Condom Lubrication Allows More Slip and Slide Fun

When you were a kid, didn’t you love the slip and slide in your friend’s backyard? You probably spent countless summer days wet and having a great time. Well, condom lubrication is like the adult equivalent.

This slippery substance keeps you wet and allows you to easily slide and glide during intimate activities. Without any lube, you might experience some discomfort and that’s no fun.

What does that mean?

Human skin rubbing up against natural rubber latex, or any other condom material for that matter, doesn’t fare well if you’re not wet. Friction is rarely positive.

This is also why condoms usually come pre-lubricated straight out of their wrapper. Some have more lube and some less.

There is also a low percentage of condoms that have no lubrication what so ever. These are rather rare, but they are out there. With these, you can use a compatible lubricant of your choice as you desire.

You might also know from your own experience that lubrication on a condom sometimes rubs off quickly.

There are all kinds of interesting tidbits to learn. Come with us as we explore one of the most essential aspects of every prophylactic-- condom lubrication.

Why are condoms lubricated?

Condoms love lubrication like fish love water. No matter what type of compatible lube you might use, from natural to those manufactured, you really need to use something to make condoms work for you. It's that simple. Condoms are at their best in a slip and slide environment. This is where they provide the most feels-like-real experience for both partners.

How does the lube get on the condom?

During one of the last manufacturing stages, a machine squirts lubricant on each condom as it travels through the assembly line. Another machine on the assembly line then seals the condom shortly thereafter into its wrapper. We talk later a bit more about the types of lube used for condom lubrication.

Lubricant scent

The condom lubrication typically has minimal scent but this, of course, may vary by the brand and the type of condom. If the smell is unpleasant after opening the wrapper, it could also mean that the lubricant might be spoiled. Take a quick glance at the condom expiration date. Even if the date is still okay, you probably shouldn’t use it. It is rare that a rubber goes bad, but it can happen due to prolonged lousy storage.

From our experience, different types of condoms might have a slightly different scent. For instance, lambskin condoms have an interesting scent to say at least.

First-time user experience

We wish everyone would get a bit of condom education before they use one for the first-time. We want your first-time user experience with rubbers, and every occasion thereafter, to be as enjoyable as possible.

It seems like most everyone knows that condoms effectively shield you against unwanted pregnancies and STD's. Most of us learn these basic facts at school, from a friend or read them somewhere on the Internet. It seems like many of these sources, however, forget to tell us about the importance of condom lubrication.

Fun and effortless to use

When we start having sex, we don't think about the little details we end up learning along the way. These details eventually make condoms effortless to use.

Some users don’t learn these little things early on, then… Surprise! Condoms start feeling uncomfortable during sex due to dryness.

Unfortunately, that initial assumption perpetuates an idea, and personal perception, that condoms are awkward and uncomfortable. Sadly, because of a couple of early “unpleasant” experiences, mainly from a lack of experience and knowledge, condoms fall out of their favor. They assume that’s just how it is, start disliking condoms then stop using them all together. Gasp!

That’s why condom education is so important.

Why do condoms get dry?

If you use a lubricated condom, it comes pre-lubricated either with a water-based or more likely, a silicone-based lubricant. There is a limited amount of lube on the condom and it rubs off rather easily while in use.

When exposed to air, water particles in the lube start to evaporate. That is why silicone-based lubricants, which have a synthetic composition, have higher and more prolonged performance.

What should you do when a condom gets dry during sex?

The answer is so simple:

1. Lubricate
2. Add more lubricant
3. And repeat

  If your partner's body does not generate enough natural lube, which is normal, all you need to do is use an added lubricant.

What lubricants are compatible with condoms?

There are several types of lubricants compatible with condoms. We recommend reading the lubricant specification sticker on the bottle or the packaging for this information. Generally, water and silicone-based lubricants are compatible with both latex and non latex condoms.

Types of Condom Lubrication:

1. Natural
2. Water-based
3. Silicone-based

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Natural lubrication

Our bodies, when aroused, start producing natural lubrication. It is a typical reaction to physical or visual stimulation. Natural body lubrication is the most ideal of all for making the sexual experience more enjoyable.

Let's be a bit more specific about the self-lubricating process. Vaginal fluids help to keep the tissue healthy and moist and also intensify during sex when aroused. The amount of vaginal fluid varies from woman to woman and changes during their menstrual cycle and with age.

Keep in mind that a lack of natural lube does NOT necessarily mean a lack of enthusiasm for the occasion. Simply said, each female is unique. One person might be ultra-aroused yet still not wet whereas the floodgates may overflow down there on another woman with very little stimulation.

Water-based

The water-based lubricant on a condom is classic and, as its name indicates, includes water particles as its base component. The presence of water in the lube goes down as it is exposed to the air while in use and evaporates.

Silicone-based

Silicone-based lubricants, in comparison to their water counterparts, are better in performance. By that, we mean longer lasting performance. The lube does not dry out nearly as quickly when exposed to air. Manufacturers like this fact, which is why they are slowing replacing their water-based lubes with silicone.

Some condoms have a combination of both previously mentioned lubes. The water-based lube is inside while the silicone graces the outside.

Some people are sensitive to some specific ingredients in lubricants. If this is true for you, keep in mind that you always have several choices of lubes to use.

Disclaimer: Consult with your doctor if you have any doubts or questions about sensitivity to any product.

Discomfort during sex

As we alluded to this earlier-- discomfort during sex is no fun. So even if you are using lubricated condoms, we recommend you add lubrication as often as needed. This makes the experience more pleasant for both of you.

Make sure you have your bottle of lubricant close at hand so you won't have to interrupt the action to reach it.

Remember that your lubricant not only alleviates the discomfort when a condom gets dry during sex, but lube can also even improve your sex life! When you thrust and glide without any friction, we bet your girlfriend relaxes and gets into the moment way more.

What lubes NOT to use

We’ve already talked about compatible lubricants but it’s equally important to mention “lubes” you should never use and why. There are many lubes that don’t work with condoms. So we are here to give you some examples rather than an exhaustive list of No-Nos.

Use your common sense and avoid using products such as:

• Baby Oil
• Moisturizer
• Cooking oils like olive oil, canola oil, etc.

If you wonder if it’s compatible, it probably isn’t.

Warning: Do not use the aforementioned products or any oil-based lubricants with condoms since it tends to weaken the material structure. When a substance compromises the material structure, it decreases the level of protection against STDs viruses and unintended pregnancy.

You also don’t want to irritate your private parts, which is another reason to avoid using incompatible lubes. Not all substances work on all body parts. You may love a face cream but if you use it on your lady bits during sex, they may scream at you.

It's your body, but we can’t think of a good reason to use any stuff that has not been clinically tested for intimate areas. Look for appropriate quality approvals and certifications, and use trusted brands only.

Conclusion

Coming back to where we started, referencing the slip and slide in your friend’s backyard... Now that you’re all grown up, we bet you love adult slip and sliding even more.

For your intimate safer sex activities, condom lubrication makes this time-tested and very effective form of birth control fun to use.

Make sure to get your condoms and lubes in advance so you won't be caught unprepared.