Using a Personal Lubricant to Enhance Sexual Pleasure

There are many reasons to try a personal lubricant. Some couples are interested in the different sensation a personal lubricant adds to sex. Every personal lubricant has a different feel, and trying many kinds will give you a range of sexual experiences.

Some women choose to use a personal lubricant to combat the natural aging process. When women get older, decreased production of estrogen means that it's harder for the vagina to naturally lubricate during arousal.

Similarly, personal lubricant can do wonders for marathon sex. When your mind says, "Oh, yes," but your vagina says, "Uh, I'm not sure I can do that again after the last three times," the extra moisture from the lubricant can ease potential irritation to the vagina caused by friction. Condoms will also dry out the vagina, and using a personal lubricant can make up for what nature can't.

In some situations, using a personal lubricant is necessary. Anal sex shouldn't be attempted without lubricant because you can cause potential damage to your partner without it. Personal lubricant should also be used with any high-powered vibrator, especially if the vibrator is being used for a long period of time.

Personal lubricant can be used just for fun, too. Many men masturbate with some sort of lubricant, and you can use lubricant to manually stimulate your partner's genitals. If scented massage oil gives you hives, a hypoallergenic lubricant can double as massage oil.

How to Use a Lubricant

The possibilities for using a personal lubricant are only limited by your imagination. For vaginal or anal intercourse, put a small dollop of lubricant on the inside of the condom (in the reservoir tip) before you roll it on. Then, cover the outside of the condom with a thin layer of lubricant. If you and your partner do not use condoms for whatever reason, skip this and rub a thin layer of lubricant on the penis. You may also rub lubricant on the outside of the vagina to ease penetration.

How to Choose a Lubricant

If you rely on condoms as a contraceptive and/or STD protection, you must choose a water-based lubricant that is specifically labeled "condom-safe." Otherwise, the oil in oil-based lubricants will break down the molecular structure of the latex, rendering your condom a fashion accessory at best.

If you do not use condoms, think twice about using an oil-based personal lubricant anyway. Because oil-based lubricants are less compatible with your internal body chemistry, they stick around for longer and can cause yeast and urinary tract infections.

For added contraceptive benefits, you can choose a personal lubricant with spermicide. That way, if your condom breaks or slips off during withdrawal, you won't have to worry so much abut an unwanted or unplanned for pregnancy. If you are using a spermicidal lubricant, be wary of using it too often. More than once in any given 24-hour period is likely to irritate your vagina and can cause yeast infections. Also, do not use a personal lubricant with spermicide for anal sex. It is unnecessary, and can cause severe irritation.

Do Not Use...

You may be tempted to use household items as substitutes for a personal lubricant. Don't do this. Massage oil, moisturizer, and soap will all do more harm to your body than good. Anything anti-bacterial in nature will kill the healthy bacteria living in your vagina that eats the healthy yeast there. When the bacteria die all of a sudden, the yeast production happens unchecked, and you get a yeast infection.

In short, steer clear of anything not specifically labeled as a personal lubricant. The package will specify whether or not it is intended for genital use.