How to introduce lube into your relationship
How to introduce lube into your relationship
Vaginal dryness is completely normal, it is nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. Rest assured that it affects almost all women at some point in their lives.
Introducing lube into your relationship can help you overcome the issues caused by vaginal dryness, making sex more comfortable and enhancing enjoyment, for both you and your partner. Lube is not only used by those with vaginal dryness, many people with plenty of natural lubrication also use lube to boost their sexual pleasure.
Bringing up the subject of lube to your partner for the first time might feel awkward, but there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If you’re thinking about using lube but you’re not sure how to introduce it to your relationship, explore our handy guide.
How lube can improve your sex life
Introducing lube into your relationship is one of the simplest ways to improve your sex life. Not only does it help reduce any pain or discomfort, it can also make sex feel better for you both of you.
In 2013, a study of 2,451 women aged between 18 – 68 found that, overall, women felt positive about lubricants, preferring sex to feel wetter. In addition to this, 9 out of 10 women stated that sex was more comfortable, pleasurable, and overall better increase when using lube [1].
Lube can enhance your sensitivity and open doors to new sensations, as well as increase comfort and reduce the risk of tears, chafing, and discomfort. Reducing the risk of tears can also reduce the risk of STD transmission [2].
Reasons why you might enjoy lube
Vaginal dryness can affect anyone, but it often affects people who:
- Are breastfeeding
- Are in perimenopause or menopause
- Take medications including antihistamines and antidepressants
- Use hormonal birth control
- Are undergoing chemotherapy [3]
It can also be caused by:
- Stress
- Over washing
- Dehydration
- Under stimulation [4]
If you experience vaginal dryness, you might find lube particularly beneficial, helping to prevent itching, burning, chaffing, and general discomfort.
Reasons why he might enjoy lube
Lube doesn’t just make sex feel better for women, it can improve sexual pleasure for men too. Ensuring the penis is well lubricated can help prevent any damage, while also enhancing pleasure. For men who experience issues with erection or arousal, the use of lube can help to intensify pleasure and make their erections last longer [5].
How to talk about lube with your partner
If the thought of bringing up using lube feels awkward – remember that it doesn’t have to be a difficult conversation. Using lube is perfectly normal, and it can improve the experience for both parties.
Be open and honest and explain to your partner why you think lube would be beneficial for both of you.
How to find the best sexual lube
If you haven’t used lube before, you might be surprised at just how many varieties are available.
As a general rule, you should try to avoid lubricants containing artificial flavors, colors, sugars, and essential oils.
Many of the lubes for sale in high street stores and pharmacies also contain high levels of glycerin. Although glycerin is deemed to be body safe and is used in a wide range of cosmetic products, it can increase the risk of vaginal yeast and bacterial infections.
When choosing lube, ensure you look for one with a pH level that matches that of a healthy vagina, around pH 4 to pH 4.5 [6]. Maintaining a healthy vaginal pH can help prevent the risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Types of lube
There are a several types of lube available, including water-based and oil-based. Each have their own benefits.
Water-based lube
Water-based lubricant is the most common type of lube. It provides realistic lubrication similar in feel to the body’s natural fluids and is effective in managing symptoms of vaginal dryness or irritation as it helps to hydrate intimate tissues. Water-based lubricants can be used for penetrative sex and masturbation, as well as with condoms and sex toys [7].
However, water-based lubes aren’t great if your planning sex in the shower, as they will wash away. They can also need reapplying frequently so bare this in mind if you need a lubricant to last for longer periods. This is where an oil-based lubricant comes in.
Oil-based lube
Oil-based lubes offer a different sensation. Richly emollient, they can be extremely soothing for the skin, and last longer than water-based lubes. They are ideal for penetrative sex and masturbation, as well as sensual massage [8]. We recommend that you opt for a plant-oil based lubricant that contains organic and natural plant-oils (i.e. coconut oil or shea butter), as opposed to a synthetic oil-based lubricant containing mineral oils, silicone oils or petroleum by products which can stifle the skin and cause damage to the intimate tissues [9].
However, it’s important to keep in mind that oil-based lubes aren’t safe to be used with latex condoms, because they can cause the latex to break down, become porous, or tear. Non-latex condoms, including those made of polyisoprene, are also sensitive to oil-based lubes [10].
Ideas for using lube with your partner
Foreplay
Foreplay is a great time to introduce lube. Rather than waiting for penetrative sex to begin, bringing out the lube during foreplay can help break up any nervousness while also enhancing the experience for you both.
Massage
Did you know that lube can also work well as a massage oil?
Using lube with your partner can take some getting used to, so one of the easiest ways to introduce it to the relationship is to use it during massage. Take some lube in your hands and massage your partner’s back or shoulders. Then, as you both get more comfortable, you can move on to more intimate areas of the body. The rich organic plant butters make AH! YES OB ideal for this!
In the shower
Water can wash away your natural lubrication. So, if you’re having sex in the shower, a plant-oil based lubricant can be really helpful.
Introduce lube today
Why not enhance your relationship and consider introducing lube? If you take one thing away, just remember to make sure that when using a lube, you consider the options and find the best one for you. Shop AH! YES lubricants here.
References:
[2] https://www.healthista.com/17-best-lubes-to-make-your-sex-life-better/
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/vaginal-lubricants#benefits
[4] https://www.healthista.com/17-best-lubes-to-make-your-sex-life-better/
[6] https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-to-pick-a-lubricant
[7] https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-to-pick-a-lubricant
[8] https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-to-pick-a-lubricant
[9] https://www.ahyes.org/faqs/ingredients/
[10] https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-to-pick-a-lubricant
