Whether oil, silicone, or water based lubricants, they’re available in every drugstore and sex store yet most still think there is no in-between from the audiences that use, say a lick-able scent based personal lubricant, to an individual with sensitive skin, to a postmenopausal couple needing more lubrication. There’s a lot to get into so. be prepared to have your mind blown!
The Science Behind Personal Lubricants
Before one can fully understand who might benefit from using a lube, we first need to explain osmolality and why it’s so important. When we talk about the osmolality of lubricants, we’re referring to how concentrated the solution is and how it compares to the natural osmolality of bodily fluids, such as vaginal secretions.
According to the Global Consultation on Personal Lubricants Meeting Report, vaginal secretions have osmolalities of 260–370 mOsm/kg and semen 250–380 mOsm/kg. Generally, the osmolality of a lubricant or substance should be no more or less of an 80-point difference to maintain the cellular integrity of the tissue, however, most personal lubricants on the market range in the 2,000–6,000 mOsm/kg.
This common hyper-osmolality causes water to be drawn out of the epithelial cells lining the cellular wall of the affected tissue and causes cells to die and slough off, leaving these tissues irritated, inflamed, and more susceptible to infection, STIs, and in the case of the vaginal wall, bacterial vaginosis (BV).
What’s more, is that most people will not necessarily feel these effects, and this information on osmolality is not commonly discussed or advertised, despite the rigorous process that sexual lubricants undergo to be deemed medical devices. In fact, only two lubricants on the market fall into an optimal iso-osmolar range.
Most lubricants on the market rely on glycols, mainly Glycerol and propylene glycol, to prevent lubricants from “drying out” and to make them feel warmer and drier. However, glycols are a main ingredient that contributes to higher osmolality and cell sloughage in the vagina and rectum.
For those who have chronic conditions or persistent vaginal dryness and rely on lubricants for support inside and outside the bedroom, the lack of education and transparency regarding this important aspect could potentially open the door to a host of other issues.
The Global Consultation on Personal Lubricants states that “The mucosal ecology of the vagina plays an important role in preventing disease. A moist, rich environment, the vagina can harbour STD (STI) pathogens, such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV, as well as different types of vaginal flora: yeast, E. coli, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and others. When there are healthy amounts of lactobacilli in the vagina, the good bacteria battle the bad, killing these pathogens. However, only a minority of women have a ‘normal’, healthy balance of lactobacilli.”
Therefore, it’s essential to choose a lubricant with a similar osmolality to vaginal fluids to ensure optimal comfort and safety during sexual activity. Water based lubes often have osmolalities closer to that of vaginal secretions compared to silicone based lubricants or oil based lubricants, which are more commonly used for anal tissue.
Best Personal Lubricants for Different Types of Sex
What about Anal Sex? The anus and rectum do not produce natural lubrication, making it essential to lubricate. Unlike the vagina, the anus is alkaline, needing a completely separate lubricant to benefit the sensitive tissue and microbiome. The same risks present themselves for anal play, however potential risks for the rectum are less to do with osmolality and more to do with pH.
As the vagina is acidic, using a lubricant for the vagina that is pH balanced and optimized for this tissue will disrupt the natural alkaline state of the rectum causing the entire layer of epithelial tissues to shed. As increased friction from sex and lack of moisture can degrade tissue, increasing irritation, and potentially leading to micro-tears, it also increases the risk for increased infection and STIs due to a disruption in the microbiome and cellular degradation. Personal lubricants can work to reduce friction leading to more comfortable sexual experiences.
Opt for a pH-balanced based personal lubricant, petroleum-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, and oil-free lubricant, such as Bum-Bumz Intimate Arousal Gel specifically formulated for the specific needs of the anal tissue.
“As the CEO of Desert Harvest, a sexual health and wellness company offering support and products to those with debilitating chronic diseases, mainly Interstitial Cystitis (IC), we realize just how much misinformation is out there surrounding how to support your sexual well being.” – Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest
Personal Lubricants and Sexual Health
Learning how to advocate for your sexual health is an important piece of this conversation, as we still are in the age of disregarding the experiences of large bodies of people with symptoms that don’t fit into the researched norms. Not being able to withstand certain chemicals and additives in medical-related everyday products is akin to offering sugar to a diabetic and wondering why they might be reacting negatively to them.
We need to focus on these conversations about health in the age of marketing – that just because anyone can make a product and market it well, doesn’t mean it’s good or healthy or beneficial for us, and certainly not that it is linked to any sort of research. Something intended to provide more comfort during intimacy could contribute to more sexual health issues.
So who benefits from using a lubricant? Lubricants can offer support and sensation to anyone, whether alone with the help of sex toys or coupled, throupled, etc. Using the correct lube for those who are sensitive, have pelvic pain, pain or burning with sex, can make a major night and day difference. Maybe it’s not in your head, maybe you’re just using the wrong lube.
Learn more about Desert Harvest’s iso-osmolar and pH-balanced Aloe Glide Vaginal Lubricant and Bum-Bumz Intimate Arousal Gel.
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