Can't figure
out
why
masturbation
feels really good until it suddenly feels painful? Wondering how to keep
genital sex
with partners from being painful or uncomfortable? Curious about how to use condoms properly to reduce the risk of
pregnancy
or STIs?
The answer (or part of the answer) is: lube!
Lube is short for lubricant , a liquid-y substance that makes things slipperier. Lube makes many kinds of sex wetter and comfier. It also makes sex safer by making it less likely a condom will break.
You may hear people say our bodies produce lube on their own. Whether that's true depends on which body part we're talking about, and it's also not always the case for everyone, or for anyone, all the time. The vagina produces its own fluids, but the amount varies from day to day and person to person. The penis also produces fluids, like pre-ejaculate . Then there's your mouth, which can produce saliva, or spit. Sometimes, the lube made by your body is enough to keep sex or masturbation feeling good for everyone. Other times, you need to add some more.
Why do people use lube? Here are some common ways and reasons:
- Vaginal sex: Putting anything comfortably inside the vagina requires lubrication. Using lots of lube helps vaginal sex feel good, rather than painful or uncomfortable.
- Anal sex: The anus and rectum don't produce their own fluids the way the vagina does. Lube is necessary in order to have safe, pleasurable, anal sex .
- Masturbation: Lube can make masturbation more fun and comfortable.
- Oral sex: If you're performing oral sex , putting flavored lube on the outside of the condom or dental dam can make it more enjoyable. If you're receiving oral sex, having non-flavored lube on the inside of the condom or dental dam can make it more pleasurable.
What kinds of lube are there? When we talk about lube, we usually describe it by its "base." The base is the main thing the lube is made from, and it effects how the lube feels on your skin. The main kinds of lube are:
- Water based: This is the most common type of lube. It’s easy to clean up and doesn’t stain fabric. Because it dries faster than other kinds of lube, you might have to keep applying it during sex or masturbation.
- Oil based: This kind of lube can break down latex. Since most condoms are made from latex, oil-based lube is not safe to use with them. If you like the way oil-based lube feels, you can use it during masturbation or with nonlatex condoms and other barriers.
- Silicone based: This doesn’t dry up or absorb into the skin. That means it lasts longer during sex than water-based lube. It can, however, stain things like sheets. It’s harder to clean up and a little more expensive than water-based lube.
- Flavored: You can use this during oral sex. Flavored lubes often have sweeteners, which can increase the risk of yeast infections. So, it shouldn’t go in or on the vagina or vulva . Some people can be sensitive to flavored lube as well.
- Warming or cooling: These are usually condom-safe. But, the added ingredients to create the heating or cooling effect can irritate the genitals . Cooling or numbing lube can also stop people from noticing something is hurting them during sex, because they can't feel what's actually going on.
How do you choose lube? The simplest way to find lube you like is to try out different kinds. Sometimes stores will have testers so you can see how it feels on your hands before you buy it. You can also test out kinds of lube at home during masturbation, or with a partner during sex.
When choosing lube, you want it to feel nice on your skin. You can also smell lube to make sure the scent doesn't make you gag. If you're planning to use lube for oral sex, you'll also want to check the taste.
You can find lube many places. Drugstores, grocery stores, and superstores all carry lube. If you're 18 or older, you can also buy lube at a sex toy store. Doctors’ offices and health centers often have lube that patients can ask for or get for free.
You might be worried using lube means you're doing sex or masturbation “wrong.” It can help to think of lube as just one of many tools you can use to make sex enjoyable. Using lube is not an indication of how sexy you think a partner is. It doesn’t mean you hate the sex you're having. And it says nothing about how “good” you or a partner are at sex. It's simply a way of making sex safer, smoother, and more pleasurable for everyone involved.
More resources on lube and related topics
- To read the longer article that this piece is a summary of: Lube 101: A Slick Little Primer
- For advice on asking a partner to use lube: How Do I Ask for Lube?
- To read more about all the ways lube can help you out: Lubricant (not Diamonds) is a Girl's Best Friend
- To read if you still don't feel sure about using lube: The I-Don't-Want-To-Use-Lube Blues
- For reasons why the vagina may not be self-lubricating a lot: Why Don't I Self-Lubricate Enough?
- To learn the other things needed for safer sex : Safe, Sound, Sexy: A Safer Sex How-To
- To learn about the barrier methods that you use with lube: All the Barriers! All the Time!
- For helping talking to a partner about lube: Be a Blabbermouth! The Whys, Whats, and Hows of Talking About Sex with a Partner
- To learn why lube is extra-important for anal sex: Anal Sex: No Different?
Some good outside resources on lube and related topics are
- How to Choose Lube for Pleasure and Safety at Our Bodies, Ourselves
- All About Lube at Go Ask Alice
- Wait, What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up, by Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman
- S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College by Heather Corinna
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