What are the benefits of using a lubricant?
Using a quality lubricant every time during sex or play is vital and greatly increases sexual pleasure. And who wouldn’t want that? Lubricant use reduces friction, and makes any activity involving friction more comfortable and enjoyable for a longer amount of time. Lube not only increases pleasure, comfort, and enjoyment, but can reduce any risk of irritation to delicate tissues in the vaginal and anal areas.
Who should use lubricants?
Lube is for EVERYBODY!
Lubricants are for partner, solo and toy play, for vaginal and anal use, and are for everyone regardless of age.
Contrary to popular belief “wetness” does not equal how aroused you are. All bodies vary and there are many factors are involved.
Even though it may not feel essential, use of lubricant every time with sexual play improves pleasure, and is a positive step towards looking after your overall sexual wellness.
For anyone who experiences discomfort with intercourse, the right lubricant can be a game changer, by making intimacy and intercourse comfortable and enjoyable. It is normal for women who are postnatal, breastfeeding, peri- or post-menopause, or undergoing cancer treatment to have decreased oestrogen levels. This decrease in oestrogen can cause dryness in the vaginal tissues leading to pain or discomfort with intercourse.
What should I look for in a lube?
Not all lubricants are created equal. Here is what to look out for.
pH balance (for vaginal or anal play)
The vagina has a delicate pH balance that plays an important role in the health of the tissues. This pH (around 3.8-4.5) can often fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and around times of menopause, or in the postnatal period. Ideally your lubricant’s pH should match the vaginal pH to minimise any risk of irritation, stinging, or disruption to the normal, healthy vaginal flora and pH balance. Any significant alteration of this vibrant little ecosystem can lead to infection or bacterial vaginosis.
Anal pH is closer to 6-7, so for anal play it is important to find a lubricant with a pH of around 6-7 to minimise irritation and potential damage to tissues. Use of lubricants designed for the vagina can cause stinging to the anal tissues because they are generally more acidic than anal-specific lubricants. Alternatively, you could also consider a silicone or oil-based lube which don’t have pH levels to worry about. Some lubricants are specifically designed for vaginal or anal play so keep this in mind when choosing your lube.
So how do you know the pH of a lubricant? While the packaging doesn’t always list this, you can usually check online but the ingredients used are also key. The less nasties the better, so we’ll list a few to watch out for here:
Ingredients to avoid
To minimise any risk of aggravating or irritating delicate tissues try to avoid:
- Parabens, glycol, glycerin, petroleum or mineral oils
- Any cooling or heating products (such as menthol), scents, or sparkles (sorry!)
- Flavoured lubes are best for oral and foreplay, but please avoid using them vaginally as their high levels of sugar can produce yeast and change vaginal bacteria and pH levels. As we mentioned earlier, disruption of the vaginal pH can lead to yeast or urinary tract infections.
Lubricant compatibility
Not all lubricants are compatible with all products. Here is a quick guide we created for your easy reference:
Here are some quality lubricants we stock and recommend:
- Water-based – YES WB (Water-based)
- Silicone-based – Uberlube
- Oil-based – Olive & Bee, YES OB (Oil-based)
Feel free to reach out if you’d like to know more or for us to help find the best lubricant for you.
Written by Tusanee Jierasak
