Vaginal lubrication

Female sexual arousal (pubic hair has been removed in these pictures)
Left: The vulva at rest
Right: Vaginal lubrication sometimes becomes visible after a
woman becomes sexually aroused

Vaginal lubrication is a lubricating uid that is naturally

produced in a woman's vagina. Vaginal lubrication or
moistness is always present, but production increases signicantly during sexual arousal in anticipation of sexual
intercourse. Vaginal dryness is the condition in which
this lubrication is insucient, and sometimes articial lubricants are used to augment it. Without sucient lubrication, sexual intercourse can be painful to women.
The vaginal lining has no glands, and therefore the vagina
must rely on other methods of lubrication. Plasma seepage from vaginal walls due to vascular engorgement is
considered to be the chief lubrication source, and the
Bartholins glands, located slightly below and to the left
and right of the introitus (vaginal opening), also secrete
mucus to augment vaginal-wall secretions.

Naturally lubricated vagina

1.1 Production
The human vagina is innervated by nerves that respond
to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). As a consequence, VIP induces an increase in vaginal blood ow
accompanied by an increase in vaginal lubrication. The
ndings suggest that VIP may participate in the control
of the local physiological changes observed during sexual arousal: genital vasodilation and increase in vaginal
lubrication.[5]

2 Vaginal dryness

The lubricative uid contains water, pyridine, squalene,

urea, acetic acid, lactic acid, complex alcohols and
glycols, ketones, and aldehydes.[1] It can vary in consistency, texture, taste, color, and odor, depending on sexual
arousal, the phase of the menstrual cycle, the presence of
an infection, certain drugs, genetic factors, and diet.

Insucient lubrication or vaginal dryness in women can

cause dyspareunia, which is a type of sexual pain disorder. While vaginal dryness is considered an indicator for sexual arousal disorder, male circumcision exacerbates female vaginal dryness during intercourse.[6]
Vaginal dryness may also result from insucient excitement and stimulation or from hormonal changes caused
by menopause (potentially causing atrophic vaginitis),
pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Irritation from contraceptive creams and foams can also cause dryness, as can fear
and anxiety about sexual intimacy.

Vaginal uid is slightly acidic and can become more

acidic with certain sexually transmitted diseases. The
normal pH of vaginal uid is between 3.8 and 4.5,[2][3]
whereas male semen is typically between 7.2 and 8.0 (a
neutral substance has a pH of 7.0).[4]

Certain medications, including some over-the-counter

antihistamines, as well as life events such as pregnancy,
lactation, menopause, aging or diseases such as diabetes,
will inhibit lubrication. Medicines with anticholinergic
or sympathomimetic eects will dry out the mucosal or

Composition

wet tissues of the vagina. Such medicines include many

common drugs for allergenic, cardiovascular, psychiatric,
and other medical conditions. Oral contraceptives may
also increase or decrease vaginal lubrication.
Older women produce less vaginal lubrication and reduced estrogen levels may be associated with increased
vaginal dryness.[7]

EXTERNAL LINKS

Skenes gland
Spinnbarkeit, the stretchiness of cervical mucus associated with ovulation; one property of this secretion is to lubricate the vagina
Toxic shock syndrome, linked to the use of tampons
that excessively dry up the vaginal lubrication
Urethral sponge

Articial lubricants

Main article: Personal lubricant

When a woman is experiencing vaginal dryness before
sexual activity, sexual intercourse may be uncomfortable
or painful for her. A personal lubricant can be applied
to the vaginal opening, the penis, or both, to augment the
naturally produced lubrication and prevent or reduce the
discomfort or pain. More rarely, a vaginal suppository
may be inserted prior to intercourse.
Oil-based lubricants can weaken latex and reduce the effectiveness of condoms, latex gloves, or dental dams as
either forms of birth control or for protection from sexually transmitted diseases, so water- or silicone-based lubricants are often used instead. The use of an articial
lubricant can make sexual intercourse less painful for a
woman, but does not address the underlying cause of the
vaginal dryness itself.
Both canola oil and mineral oil are recommended by the
American Society for Reproductive Medicine as fertilitypreserving types of personal lubricant.[8]

Dry sex

6 References
[1] The-Clitoris.com: Female Body Fluids.
2007-10-22.

Retrieved

[2] Device and Method for Identifying and Treating Vaginal

Aections. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
[3] Moses, Scott, MD (2000). Vaginal Fluid pH. Family
Practice Notebook, LLC. Archived from the original on
2007-01-06. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
[4] Semen analysis. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
[5] Ottesen B, Pedersen B, Nielsen J, Dalgaard D, Wagner G, Fahrenkrug J (1987). Vasoactive intestinal
polypeptide (VIP) provokes vaginal lubrication in normal
women. Peptides 8 (5): 797800. doi:10.1016/01969781(87)90061-1. PMID 3432128.
[6] Gregory Boyle (12 September 2003). Eects of male circumcision on female arousal and orgasm. Journal of the
New Zealand Medical Association 116 (1181). Retrieved
2010-01-20.
[7] SEXUALITY IN OLDER WOMEN AND THEIR
PARTNERS: AGE-RELATED FACTORS THAT IMPACT SEXUAL FUNCTIONING. sexualityandu.ca.
2008. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
[8] Optimizing Natural Fertility. Retrieved 2013-11-11.

Some women practice dry sex. This involves the woman

having sexual intercourse after removing vaginal lubrica- [9] International Family Planning Perspectives, Volume 24,
Number 2, June 1998, Vaginal Drying Agents and HIV
tion in some way.[9] The rationale for the practice seems
Transmission by Karen E. Kun.
to be for cleansing purposes and to enhance the sexual
pleasure of the male.[10] However, besides making sexual
[10] Local voices: What some Harare men say about preparaintercourse painful for the female,[11] the practice is betion for sex
lieved to increase the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases for both partners.[11] For instance, the [11] Concern voiced over dry sex practices in South Africa
risk of HIV transmission is increased by lacerations in the
[12] Dry sex worsens AIDS numbers in southern Africa vaginal tissue resulting from the lack of lubrication.[12]
Salon.com

See also

7 External links

AFE zone

Mayo Clinic - Vaginal dryness

Bartholins gland

Menopause Symptoms - Vaginal dryness

Female ejaculation

Causes of Vaginal dryness

G-spot

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Vaginal lubrication Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaginal_lubrication?oldid=653476891 Contributors: William Avery, SimonP,

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