SEPTEMBER 24, 3002

So, I was sitting there, trying to
come up with something for your
entertainment, catching a little
Simpsons action when the inspira-
tion hit...like light from above, it
came to me: lube! So, here it is, for
your information and pleasure, a
whole article devoted to all that is
slippery.

I have noticed, talking to people,
that few seem to have a true appre-
ciation for the value of a little extra
lubrication. For those of you
already in the know, it never hurts

“Some people just
don't get that wet; that's
genetic and there is
pretty well nothing you
can do about it, except
use lube.”

to have a refresher (but more about
that later). So, there are times when
a dab of lube would really improve
the activity at hand. This can range
from a “date with oneself” {mastur-
bation, for all y’all who haven't
heard that before) to a real date,
with someone else, or multiple
elsés. There is a certain amount of
finesse that goes along with compe-
tent use of lube, but first the basics.

1) Always use a water-based
lubricant. This may seem like a no-
brainer for some people (those peo-
ple who read the back of the con-
dom wrapper, usually), but some
people are all about convenience.
What is convenient is not always
what is best, and lube is a perfect
example of this. You will, of course,
be using a condom, and for this rea-
son, a water-based lubricant is nec-
essary. Condoms are made of latex,
a natural rubber, and oil-based
products degrade the rubber, caus-
ing it to tear much more easily. The
whole point of a condom is to pro-
vide protection (from semen, sexu-
ally transmitted infections, etc), so if
it has a hole in it, it’s not doing
much good. If you don’t believe me,
try blowing up a balloon and rub-
bing cooking oil or Vaseline on it.
Butter, cooking oil, Vaseline, lipstick
and lip-gloss are all examples of an
oil-based product. These should not
be used as lubricants with con-

.doms. Instead, there are a variety of

water-based lubricants available:
KY is a classic {you don’t have to
use the gel, you can try the liquid,
the silk-e or the “warming on con-
tact”). It’s got a good consistency, it
lasts well, it’s virtually tasteless and
it’s inexpensive. Another good
brand is O’my, a local company that
produces a lube with hemp extract
and purified water. You can get it in
a bunch of flavours; I recommend
strawberry cheesecake. There are
other brands, but it’s really a matter
of trial and error. I don’t recom-

mend ID Glide, though; it’s very
sticky.

2) Some people are fond of sili-
cone-based lubes. There are just a
few things you should take into
consideration when thinking about
these. First, if you’re going to be
using them with silicone toys, the
lube will bond with the toy. It does-
n’t come off, and silicone toys are
expensive. Actually, so is a silicone-
based lube. As students, it’s proba-
bly not worth the extra expense.
The final note about silicone-based
lubricant is that it’s not advised for
use during vaginal intercourse. It
was developed for use during anal
intercourse, so it is very long lasting
and silky. Hence, if you're pulling
an all-nighter (not the studying
kind), it can be tempting to use it for
vaginal sex. This is not a good idea;
the tissues in the vaginal canal are
very sensitive and it can react poor-
ly to silicone. Think rashes, and
inflammation. Not a good time.

3) There are some lubricants that
contain spermicide, most common-
ly nonoxynol-9. This is a double-
edged sword. Spermicide seems
like a good idea, one more barrier,
right? Studies are now showing that
it can damage the cells that line the
vagina, and leave the woman more

sustéptible to inféctions and STDs’

(sexually transmitted diseases). So,
it’s really up to the individual,
which is more important.

4) This is the final basic point
about lubricant..Some condoms
come lubricated, while others don’t.
Either way, you may need to apply
your own lubricant. Unlubricated
condoms are great because they can
be used as dental dams for oral sex
on a woman, or if either partner is
sensitive to certain lubricants.
Other condoms come lubricated
with water based lube, while others
come lubricated with spermicide.
The lubricated condoms come that
way so that they are easier to get on,

and if you don’t have any other

lubricant handy, you at least have
some. This does not mean that you
will only need that much, either on
the inside, or the outside of the con-
dom. Feel free to add as much as
you like.

So, the question comes up at this
point, why use a lubricant? Some
people don’t produce enough nat-
ural lubricant to have sex comfort-
ably, and this can be for a variety of
reasons. Some people just don’t get
that wet; that’s genetic and there is
pretty well nothing you can do
about it, except use lube. Some
medications interfere with lubricant
production, such as some anti-
depressants or some forms of the
Pill. And sometimes it’s a matter of
arousal level. Without sufficient
foreplay or arousal, some women
don’t produce natural lubricant.

Without lubricant, there is a lot of
friction, which can tear tissues, not
to mention condoms. And here is

where it becomes
more personal, and
delicate. This is
where the finesse
comes in, too. The
amount of lube,
and type, will
really affect the
sensations pro-
duced. The point of
lube is to reduce friction, but
the sensations in sexual activities
are produced by friction. You have
to strike a balance so that you don’t
sacrifice feeling for slickness. You
want just enough to slide smoothly
to avoid tearing tissue, but not so
much that it’s like a slip and slide.
Play around with it, because it’s
really a matter of personal taste.
I’m not sure how to segue into
this one, so I'll just come out and
say it. Lube is integral to anal sex.
You can’t get away with not using
it, and saliva won't work, at least,
not at first. You need some actual
lubricant. And you may need to
refresh (that’s where the spit can
come in, if you’re bound and deter-
mined to use it), so keep the lube
handy. The anus is a very absorbent

“Fhere is a certain

amount of finesse that ©

goes along with compe-
tent use of lube”

area of the body, and when using a
water-based lube it may be
absorbed, and the amount of lube is
therefore decreased {hence the
development of silicone-based lube
for this type of intercourse). The tis-
sues in the anus are also very deli-
cate and thin. There are also a lot of
bacteria back there, so if you tear it,
it can get infected very easily, Be
careful, and be gentle. And use lots
of lube. That's basically it.

My final word is on flavoured
lubes. They are awesome, if you get
the right kind. There are some that
are very cheap that contain a lot of
sugar (and they don’t taste as good
as the more expensive kinds). This
can be good food for the candida
that cause yeast infections.
Basically, make sure you wash care-
fully after using them. Men and
women can get yeast infections, so
that’s for everyone. The other thing
is that some coloured lubes will
stain, so be careful.

That's is for now...if you have any
questions about lube, or anything
else, drop me a line. Send your
questions to
goingunder_unbc@hotmail.com.

Until next issue,

Tiffany xx

Cutrure 15