What Does Lube Do?
Lube can be used by men or women, regardless of sexual orientation or the type of sex someone is having – and whether with a partner or solo.
Lube can be used for:
- Decreasing friction and preventing associated discomfort during vaginal sex.
- Decreasing friction and preventing discomfort or injury to the anus during anal penetration.
- Making oral sex easier and more enjoyable, particularly if dry mouth is an issue. Additionally, some lubes have added flavoring that can be used purely for the enjoyment of it, or as a means of “masking” the natural taste of a penis or vulva.
- Making the use of sex toys more comfortable and in some cases, can actually improve the way they function.
- Adding a warming, cooling, or tingling effect during sex play, although the ingredients used to achieve these effects are not always safe.
- Numbing the areas they make contact with — most often the anus — to decrease discomfort during penetration. This numbing effect, however, can mask any pain associated with injury as it occurs.
With its silky and slick consistency, personal lubricant reduces friction and lowers the risk of irritation or injury if your body isn’t producing enough of its own lubrication during sex — which, by the way, is normal.
Many people use lubricant during vaginal or anal penetration, but it’s often used during external play, too — such as during manual stimulation of the penis or clitoris.
Although the vagina produces lubrication naturally, it isn’t always enough to provide adequate comfort during penetration.
Additionally, small tears can occur from friction during vaginal penetration — something that lube helps to prevent.
Aside from vaginal use, the anus is not self-lubricating and for this reason, lube should always be used during anal sex — without exception — to prevent anal injury (and in tandem, a higher risk of STI transmission).
There are plenty of expertly-crafted formulas to choose from that are specifically designed to enhance anal sex.
While spit acts as a natural lube during oral sex, dry mouth can happen to anyone — and an edible lube can remedy the situation quickly, with the added benefit of sweet flavoring (optional).
Additionally, the performance of sex toys can be improved with the use of a little bit of personal lubricant.
While penetrative toys benefit from the reduction of friction when lube is in use, personal lubricant helps clit sucking vibrators to “latch” onto the clit more easily — making them more effective in the process.
