrication drying out and feeling discomfort before you are both finished. With lubricant, you can relax and enjoy yourself knowing that things are gliding smoothly.
- It helps to prevent infection
Using lubricant reduces the risk of our sensitive genital skin tearing during sex. The vagina and anus are extremely delicate and micro tears are super common. However, these small tears actually make us more susceptible to contracting infections. So use lube, and probably a condom too!
- It will help prevent your condom from ripping
The most common reason that condoms tear during sex is that there is not enough lubrication to reduce friction and let them glide as they should. Even those that come pre-lubricated simply don’t have enough and you need to apply more to keep safe.
You should be using lube on the outside of the condom but try a little bit on the inside too. Just don’t go overboard. You want just enough to feel some wetness and slipperiness without it feeling like it is going to slide right off.
Which lubricant is best for sex?
There are three main types of personal lubricants; water based, silicone and oil based. Which one you use depends on how you want to use it as all of them work in different ways to one another.
Water based
Water based is the most common lubricant type as it is inexpensive, easily accessible and can be used for any kind of sex. Water based lubes are safe for foreplay, vaginal and anal sex. It is even safe to ingest a small amount if you use it during oral sex too. It is also compatible with all sex toy materials and is safe to use with condoms.
The other thing that makes this type of lubricant so popular is that it is made up of mostly water so it is non-staining and will absorb into the skin once friction stops. However, this does mean that you may need to reapply it throughout your play as it doesn’t tend to last very long.
Silicone
Silicone lubricant is another option that is fairly common and is a great option for people that need something a bit thicker and longer lasting than a water based lube. Silicone lube is super slippery and actually enhances the sexual experience by reducing friction without removing the sensation of skin on skin, or skin against the toy. You will still feel everything except for discomfort!
Silicone is a great option to use for sex as it will stay slippery without drying out. The viscosity of it also makes it ideal for anal sex as it provides some cushioning inside the body. You can even use it in the shower and it won’t wash off with water alone, so it's great for water play. It’s also safe to use with condoms and some sex toy materials. But, it cannot be used with silicone sex toys as silicone on silicone creates a chemical reaction that may turn your toys sticky.
Oil based
Oil based lubricant is the ideal lube for prolonged play sessions as it is so long-lasting and will basically stay there until you decide to remove it, which can take some effort! It is also very thick and extremely smooth offering maximum comfort and glide. For that reason, it is a very popular lube for anal sex.
However, it is important to know that oil based lubes cannot be used with latex condoms. Oils break down the latex condoms making them prone to tearing, and thus, pointless. Condoms made from non-latex materials are, however fine to use with oil based lubes. You can also use oil based lubes with non-latex sex toys and for vaginal sex, just be prepared to clean up thoroughly after.
There is no shame in using lubrication for sex, so if you want to use it, use it! It will make it safer, more comfortable and a whole lot more pleasurable too.
Daniel Garrett is a sexual wellness expert with an emphasis in men's health. Daniel graduated from the Eldorado Board of Sexual Health.