Personal lubricant

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Personal lubricants are specialized lubricants which serve to reduce friction with the vagina, the anus, or other body parts. Personal lubricants were originally derived from surgical lubricants designed for use during medical procedures, but are now also used frequently to provide lubrication for sexual practices. Some of these lubricants are scented and/or flavoured. For example, some lubricants may have the scent/flavour of apple or cinnamon.

Contents 1 Lubricant types 1.1 By chemical basis 1.1.1 Water-based 1.1.1.1 J-Lube 1.1.2 Oil-based 1.1.2.1 Vegetable-based oils 1.1.3 Silicone-based 1.2 Specialty lubricants 1.3 Alternative lubricants 2 Health standards and legality of recommendations in the U.S.A. 3 Uses 3.1 Medicine 3.2 Sexual intercourse 3.3 Masturbation 3.3.1 Dry penis masturbation 3.4 Massage 4 Trivia 5 References

[edit] Lubricant types

[edit] By chemical basis

[edit] Water-based

Water-based personal lubricants are water soluble and are generally the type that is least irritating to body surfaces (particularly mucous membranes). The earliest water-based lubricants were cellulose or glycerin solutions. Subsequent products have added various agents for spreading, water retention, and resistance to contamination. The viscosity of these products can be adjusted by adjusting their water content and concentration of cellulose (or other gel-forming macromolecule). They do have a tendency to dry out during use, but application of additional water is often sufficient to re-activate them. These properties lead to their frequent use for sexual activity.

Since the 1980s, a few companies have used a water soluble, silicon co-polymer (dimethicone), for a prolonged slippery effect. While these contain a silicone component, they are still water based products. They are very slippery, which can be a disadvantage because a certain amount of friction is necessary for optimal sensation, their viscosity cannot be adjusted, and they can stain clothing and sheets.

Typical water-based lubricants are incompatible with many sex acts that occur in water (such as in a bathtub or hot tub) as they can be dissolved or dispersed in water. About J-Lube this author states, "It will even stay on skin for quite a while under a constant stream of water, such as a shower or even underwater in a bath." [1]

Popular personal lubricant brands include K-Y Jelly, Astroglide,YES, Firefly, ID Lubricants, ForPlay / 510k approved, SLIP / 510k approved, PrePair / 510k approved, O'My, Sliquid, Durex PLAY, Maxoderm Connection, Triesco, and Ready lube.

[edit] J-Lube

One of the least expensive lubricants is a concentrate known as J-Lube. It is used as a veterinary lubricant and special-effects slime ingredient. J-Lube is sometimes used as a sexual lubricant, especially in some sexual sub-communities. It is usually purchased as a powder, which consists of polyethylene oxide mixed with sucrose as a dispersing agent, and produces an extremely slippery lubricant when mixed with water.

[edit] Oil-based

Unlike water-based lubricants, oil-based lubricants, such as Vaseline, dissolve latex and are likely to reduce the effectiveness of latex condoms as a contraceptive and protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Oil-based lubricants should never be used for either anal sex or vaginal sex, as the oil may coat the lining of the opening, providing a haven for bacterial infection^{[citation needed]}. (Oil-based lubricants can only safely be used for anal sex if all involved participants are STD-negative, and even then, protected sex may not be "safe sex" for days afterwards, as the oil-based lubricant has a tendency to linger in the anus.)

Although petroleum jelly (i.e. Vaseline) is inexpensive and readily available, it can often be difficult to clean off the body after sexual activity, due to the fact that it is not water soluble. Clear, bottled mineral oil (commonly used as an oral laxative), or baby oil, is a less viscous alternative to petroleum jelly and is easier to wash off the skin.

[edit] Vegetable-based oils

One might also consider a vegetable oil like rice bran oil or coconut oil, if the smell can be tolerated. The smell of olive oil may be preferred. Improvised lubricants may cultivate pathogens, especially foods. More details are in other sections.

Medicinal Castor oil was the original vegetable-based surgical lubricant.^[1]

Cocoa butter may also be used.

[edit] Silicone-based

Technically, most silicone-based lubricants are oils, as they are chemically hydrophobic. They tend to retain lubrication longer than water-based lubricant, however most are safe to use with latex condoms. Always check the label of the lubricant before use.

Silicone-based lubricants are not recommended to use with silicone-based sex toys. The lubricants dissolve the surface of the toys, making them sticky and causing them to slowly disintegrate. Pre-lubricated condoms usually use a silicone lubricant and should therefore not be used with silicone-based sex toys. One website claimed that a pure silicone toy showed no obvious harm from silicone lubricants. Most toys claiming to be "silicone" are blends of silicone and cheaper materials.

Silicone-based lubricants are not always as slippery as the other kinds listed here, and the resulting friction may cause a condom to break.

Popular brands include ID Millennium, Eros, Sliquid Silver, Wet Platinum, and DeGLOW. Liquid Silk has some silicone.

[edit] Specialty lubricants

"Specialty" lubricants are designed to cause physiological or physical changes to the area applied; these include warming lubricants, which cause a heating sensation in the skin. Breathing on these types of lubricants can increase the effect. Another type of specialty lubricant can increase blood flow to the regions in which they are applied, creating a fuller erection of the penis or clitoris; these may contain vasodilators to theoretically increase blood flow after topical application. Others include flavored lubricants.

Popular brands include ID Lubricants, Firefly Natural Lubricant, Wet fun flavors, O'My, Sliquid, KY Jelly (warming lubricant), and Thermal warming lubricant (with the vasodilator L-arginine).

[edit] Alternative lubricants

Other substances improvised as sexual lubricants:

Improvised Lubricant	Type	Notes
Saliva	Water-based	98% water. May contain irritating levels of acidic electrolytes & gastric juices.
Vegetable gums		>95% water + vegetable gum (eg. Xanthan gum), edible. Most commercial lubricants contain some type of gum.
Egg white		83% water, 10% protein & <7% fat (Pathogen content depends on the farm(s), transportation & supermarket).
Banana filling	Oil and/or Water-based	var.% water. May contain dehydrating levels of sugars/salts, and irritating levels of allergens & acids (citric acid, ascorbic acid) etc. (Pathogen content depends on the farm(s), transportation, supermarket, & kitchen).
Baba ghanoush
Pie filling
Tahini
moisturizing body Lotion	Oil-based	Any medication content can cause harmful side-effects including antibiotic resistant bacteria strains to evolve and become lethal very rapidly (within weeks or months).
Mineral oil		If used orally, should be swallowed with care as it is a laxative within 6 hours, and is easily aspirated into the lungs where it can cause lipoid pneumonia.
Cooking oil		As above, can increase your risk of bacterial infection (eg.dipping fingers into the container will cause contamination and cultivation)
Butter		Fairly slippery, but oily. Not usually toxic if fresh. Will support some micro-organisms.

• The use of a foodstuff as a lubricant is contra-indicated for hygienic reasons (as all foodstuffs always carry a common mostly-harmless pathogen and/or contribute to the cultivation of pathogens).
• While small amounts of exotic foodstuffs (including any that contain curable pathogens) should be consumed occasionally in order to stay healthy, excessive amounts of any one thing will make you sick.
• The most famous non-specialized lubricant is a make-up cleanser called Albolene.

[edit] Health standards and legality of recommendations in the U.S.A.

The FOOD and DRUG ADMINISTRATION classes Lubricants as MEDICAL DEVICES.

In the second half of 2006, TRIMENSA PHARMACEUTICALS received several requests from health care givers/educators for information regarding The Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) new regulations for ‘Lubricants’.

In December, 2003 the FDA created what is known as a final description for ‘Lubricants’. They are now classified as MEDICAL DEVICES.

The FDA created two categories for LUBRICANTS: CLASS I ‘Patient’ (medical) and CLASS II ‘Personal’

Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 250 Dec., 2003

CLASS I: Patient Ref# 880.5375

CLASS II: Personal Ref# 884.5300

CLASSIFICATION: The Device classification was to be expected, as the FDA’s philosophy is that anything used with a Device is classified as a Device. E.g.: A condom is classified as a Device, so anything used in conjunction with a condom becomes a Device… therefore a lubricant recommended for use with a condom becomes a Device requiring FDA approval and 510K Device certification.

LUBRICANT LABELING: In order to legally use the word ‘lubricant’ on the front panel or as descriptive of the product's intended use the manufacturer will require a Device Manufacturer License and 510K Device certification for ‘a’ specific formula.

DEVICE REQUIREMENTS: Prior to commerce/shipping a lubricant product requires a one-time USP challenge study against 5 pathogens: A. Niger, C. Albicans (Candida albicans), E. Coli, P. Aeruginosa (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and S. Aureus (Staphylococcus aureus); plus toxicity, compatibility and irritation testing. There is also on going reviews of Yeast, Mold and Bacteria for every run of product. An outside independent laboratory is required to do both the challenge and on going quality reviews. When you consider the reality that lubricants go into the body as a free agent it is understandable that the FDA would require some standardization and quality controls.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS: This is an important issue for health care educators who are making recommendations and or distributing samples (institutional distribution of samples is considered a recommendation) of lubricants to be used with condoms. Recommending a lubricant that is not FDA approved and 510K Device certified would be in violation of the FDA ruling and counter productive . Educators should welcome these basic quality standards for a lubricant they are recommending (besides being the law). This would in turn be supportive of the FDA ruling and help establishing a minimal quality standard for lubricants.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Medicine

In medicine, personal lubricants such as K-Y Jelly or Astroglide can be used for gynecological examinations, digital rectal examinations, and in the use of enema nozzles and rectal thermometers. In fact, some personal lubricants were invented for these medical uses.

[edit] Sexual intercourse

A lubricant can be used to increase pleasure or reduce pain during sexual activity and may be used for lubricating the penis or dildo or the vagina or anus before sexual intercourse. Personal lubricants can make bearable and even pleasurable acts of sexual intercourse that could otherwise be painful, such as anal sex, or vaginal intercourse when the woman experiences vaginal dryness or her vagina is contracted. It is generally sufficient to apply a good drop of gel on the vaginal entrance; anal sex may require a more generous application. There are also available combinations of personal lubricants with spermicides, to be injected into the vagina prior to intercourse. Although the pleasure is not long lasting, lubricants increase stimulation. The pleasure may last long if you keep applying the lubricant.

[edit] Masturbation

Males and females masturbate differently. While males do produce a lubricating fluid (Cowper's fluid), the informal name for this fluid, "pre-come" or "pre-cum", already indicates that this may often be released only relatively shortly before orgasm or after intense manual stimulation. The use of lubricant is particularly common for circumcised men. A lubricant may be used to facilitate the use of certain sex toys, or with females as part of prolonged clitoral stimulation.

[edit] Dry penis masturbation

A small amount of moisture tends to make skin stickier and weaker. Occasionally the skin of the hand may peel from masturbation (and other stresses). Rather than using a fluid lubricant to masturbate the penis, some use dry masturbation techniques aided by: tissue, soft/silky fabrics, (edible) powders, or sex toys.

[edit] Massage

Cooking oils are popular for massage because they are inexpensive and don't dry out; olive oil, for example. Safflower oil has a nutty aroma some like more than others. Cooking oils may irritate the skin. Planning may be necessary to keep oil off latex condoms and sex toys, and absorptive furniture. A male or female condom made of polyurethane should not be harmed by oil.

[edit] Trivia

A story is often told of the writer Jean Genet, when he was in a French prison. He was said to have carried a tube of Vaseline in his pants pocket, thus indicating to other prisoners his implied consent to receptive anal sex.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

1. ^ Report upon the Use of a Mixture of Castor oil and Balsam of Peru as a Surgical Dressing. pubmedcentral. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.