When people think about sex, lubricant is usually an afterthought. Sure, you might have condoms on hand or are using another form of birth control, but did you know that extra lube can have the ability totally change your sex life? You may know that bodies produce natural lubricant, but there are so many benefits and reasons to add extra lube to your sex life. Here are the key things to know about lubricant to help you get started.

Basically, there are 3 main types: silicone, water-based, and oil based.

1. Water-based lubricant is widely available, affordable and safe to use with condoms. This type is gentle on the skin, easily washes off, and doesn’t cause any stains on clothes or bed sheets. The only downside to water-based lube is that it can get dry more quickly than other types, but you can always fix this by just adding a little extra lube to get it wet again.
2. Silicone lubricant is safe to use with latex condoms and is very silky in feeling. While silicone-based lubes are generally more expensive and harder to find in Myanmar, they typically last longer than water-based and are feel less sticky. However, silicone is also harder to wash off from your body, clothes or sheets.
3. Oil-based lubricants work very well to help skin-to-skin contact feel comfortable and sensual. However, oil-based lubes are not safe to use with condoms as it can make it easier for condoms to break. Oil-based lubricants can also be oils such as coconut or olive oil. Keep in mind that using oils and oil-based lubricants can stain sheets and can be difficult to wash off.

Lubricant makes sex safer

When women get turned on, the walls of the vagina begin to swell and produce a clear and odorless natural lubricant which reduces friction and irritation during sex. However, the amount of lubricant a woman produces depends on a variety of factors including how dehydrated she is, if she’s on certain types of medication, if she’s stressed, if it takes longer for her to get turned on, or if it’s just how her body works. A lack of lubrication during sex can cause vaginal tears, which is uncomfortable for women and can make her more susceptible to STIs. And while some women produce more than enough natural lubricant to keep sex comfortable and pleasurable for the entire time, many other couples will benefit from added lubricant, especially for longer sessions.

If using a condom, it is recommended to add a couple drops of water-based lubricant to the inside and outside of the condom. You may be thinking, “Why? Aren’t condoms already lubricated?” Condoms do indeed come with some lubricant but extra is usually needed since the existing lubricant on the condom gets rubbed off during sex. This causes more friction and can make the condom more likely to break. Plus, a little added lubricant can add to the sensation that there’s nothing between you and your partner.

 

Lube is for everyone

Lubricant is often thought of as something needed for older couples or as a medicine for women who experience vaginal dryness. But this limits the positive advantage lube can have for many people. The fact is that all kinds of people use lubricant for a variety of reasons, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Lubricant makes sex feel better, and can be used by people of all ages and sexuality. It can be used during vaginal or anal sex, or mutual masturbation. It can also be used during foreplay to help stimulate and relax the body.

There is such a thing as too much lube!!!

So, if lubricant is so great to use—the more the better, right? Wrong! While not enough lubricant causes too much friction and can irritate the skin, too much lubricant can make sex less enjoyable, since it reduces the intensity of pleasure. Just a couple of extra drops will do, but if you add too much, don’t worry. That’s easily fixed by wiping a little bit off with a towel.