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Dear Dr. Myrtle,
I am experiencing vaginal dryness. What is the best lubricant for me?
 There is a difference between a sexual lubricant and a sexual moisturizer. While all lubricants are designed to make surfaces slide more easily, few sexual lubricants actually add or trap moisture thereby combating vaginal dryness. This article will focus on sexual lubricants which also have moisturizing (adding moisture) or sealing (seal moisture into skin) properties.
Your choice may depend on the reason for your dryness. Generally, for genital use, we do not recommend using any oil-based product, as they can actually cause skin problems in some women and may contribute to yeast infections. Instead, we suggest trying a lubricant that is specifically designed to be used during sex play.
For mild dryness and comfortable vaginal penetration, the whole world of lubricants is available for you to explore. Here are some points to consider:
- Steer clear of glycerin-based lubricants if you get yeast infections easily.
- If you are using a lubricant while also enjoying a silicone toy, then you'll want to avoid silicone-based lubricants.
- One thing to remember is that you don't want to use lubricant as a substitute for getting enough stimulation to be fully aroused before penetration. To enjoy good, comfortable penetrative sex you still want to be fully aroused, not just slippery.
- For general use, we suggest trying our lubricant sampler before buying a large bottle of anything. Just remember to hold onto the package of the one you like so you can remember the name!
If you are post-menopausal, experiencing dryness related to menopause, or have genital blood flow problems, we recommend trying Liquid Silk, an excellent moisturizing lubricant. The reason it is important to use a moisturizing lubricant after menopause is that the body no longer moves fluids in and out of the vaginal skin cells easily, so the vaginal skin becomes very fragile. Some women notice that it's painful just to walk and sit. Liquid Silk can be used for daily skin moisturizing to increase your walking and sitting comfort. Just rub it gently into the vulva and inside the vagina as far as you can reach to improve the skin.
If you prefer a more "natural" lubricant, try Aloe Gel Lubricant, which is a natural-base formula with few ingredients. It is as moisturizing, and does not get as sticky as the other glycerin-based lubricants. However, the Aloe Gel Lubricant does not contain any ingredients which help to seal the moisture into the skin, so you may want to consider using another product in addition. Slippery Stuff is also an excellent lubricant which is used by many pelvic floor therapists, and has some moisturizing, but no sealing qualities.
If you find these lubricants not long-lasting enough for penetrative sex, try a silicone-based lubricant like iLube on top of either the Liquid Silk or the Slippery Stuff. Apply a layer of the Liquid Silk or Slippery Stuff, then a layer of silicone lubricant over it; the silicone lubricant will seal the surface of your skin and allow for a nice slippery time while the water-based lubricant adds moisture to your skin.
Remember, it's your skin, so experiment and see what works best for you. You may find that you use one type of lubricant for sex, while you use another for daily moisturizing.
Take Care.
Dr. Myrtle
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