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Commercial
lubricants: are the slippery secret of sensational sex. Unfortunately, says
Californian sex therapist Marty Klein, only a fraction of couples use
them. If you are one of those that miss out on the erotic treasure trove
of sexual lubricants and think lubes are only for masturbation, anal play
and frigid housewives then you should take five minutes to read this.
Why
lubricants are good for men:
Gay
men have long known about and enjoyed the use of lubes in their sex lives
however in many heterosexual relationships, lubes are considered a
woman’s thing. Wrong.
Men
too can have great fun applying them to their lovers or using them on
their penises when with their partner or alone. Lubricants can also add an
erotic dimension when applied to the scrotum or a neat little trick is to
put a drop of silicone lubricant on the head of his penis just before
rolling on a condom. This really heightens his enjoyment whilst wearing a
rubber.
Why
lubricants are good for women :
Lubricants can really
set the passion wheels in motion. Start by using it on her breasts,
flavoured are great for some licking and sucking whereas silicone will
feel beautiful and as an added benefit will act as a moisturiser! He could
also put a little dab on his finger before he begins stroking her
clitoris. Often vaginal lubrication doesn’t finds its way there before
direct stimulation so any man’s touch will feel rough no matter how soft
his hands.
There
are women who believe they lubricate naturally and therefore “don’t
need a lube”, but they shouldn’t knock it before they try it. Every
couple who have sex will find their love-making benefits from the use of
lube.
Are
lubricants safe with toys?
Yes, in fact many sex
toy instruction sheets recommend the use of lubes with their toys. A
little lube applied to the toy and to where it is going will make it a far
more enjoyable experience. Beyond that, lubes are toys in themselves. They
help spur couples to be more sexually playful. The only rider is that
silicone lube should not be used with silicone toys.
Doesn’t
using a lube act as an interruption?
Well,
it does take a second to squeeze some lube onto your hands and then apply
it, but when one lover reaches for the lube, the other knows something
very pleasurable is about to happen and rather than being an interruption,
that moment of erotic anticipation can make you even hotter.
When
lubricants can be used to help maintain a healthy, happy sex-life: There
are times in a woman’s life, just after childbirth, different points
within the menstrual cycle or after menopause when lubrication can be
given a helping hand and yes lubricants are a fun, simple and highly
effective way to continue enjoying a healthy sex-life. Stress, tiredness,
use of over the counter drugs and the pill can also contribute to dryer
than normal sex, but because a vagina doesn’t get lubricated it
doesn’t necessarily provide a barrier to intercourse. This can lead to
tiny tears in the vagina which as well as being sore leaves it more
vulnerable to infection. As for men, the effects can be more damaging in
the long term. As the body repairs tiny tears in the penis it sometimes
lays down an inflexible tissue which if it continues can ultimately lead
to a bend in the penis
Aren’t
all lubes the same? No,
no, no! Using the wrong lube is akin to putting machine oil in your car.
Take
a look below to help you choose the kind that’s right for you. Sexual
lubricants come in four basic forms:
Water-based.
Available in both flavoured and unflavoured mixtures, water-based lubes do
not stain, are safe for use with latex and all barrier birth control
methods, and rarely cause irritation. While they can dry out during
extended sex, water-based lubes are quickly revived with a spritz of water
or a dollop of saliva. Because of their versatility and effectiveness,
water-based lubes are the form of lube recommended most often by
experienced couples. ID Sensual Glide is the number one rated
water-based lubricant in America and is proving one of the most popular
lubes in the UK.
Flavoured:
These are water-based lubricants with a twist. Wonderful for oral sex they
can make foreplay great fun and tasty too. Make sure the lubricant you
choose does not contain sugar as this can cause yeast infections in women.
The world’s top selling flavoured lubricants, ID Juicy Lubes come
in twelve flavours, Big Banana, Bubblegum Blast, Wild Cherry, Caramel
Cream, Chocolate and Raspberry, Cool Mint, Fresh Peach, Passion Fruit,
Pina Colada, Luscious Watermelon, Strawberry and Kiwi and Vanilla Cream.
So there should be one that takes your fancy! (Also available in sachets
so you can have a different flavour every night!)
Silicone-based:
The Rolls-Royce of lubricants, silicone based lubes retain their
lubricating properties better and longer than water-based lubricants and
are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Another benefit is
that they are completely waterproof, making them ideal for underwater use.
ID Millennium is the only 100% pure grade silicone lubricant making
it ultra, ultra long lasting. Silicone will not harm latex and is
perfectly safe for internal use as silicone molecules are too big to enter
the body through the skin or body linings.
Oil-based:
Oil-based lubes tend to stain fabrics and can be difficult to wash off but
they are very long lasting and never become sticky. They do however
destroy latex so should never be used with condoms, diaphragms or cervical
caps, (except for Durex Avanti which are polyurethane.) Oil-based
lubricants are great for anal sex and male masturbation. They are not
recommended for vaginal use. ID Cream is a brand new oil-based
product specially formulated for men to enhance the pleasure of
masturbation.
Whichever
lube you choose it is worth unscrewing the cap to check the bottle has a
security seal. All ID products meet this health standard. |
