All About Lube

Lubricants make things slippery and reduce friction which can be a desirable feeling during sex. It can also make sex easier on your external and internal skin, reducing irritation and pain (and the chance of STI transmission). For people with vaginas/vulvas that find they produce less natural lubrication than they want, lube can be a really great option. Things like menopause, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can often impact the amount of lubrication one naturally produces and lube can be especially helpful in these cases. Vaginas created through Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty (the most common form of vaginoplasty) do not self lubricate. The more rare Peritoneal Pull-through vaginoplasty does have self-lubricating tissue. All vaginas (including the ones created by a doctor and the ones people are born with) just produce different amounts of lubrication naturally! Because the anus doesn’t produce natural lubricant, lube is especially important for people participating in anal sex. Water-based and silicone-based lube can additionally reduce the chance of the condom breaking, reducing the chances of STI transmission. here are also oil-based lubes. Each lube has its own special features and drawbacks.

Lube isn’t for everyone, some folks like the feeling of friction without lube, and some folks with vaginas find they produce enough natural lubrication on their own. For those that like it, and those who are curious to try it, lube can be a great way to make your sex feel good while reducing your chances of STI transmission Lube makes it easier to put one thing into another, and take it out…and to put it back in over and over again! But not all lube is the same. Take some time to explore which lube feels best for you and your partner(s).

 

Types of Lube:

Lube: Water-based
Sex Toys: Yes! Water-based lubes are perfect for all sex toys.
Condom: Yes! Water-based lubes are perfect for all types of condoms.
Features: Won’t stain or leave a mess, Available in flavoured or scented options
Drawbacks: Doesn’t last long, so you need to add more over time
Tips: You can add water to make it slippery again
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Lube: Silicone-based
Sex Toys: Mostly! Silicone-based lubes are great for sex toys, except ones that are made of silicone. Silicone melts silicone!
Condom: Yes! Silicone-based lubes are perfect for all types of condoms (except silicone condoms).
Features: Long-lasting, so a little goes a long way, Waterproof! Works in the shower, Super slippery! Doesn’t stain fabric or other materials
Drawbacks: Will melt silicone-based sex toys
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Lube: Oil-based
Sex Toys: Mostly! Oil-based lubes work with all sex toys, except for ones that contain latex because the lube will damage it
Latex condom: No! Oil-based lubes ruin latex condoms, making them ineffective and likely to break or tear. If you like the feel of oil-based lubes, most non-latex plastic condoms work with oil-based lubes.
Features: Long-lasting, so a little goes a long way, Thick, so it feels good, and also reduces the chance of anal or front-hole/vaginal tearing
Drawbacks: Doesn’t play well with latex toys. Will stain fabric, wood and other materials; needs to be cleaned up with soap and water
Tips: Great for masturbation because it lasts a long time
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Lube: Petroleum-based
Sex Toys: Mostly! Petroleum-based lube is great for all sex toys, except those that contain latex because these toys will be damaged over time
Condom: No! Petroleum-based lubes ruin latex condoms, making them ineffective and likely to break or tear. If you like the feel of petroleum-based lubes, some non-latex plastic condoms work with oil-based lubes, just do your research!
Features: Super thick, so it feels great, and greatly reduces the chance of anal or font-hole/vaginal tearing, The best choice for extreme anal play like fisting.
Drawbacks: Doesn’t play well with latex toys, Petroleum-based lubes have been linked with increased likelihood of HIV transmission and acquisition and can lead to some other bacterial or yeast infections. Will stain fabric, wood, and other materials; needs to be cleaned up with soap and water.
*The common household product, vaseline, is sometimes used as an ‘at-home’ lube. While this works for lots of people, it generally isn’t recommended as it is difficult to keep clean and can increase the chances of genital infections or bacteria growth.

This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
You can learn more about where we got this information from at: Transcare, DRzPHD
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references