QUESTION
What lubes can you use during anal intercourse?

ANSWER
You have lots of lube options these days. One of the most important things is matching your lube and your condom. Water-based lubes and silicone-based lubes work well with both latex and polyurethane condoms. Some folks prefer silicone-based lubes because they work in water and you can use less. But they can potentially damage silicone based toys. Oil-based lubes, like baby oil, cooking oil, Vaseline, and Crisco, quickly break condoms, rendering them useless. Just for fun, blow up a condom and rub different lubes on it. You will quickly see what oil does to the condom -- Pop!

Many people prefer a thicker lube (a “gel” rather than a “liquid”) for anal sex. “ID” and “Wet” brands are both condom safe and popular for anal sex. Just like condoms, you may have to try several before finding one that works best for you and your partner. Good Vibrations online has a great article about the benefits of different lubes. You can also find more types online at My Pleasure and Condomania.

Another thing to pay attention to is whether the lube you have contains any chemical (lidocaine or benzocaine), or anything ending in “–caine.” This ingredient is used to cause numbness and lessen pain. Pain however, is a signal that shouldn’t be ignored. It is your body’s way of saying that something is wrong. Pay extra attention to your body's signals if you are using this type of lubricant.

All lube will eventually dry out or be absorbed by the body. Remember to add more as needed during each encounter, not just at the beginning. You can have too little, but never too much!

To your health,
Dr. K