Using a Vaginal Lubricant: How to Choose the Right One for Your Needs

Vaginal dryness effects women in many ways, including comfort and enjoyment during sex.

Causes of Vaginal Dryness

The vagina usually naturally lubricates itself during arousal, however that response can diminish, and sex can feel unpleasant due to excessive friction. Many factors can lead to vaginal dryness in women.

These include hormone changes associated with the post-partum period, and menopause. Stress and changes in weather can also affect the natural lubrication process.

The great news is that there are many options to provide lubrication for sex to feel great. Every woman is different and will have different physiological needs when it comes to choosing a personal lubricant. 

Lubricant Ingredients to Avoid

Some universally key things to avoid when looking at the ingredients of a personal lubricant are petroleum and other non-organic oils. These ingredients can carry toxic materials that has been shown to potentially hazardous to your health.

Another ingredient to avoid in lubricants is silicone. Silicone based lubricants are often irritating to vaginal skin and cannot be used on sex toys or medical devices for vaginal health which are a part of many women’s sex lives.

Tips for Finding the Perfect State of Lubrication

  1. Try water based or organic lubricants. Water based lubricants are often more purely formulated than other forms. Organic lubricants may contain plant-based ingredients to supply extra lubrication.

  2. Use 1-2 tablespoons. Many couples are simply not using enough lubricant. Using enough on both partners is necessary to provide a comfortable glide and prevent irritating friction. If you are concerned about making a mess simply throw a towel down!

  3. Use a suspension dropper to insert lubricant deeper into the vagina. This is a trick that is so helpful to women that have discomfort or pain during sex. Load a suspension dropper (often sold with baby Tylenol bottles or at drug stores) and use it to push lubricant deeper into the vagina.

Personal lubricant is just that, a personal product that affects each person differently. Finding one with clean ingredients that provides enjoyable lubrication for you is within reach as long as your use the lube correctly.

Intimate Rose offers a water-based lubricant that is wonderful for personal use, or for couples. Additionally, the organic feminine balm is ideal for daily lubrication support for women experiencing dryness around the outside of the vaginal opening.

Keeping this area gently moisturized is helpful for reducing friction during intimacy.

 

FAQs

How do my patients give their script to Intimate Rose?

We've added the ability to upload a script as part of the purchase process. Visitors on www.intimaterose.com can choose the Prescription Upload link directly below the Add To Cart button on dilator product pages. Visitors can upload their script via mobile or desktop. Any file version will do. Alternatively, visitors can also email a copy of their script to support@intimaterose.com.

What is the longer term plan?

We are actively working on a better experience for customers and clinicians to make the vaginal dilator purchase process as seamless as possible. We will share updates as this solution becomes available.

What can I do as a healthcare provider?

Healthcare providers can help their patients with this process in a few ways. If you can write a script, you can provide one to support@intimaterose.com referencing your patient or have your patients upload / email it to us. State laws vary on who can or can't write a prescription. If you can not write a script, you can call your patient's PCP and ask them if they'd help.

Where can I find official FDA documentation?

Here is a link to the FDA document on Vaginal Dilators: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpcd/classification.cfm?id=HDX.

This link shows that Vaginal Dilators are considered a class 2 medical device that require 510(k) documentation to be compliant with the FDA.

Does this have something to do with Insurance or FSA?

No, this is completely independent of any insurance or FSA compliance, and that isn't a cause or effect of this.