5 Things You Need to Know About Lubricants

1. Dryness Disasters

Women use vaginal lubricants because of vaginal dryness. There are a lot of causes for vaginal dryness including hormonal changes and side effects of certain medications, including birth control. Vaginal dryness can make having sexual intercourse uncomfortable for both the man and woman because of increased friction. Using a lubricant will alleviate the pain by decreasing the friction. Lubricants also make using a condom more comfortable for some people by easing the friction caused by the condom. In addition, using a lubricant may lessen the chance of a condom breaking.

2. Health Hazards

There's haven't been many studies on lubricants in the medical community. However, some reports show there are some increased health risks in women who use lubricants. Yeast infections and allergic reactions are possible when you use a personal lubricant. If you develop a yeast infection or allergic reaction, you should stop using the lubricant. Glycerine and paraben are two of the most common ingredients in personal lubricants that may be the cause of the problem. Many lubricants come in glycerine-free or paraben-free varieties.

3. Two Main Types

Lubricants come in water-based and silicone-based formulas. The Food and Drug Administration has approved both of these for use with condoms. While both are for the same thing, there are some slight differences. Water-based formulas wash off with water. They are widely available, inexpensive and can be found in a lot of varieties, including warming and flavored. Silicone-based formulas have to be washed off with soap and water. They don't dry up as quickly as water-based formulas.

4. May Sabotage Your Efforts

If you are trying to conceive a child, you should talk to your doctor about finding a lubricant that is safe to use that won't damage sperm. Some brands of personal lubricants, such as Replens and Astroglide, can damage sperm. It is very important that you let your doctor know if you are using a personal lubricant if infertility is a concern. It is equally as important to know that using a lubricant isn't a form of birth control. Even though lubricants may damage sperm, getting pregnant is still very possible when you use a personal lubricant.

5. Keep Your Head Up

Buying lubricants may be slightly uncomfortable. It is important to remember that using lubricants is nothing to be ashamed of. Vaginal dryness is fairly common. If you are really ashamed of having to buy lubricant, you may want to consider going to a store where no one knows you. If you live in a small town, going to another town may be the only way that you can buy a lubricant anonymously.