Lubricants 101: Understanding the options

Ever wonder why you might feel dry down there? As a pelvic floor PT, I love to say that treating muscles fixes everything, however more than strong, flexible muscles are needed to keep dryness away and to be pain free. Estrogen plays a big role in maintaining moisture in the vagina and urethra. If your estrogen levels dip—whether due to menopause, birth control, postpartum time or other reasons—you might experience issues like frequent UTIs, urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, dryness, and painful intercourse. 

Chart of how decreased estrogen leads to lining/microbiome/ph/pain if you want to know more

So, what’s the difference between vaginal moisturizers and lubricants? 

Something that can help dryness is using a vaginal moisturizer and a lubricant. It’s important to understand how to use them though. A vaginal moisturizer helps to keep the vaginal tissue healthy if needed. These are usually used a few times a week, typically at night, to allow your body to absorb the product to get the benefits of the moisturizer. A lubricant helps to decrease friction and increase comfort during times of intimacy.   

What kind of lubricant should you look for? 

There are four main lubricants: water-based, silicone-based, hybrid (which mixes water and silicone), and oil-based. A good general rule for vaginal health is: less is often more when it comes to ingredients. Something else to consider is pH. Getting a lubricant that is balanced to the pH of the vagina, which is acidic, means that it will help maintain an environment suitable for the right microbiome. I’ve added some of my recommendations to the different categories.  

Water-Based Lubricants:

Water-based lubes are popular because they're easy to clean and generally safe with condoms and toys. Osmolality, the balance of water cells, is particularly important when considering water-based lubricants. If the osmolality is too high, it can disrupt your cells’ hydration, which can damage the lining of the vagina or rectum, possibly leading to infection.

I recommend: Slippery Stuff, Good Clean Love, Sliquid, Sutil

Silicone-Based Lubricants:

I recommend silicone-based lubes for intercourse. They last longer than water-based ones because your body doesn’t absorb them. Plus, they're hypoallergenic and don’t need preservatives. However, you can’t use them with other silicone products, like pelvic floor wands, because the silicone will break down the silicone in the product. 

I recommend: Pjur, Uberlube

Hybrid Lubricants:

These try to combine the best of both worlds but can end up being a compromise. They're usually toy-friendly but might not last as long as pure silicone.

Oil based Lubricants:

Oil lubes are super hydrating and often organic, which is great. They're toy-compatible and don’t dry out quickly. However, they can't be used with condoms because they break down latex. Also, if you’re prone to infections like BV, UTI’s, or yeast infections, oils can make things worse since they don’t dissolve as quickly.

I recommend: AH!YES Soothing Plant Oil Natural Lubricant 

Here’s another great chart created by Smitten Kitten that explains a lot: 

If you’re concerned about dryness, you can talk to your primary care provider, or one of our pelvic floor physical therapists would love to talk to you about your concerns. We have plenty of free samples for you to try!