Personal lubricant
Personal lubricants are used to reduce friction with the genitals or anus, particularly during sexual acts, but also during medical procedures.
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Types
Water-based
Water-based personal lubricants are water-soluble, and are generally the type which is least irritating to body surfaces. These are descended from a cellulose and water combination, originally labeled as 'Surgilube', released in the 1950's. Subsequent products have added various agents for spreading, water retention, and resistance to contamination. The viscosity of these products can adjusted by adjusting their water content and concentration of cellulose (or other gel forming macromolecule). They do have a tendency to dry out during use, but application of additional water is sufficient to re-activate them. These properties lead to their frequent use for sexual activity.
During the last 20 years, a few companies have used a water soluble, silicon co-polymer (dimethecone),for a prolonged slippery effect. While these contain a silicone component they are still water based products. They are very slippery, which can be a disadvantage because a certain amount of friction is necessary for optimal sensation, their viscosity cannot be adjusted, and they can stain clothing and sheets.
Water-based lubricants are incompatible with underwater sex as they can be dissolved or dispersed in water.
Popular brands include K-Y Jelly and Astroglide.
Oil-based
Petroleum jelly has long been used for medical procedures. Being oil-based, it does not react with body fluids in the same way as water-based products, making it longer lasting, though it is somewhat less lubricating. Petroleum jelly is sometimes used as a lubricant for anal sex. Although petroleum jelly is inexpensive and readily available, it can often be very difficult to clean off the body after sexual activity, due to the fact that it is not water soluble.
Unlike water-based lubricants, oil-based lubricants weaken latex and may reduce the effectiveness of latex condoms as a contraceptive and protection against sexually-transmitted diseases. This also applies to oil-based lotions or foods which may be used as an improvised lubricant.
Popular brands include Vaseline.
Silicone-based
Technically, most silicone-based lubricants are oils, as they are chemically hydrophobic. They tend to retain lubrication longer than water-based lubricants.
Silicone-based lubricants should also not be used with condoms, or silicone based sex toys.
Popular brands include Eros, Wet Platinum and DeGLOW ([1]).
Specialty
Specialty lubricants are designed to cause physiological or physical changes to the area applied; these include warming lubricants which heat up in temperature on contact with the body. Breathing on these types of lubricants can also increase their temperature creating a pleasant warming sensation. Another type of specialty lubricant can increase blood flow to the regions in which they are applied creating a fuller erection of the penis or clitoris. Still others include flavored lubricants.
Popular brands include Wet fun flavors (warming), KY Jelly (warming) and Thermal (warming & (blood flow vasodilator (l-arginine)).
List of vasodilating and or sensitivity maximizing ingredients to look for:
- Methyl Salicylate,Niacin,L-Arginine HCL, Methyl Nicotinate, acetylcholine, amrinone, bamethan sulphate, bencyclane fumarate, benfurodil hemisuccinate, benzyl nicotinate, buflomedil hydrochloride, buphenine hydrochloride, butalamine hydrochloride, cetiedil citrate, ciclonicate, cinepazide maleate, cyclandelate, di-isopropylammonium dichloroacetate, ethyl nicotinate, hepronicate, hexyl nicotinate, ifenprodil tartrate, inositol nicotinate, isoxsuprine hydrochloride, kallidinogenase, methyl nicotinate, methyl salicylate, naftidrofuryl oxalate, nicametate citrate, niceritrol, nicoboxil, nicofuranose, nicotinyl alcohol, nicotinyl alcohol tartrate, nitric oxide, nonivamide, oxpentifylline, papaverine, papaveroline, pentifylline, peroxynitrite, pinacidil, pipratecol, propentofyltine, raubasine, suloctidil, teasuprine, thymoxamine hydrochloride, xanthinol nicotinate, diazoxide, hydralazine, minoxidil and sodium nitroprusside
(Note that the use of transdermal technology is important for the increased effectiveness of some if not all formulations)
See http://www.lubery.com for a very large listing of many lubricants.
Alternatives
Other substances improvised as sexual lubricants:
- moisturizing body lotion
- saliva
- cooking oils
- egg white
- fruit pulp and other foods
Uses
Intercourse
A lubricant can be used to increase pleasure or reduce pain during sexual activity and may be used for lubricating the penis or dildo and/or the vagina or anus before sexual intercourse. Personal lubricants make bearable and even pleasurable acts that would otherwise be painful, such as anal sex, or vaginal intercourse when the woman experiences vaginal dryness or her vagina is contracted. It is generally sufficient to apply a good drop of gel on the vaginal entrance; anal sex may require a more generous application. There are also available combinations of personal lubricants with spermicides, to be injected into the vagina prior to intercourse.
Masturbation
Males and females masturbate differently. While males do produce a lubricating fluid (Cowper's fluid), the informal name for this fluid, "pre-come" or "pre-cum", already indicates that this may often be released only relatively shortly before orgasm or after intense mental stimulation. Moreover, the circumcised penis lacks the little amount of extra lubrication produced by the foreskin, often making artificial lubrication necessary for starting masturbation. For uncircumcised males, lubrication is usually desirable mainly for extra stimulation and to allow more intense stroking of the penis,although this could also be said for circumcised males as well. A lubricant may be used to facilitate the use of certain sex toys, or with females as part of prolonged clitoral stimulation.
Medical
Any type of personal lubricant can be used for:
- gynecological examinations
- digital rectal examinations
- enema nozzles
- rectal thermometers