Sexual+Lubrication

BreAna Pope ** Sexual Lubrication ** ** Function ** Lubrication has many purposes when engaging in sexual activity. Its main function is to enhance sexual pleasure. One way in which lubricants increase pleasure is by decreasing uncomfortable friction. Naturally women create their own lubrication in the vagina from sexual arousal. “In the majority of countries, women’s genital hygiene is highly valued, and women are expected to achieve a moderate amount of vaginal lubrication during sex that is neither excessive nor inadequate. Women may try to achieve this by engaging in a wide variety of vaginal practices” ( Braunstein et al pp. 1). However, some women have difficultly creating enough of their own; this is where store bought lubricants come into play. Lubes can be universally used with different types of sex partners. For example, lesbians are able to use lubricants with sex toys during intercourse. Lubrication also plays a role in oral sex. To make oral sex more desirable, couples often use flavored lubricants. Flavors range heavily in number from strawberry, cherry, plum, and apple from mint, cola, and chocolate. Beware though, that flavored lubricants are only to be used on the body externally; internal use may cause infections due to the sugar content in flav ored lubes. Additionally, lubricants work to reduce condom breakage for prevention of STD’s and STI’s. Medical health care providers also often use lubrications when examining patients. One common example is seen when female patients go in to see their Gynecologists for PAP smears which are used for testing for STDs and STIs. The procedure involves a plastic device called a speculum which needs to be inserted into the vagina. Health care providers use lube to assist the speculum to go in with ease. All in all, from the main function of lubrication (enhancing sexual pleasure) it is evident that lubrication is a way of sexually communicating that sexual attraction is important. ** Female Lubrication ** “Increasing vaginal blood flow and congestion follows increasing sexual arousal. As lubrication is produced by this mechanism it is tacitly assumed that lubrication is an indicator of the women’s level of sexual arousal.” (Levin, pp. 1). Sexual lubrication (lubrication from the vagina) is a form of nonverbal communication. The vagina becomes naturally lubricated when sexual attraction is involved. Nonverbally, the female is communicating to the male she is sexually aroused. “The enhanced vaginal lubrication to sexual arousal has been documented at least since Ancient Grecian times; males actors playing women on stage wore bags of fluid around their waists to denote the subject’s sexual arousal” (Levin, pp. 3). Is quote represents how lubrication has been important for a long time. ** Manufactured Lubrication ** Artificial lubricants are manmade and available in various types. ** Water-Based ** This type of lubricant is mostly made of water and is the safest to use. It has a texture that is smooth and slick, but not sticky like other types. Water-based lubes are beneficial to use because they are mostly made with water and allow for an easy clean up. Another advantage with using this lubricant is it is anal- specific for those who wish to engage in anal sex. The disadvantage to this kind of lubricant is it does not last quite as long as other types do; it may need to be reapplied again and again. ** Silicone-Based ** Silicone lubes are the most commonly used form. Unlike water-based lubrications they tend to last longer. However, they are not as easy to clean up. ** Oil-Based ** Among the other two, oil-based is the lubrication that is less desired. For one, this type is counterproductive to women’s health; it may cause infections in the vagina because it is difficult to clean up. Secondly, condom breakage is susceptible to oil-based lubes; it causes wear and tear to the condom. This sort of lube is also more male masturbation specific. “ Men who are looking for a lubricant for masturbation may want an oil-based product since it stays slick longer (but is not good for use with condoms or vaginal penetration)” (Silverberg, 2008). ** Fertility-Specific ** Not as commonly known but just as effective as other lubricants in developing sexual pleasure, fertility- specific lubricants are intended for partners who want to become pregnant. **”**Traditional lubricants may lubricate, but in doing so they set up an obstacle course to bog down sperm and hinder (or at least decrease the chance of) conception”. (Product Review, 2009). ** Sexual Lubrication in the Media ** Sexual communication is extremely relevant to the media. The media plays an important role in sex communication because the media inmedia type="youtube" key="Z0bPon3dwp0" height="302" width="421" align="right"fluences sexual behavior. In regards to lubrication, people who might watch a lot of pornography involving lube might be more likely to participate in sex using lube. Lubrication also is in the media through commercials. A popular commercial that the K-Y Brand uses involves an older couple who is implied to not have good sex often. However, once they tried K-Y, the commercial shows a quick glimpse of fireworks being set off and then it goes back to the couple who were then in bed under the covers. This is a suggestive type of commercial which suggests an orgasm taking place (due to the K-Y lubricant) while the fireworks were displayed and then done with sex when the focus went back on them. Shortly after this ad came out it was banned; from a sexual communication stand point, K-Y probably knew it would get banned but still created it to get free press and attention. ** Why Doesn’t Everyone use Them? ** <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The major reason many individuals do not use lube is because they feel embarrassed when purchasing them. Another explanation is because people are not sure how to use it.


 * Popular Lubricant Brands **

If one is interested in using lubrication, some popular brands that have been known to satisfy are the K-Y Brand, Astroglide (both water-based), Vaseline (silicone-based), ID Millennium (silicone-based), and Pre-Seed lubricant (fertility specific). Many of these brands have been seen in advertisements; the four sex appeals in advertising help attract attention, increase recall, trigger associative networks, and influence (lecture 3-7-11).

** References ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Levin, R. J (2003). PHYSIOLOGY UPDATE: The ins and outs of vaginal <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lubrication, 4, 3-4. <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Braunstein, S., & Wijgert, J. (2005). Preferences and Practices Related to Vaginal Lubrication: Implications for Microbicide Acceptability and Clinical Testing. //Journal of Women's Health (15409996)//, 14(5), 424-433. <span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> Silverberg, C (2008, January 11). Personal Lubricants: Finding the Right Personal Lubricant, About.com Sexuality, [] <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Pre-Seed Sperm Friendly Lubricant: A Product Review. (2009). **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-weight: normal;">The Return of Pre~Seed: The Sperm-Friendly Lubricant for the TTC Community. **  Stacey,D (2010, November 12). Guide to Birth Control and Safe Water Sex, About.com Contraception, http://contraception.about.com/od/additionalresources/ss/watersex_4.htm.