By: Ann K. Avery, MD, Infectious Disease Physician at MetroHealth Medical Center
Sex is no fun if there’s too much friction. A good time requires a smooth glide.
That’s why there’s a whole industry selling lubricants (lube for short). No matter what kind of sex we’re talking about, adding lube gets rid of friction and makes it all feel better.
Of course, the kind of lube you use can make all the difference, especially when wearing a condom!
Essential facts on lubes and condoms
A broken condom won’t protect you from HIV. Using the wrong kind of lube can cause a condom to break — so you have to pay attention to how you lube. Here are some #ProTips:
- Never use oil-based lube, like Vaseline or baby oil. Oil will weaken the condom and make it break.
- Plus, if you’re not using a condom, oils and flavored lubes can increase the chance of a yeast infection…ouch!
- Water and silicone based lubes are the way to go
- Lube up whatever is going in (aka the D) as well as the outside of where it’s going
- When lubing it up, go big or go home! The more lube the better. Have some fun putting it on!
- A drop of lube inside the condom makes it feel so much better for the partner doing the inserting
The best lubes for condoms are either water-based or silicone-based. Water is easier to wash off than silicone, but it tends to dry out sooner. Silicone has more staying power but can be messier. It all comes down to how you and your partner like to do it.
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Why lube?
Lube just makes everything better. This is especially true for anal sex.
Your butt doesn’t lube itself, it needs some extra lovin’ to keep healthy. The tissues of the rectum are thin and easy to damage. Bleeding or ruptured anal tissues increase the likelihood of HIV transmission…plus that just sounds painful!
Anal sex doesn’t have to hurt. Adding lube dramatically reduces the risk of damage and pain. It also increases pleasure, which keeps your partner(s) happy 😉
Vaginas naturally produce lubricants when aroused, but those natural lubes sometimes seem to have a mind of their own. Hormonal changes or stress can cause women to produce less natural lube. So, when in doubt, lube it up!
Keeping it real with lube
No matter who you are and what sex you’re having, you and your partner(s) deserve maximum fun with minimum risk. Lube, especially when used with a condom, is one way to get more pleasure while also reducing your risk of HIV transmission.
There are a lot of places to get free lube and condoms around Cleveland. Health clinics, the LGBT Center, and HIV case managers are good places to start. So remember, whatever you do, don’t forget to lube.
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