VAGINAL DRYNESS: SELF-LUBE

My team of sexual health enthusiasts and I have been asked to cover the subject of vaginal dryness especially in menopausal women, but first we thought it would be fun to dive into the flip side - wetness. I can’t wait to tell you why foreplay is so very important.

If you read my piece on douching, you are already familiar with how miraculous the female sexual body is. In addition to self-cleansing, we are wonderfully self-protecting and our own ability to naturally lubricate is one of those forms of protection. We normally have a thin layer of clear fluid on the walls of the vagina maintained by Estrogen. Estrogen helps sustain a healthy vaginal lining by keeping it constantly moisturized, thick and elastic. The other form of self-lubrication we experience is when we are turned on and aroused - vaginal transudation. You know……..that wonderful stirring and delicious ache below your belly button when something or someone makes you crave sex. If you pay close attention, you can feel it happening. Vaginal lubrication in preparation for sex is our natural way to prepare and facilitate great feeling intercourse. Sexual activity when dry can be painful for both men and women.

Now here is why foreplay is so important for you physically in addition to stimulating your mind and imagination. A woman’s body takes about 10-15 minutes to fully “respond” and be ready for intercourse. We need time for our tissues to engorge with blood and for the lubrication to build for fabulous, slick sex. Amazingly, our cervix and uterus tilt to accommodate penetration and the back of the vagina expands. This “ballooning” explains our desire to be filled. So tell your partner that if he or she plays with you for a while, and takes the time to really arouse you the sex will be even better!

I highly recommend you always keep personal/sex lubrication at hand in case you are having a marathon session or if you just want extra slip to enhance sexual pleasure. Wetter is just better! If you are pre-menopausal and healthy, your degree of self-lubrication doesn’t mean anything, so don’t judge or be judged by it.

My favorite brand of premium lube is silicone based Uberlube. It is long-lasting, body and condom friendly and has a sleek no spill design. I also love Uberlube because it is tasteless and great for oral sex as well. Sliquid’s H2O would be my water-based lube choice, but keep in mind water-based doesn’t stay slippery as long and can become tacky pretty quickly. If you have any STD’s keep away from the lubes with heating or cooling features, they can trigger an episode or cause inflammation.

Wishing all of you happy, healthy and sensationally slippery sex!