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Could using lube help you get more pleasure from sex? artwork

Could using lube help you get more pleasure from sex?

Do you really know?

September 12, 2026

Whether it’s out of necessity or for enjoyment, lubricant helps a lot of people in their sex lives. According to The Cleveland Clinic: “Around 17% of people assigned female at birth (AFAB) age 18 to 50 report problems with vaginal dryness during sex, even before menopause takes place.

Speakers Joseph Chance

TopicsEducationNews

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (0:04)

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SPEAKER_3 (0:17)

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SPEAKER_1 (0:54)

Why wait? Ask your doctor. Visit botoxchronicmigraine.com, or call 1-800-44-BOTOX to learn more.

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Joseph Chance (1:31)

Could using lube help you get more pleasure from sex?

Thanks for asking. Whether it's out of necessity or for enjoyment, lubricant helps a lot of people in their sex lives. According to the Cleveland Clinic, around 17% of people assigned female at birth, age 18 to 50, report problems with vaginal dryness during sex, even before menopause takes place, and that figure increases to 50% after menopause. There are a number of factors that can contribute to insufficient lubrication. These include certain hormonal contraceptives, medications, conditions like diabetes or pregnancy and breastfeeding. Now, if it happens to you during sex, you might have gotten frustrated at the time thinking that arousal or romantic feelings should be enough to get your partner wet, or to get wet yourself. But that's simply not the case. In reality, lubrication isn't automatic, and sex can get uncomfortable if proper precautions aren't taken. What's the actual purpose of lubricant then? It protects the mucous membranes from friction, which can create micro-tears where yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections can develop. Industrial lubricants actually serve as a substitute for ciprine, the natural vaginal fluid produced during sexual arousal. Now, that's not the same as vaginal discharge, cervical mucus or the ejaculatory fluid released during orgasm. Ciprine is secreted by the Bartholomew glands and is made up of water, urea, proteins, bacteria and lactic acid. It moistens the vagina and vulva, thereby preventing irritation during sex and enhancing pleasure. Do lubricants actually enhance sexual pleasure though? Well, that's a subjective question, but many people report that they do. For example, back in 2009, an Indiana University study of nearly 2,500 women found that 70% of the time, using lube made sex more pleasurable and enjoyable.

One thing's clear, lube isn't just for addressing health issues and shouldn't be seen as something only women over 50 use. It can be a true partner in pleasure and serve as a reminder that you should never have to just grit your teeth and put up with painful sex.

Another common misconception is that lube is only for vaginal or anal penetration. In fact, it can also be effective at enhancing foreplay when using a sex toy or when enjoying solo play.

So how would I go about choosing the right one? It's important to choose a product that respects the vaginal pH and microbiome, and water-based lubricants do just that. They're also ideal for couples who are trying to get pregnant, but one downside is that they dry out quickly. Silicon-based lubricants tend to offer better glide, but aren't compatible with condoms and sex toys, sadly. They also require cleanup afterwards, and are generally less eco-friendly. Finally, oil-based lubricants are primarily for external use and shouldn't be used with latex condoms as they can make them porous. There you have it.

Now you know whether using lube could help you get more pleasure from sex. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

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