Highlights
- Sexual lubricants can make sexual activity more enjoyable for both men and women.
- Lubricants can heat things up, increase blood flow to the genitals, and make sex more comfortable for women.
- Men with erectile dysfunction may see some improvement in hardness by using lubricants.
- Some sexual lubricants can delay stimulation for men who struggle with premature ejaculation.
Sexual lubricants do a lot more than lubricate. If you’re looking for a way to take your sexual experience to a higher level, lubricants can help with that. Both men and women find sex more enjoyable with sexual lubricants, but lubes can do much more than provide moisture — they can heighten pleasure for men and women, help with ED, and even help men with premature ejaculation last longer.
What Are Sexual Lubricants?
A
lubricant
is a liquid or gel that men can apply to their penis to make it more slippery. Women can also apply lubricants to add moisture to the vulva, vagina, or anal area.
It’s a good idea to be
aware of the risks
, especially of poor-quality lubes. However, sexual lubricants are safe for most people, and they’re a must for those who experience irritation easily.
For couples who want something extra, lubricants can make sex more pleasurable. There are many from which to choose. It can be great fun to try them all, and you’ll find that some do a lot more than simply lubricate.
Types of Sexual Lubricants
There are a variety of
types of lubricants
, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Straightforward lubricants without any special additives come in three types:
- Water-based lubes.
Water lubricants may need to be reapplied but usually are non-staining and rinse off with plain water.
- Silicone-based lubes.
Lubricants made with silicone feel silky and generally stay that way, but they can stain fabrics and need to be washed off using soap and water.
- Oil-based lubes.
These can also be effective, but they can break down the latex of condoms, which decreases their effectiveness and safety.
Sexual Lubricants are Nothing New
As long as humans have had sex, sexual lubricants have been around. Oils of different types were probably the most common lubricants that men and women relied on for ages.
Olive oil was readily available to people in earlier civilizations, but any oil may have been used. In ancient Greece and Rome, olive oil was the most common, and it was used for everything from cooking to lighting lamps to sex.
In the early 1900s, KY Jelly was developed. Initially a sterile, surgical product, it became available to the public later. By the 1960s, lubricants had begun to evolve as we know them today.
Lubricants Can Heat Things Up
Peppermint and other mint extracts are common additives in modern sexual lubricants. When applied, they can heighten arousal quickly. Although mint is known for a cool sensation, these lubricants can also feel warm.
Although you should never try a muscle-soothing rub as a lubricant — the sensation would be incredibly intense and perhaps even painful — sexual lubricants with a warming additive work similarly.
They feel cool at first and then warm up the longer they’re on your skin. The warm and cool sensations intensify dramatically when your partner breathes on the lubricant.
Capsaicin is another additive used in some lubricants. This ingredient gives a warm feeling, but it can be too much for some people. If you’re sensitive to chili peppers, this might be too hot for you.
Some Lubricants Increase Blood Flow
Sexual lubricants containing a vasodilator are designed to increase blood flow to the penis or clitoris. Increasing blood flow to the genitals temporarily heightens sexual sensitivity.
With increased blood flow and heightened sensitivity, both men and women may experience greater arousal than when using lubricants without a vasodilator. The increased blood flow can be enough for some men to give a reluctant erection a boost.
Lubricant ingredients that purport to enhance sensitivity include niacin, lactic acid, borage seed oil, and angelica.
L-arginine
is another common vasodilator ingredient, but it isn’t right for everyone, including people with certain sexually transmitted diseases.
Lubricants Can Improve Sex for Women
Lubricants aren’t just for men. There are a variety of reasons why your lady might want to try a sexual lubricant too.
Lubricants can:
- Improve comfort
. Women using lubricants find sex more comfortable, especially as their natural lubrication decreases with age.
- Reduces the danger of vaginal tearing.
Reduced vaginal tearing also
reduces the chances
of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
- Allows time for the vagina to catch up.
Let’s face it: Women can take longer than men to warm up during foreplay. Applying lube can remedy this.
- Lube may help women experience new sensations.
This can be more enjoyable, according to
Sari Locker
, Ph.D., sexuality educator at Columbia University.
Lubricants Can Help Men With Premature Ejaculation
If you experience premature ejaculation, you may be pleasantly surprised by the effects of a good sexual lubricant.
Premature ejaculation
is a common problem for men in the United States.
Between 30 and 40
percent of men suffer from premature ejaculation (PE) sometime during their lives.
If you ejaculate sooner than you or your partner would prefer,
lubrication can help
by reducing the friction between you and your partner. When you reduce friction, your penis feels less stimulation. With less stimulation, you’ll have more control.
Delay lubes provide a gentle numbing effect that reduces sensation on your penis, allowing you to last longer and reducing the feeling of friction that builds up the need to ejaculate.
For men who would like to last longer during sex, we offer a
premature ejaculation kit
, which includes lube, delay wipes, and delay condoms — everything you need to extend the pleasure of sexual activity.
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Elizabeth Nichols is an experienced and flexible author with extensive experience in both popular media and academic publishing. She specializes in health, medical and travel writing.
