But keep in mind that almond oil, just like most of the other oils, degrades latex condoms, so if you’re using condoms for anal play, it might not be for you. People ask us at Bespoke Surgical all the time to recommend the best anal lubes, but as you can tell, it truly depends on the situation of use, personal preference, and budgetary requirements. There is no correct answer to the question, but the key is to educate oneself on all the pros and cons of each category and request samples from the manufactures to determine likability before purchasing. The primary thing to keep in mind is that it is always necessary to use lube for anal and it’s worth doing some research to find the best anal lube for your needs. An important safety note: When shopping for anal lubes, make sure you never get one that contains a numbing agent like lidocaine or benzocaine. These are often marketed as being helpful for anal sex because they reduce or eliminate any pain or discomfort you might feel during penetration, but those sensations are crucial warning signs from your body that something is wrong and that an injury might be imminent. Not to mention, presumably you want anal play to feel pleasurable, and obviously you can’t feel pleasure if the whole area has been numbed out! Got this for my solo and partnered play. DEFINITELY provided the slip me and my partner needed to open me up, he’s not exactly average and it took some time but very effective. 😍😍" — Anonymous

Foreplay is a great way to get in the mood and help your body relax before having sex with your partner. To enhance foreplay, we recommend using lube or oil. Oil-based lube, when used externally, can feel amazing, especially ones that become more slippery as you add heat/friction. However, they can sometimes feel so good that they can cause premature ejaculation.Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. However, remember that it’s a natural product, so it won’t last very long. It might be better to gather it for a few uses at once.

For this reason, we focused our recommendations on anal lubes that are silicone or oil-based, and for which pH and osmolality do not apply.Since the anus doesn’t self-lubricate naturally like a vagina, anal lube adds moisture to delicate rectal tissues, easing pain during penetrative anal sex, soothing soreness, and increasing pleasure at the same time. Dr. Evan Goldstein is the Founder and CEO of Bespoke Surgical, NYC’s leading sexual health private practice. He received his osteopathic doctorate from the University of Medicine and Dentistry School in 2002 and completed his residency in General Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center. In 2020, he was named one of NYC’s top LGBTQ+ business leaders by Crain’s New York and he is involved with GLSEN, ACRIA, HRC, and Callen-Lorde’s Howard J. Brown Society. All of these experiences and affiliations have shaped his whole-life approach towards the practice of private surgical care and sexual wellness. When used as directed and made from body-safe ingredients that you or your partner are not allergic to or sensitive to, anal lube is completely safe. If water-based and truly pH-balanced for anal use, they are not compatible with vaginal sex, as the natural pH of the vagina (4.5) is lower than that of the anus (7-8) Pjur Analyse Me! (Silicone): Featuring a surprisingly slippery texture that was almost “too” oily, we also found that this one was highly likely to make a mess — and not in a good way. The bottle design is less than discreet but it doesn’t close effectively — which means it easily spills all over the place.

Learn more about why we currently have no water-based anal lube recommendations. When Should You Use An Anal Lube?

The alternative is to wait to use them until you know for sure that you can fully accommodate your partner. Why? People tend to use these desensitizing lubes to not feel any pain during play, but what I find is it tends to cause more localized anal issues, such as anal tears and hemorrhoids, without you even knowing it. It’s not until after the sensation wears off and the session is over that you start to feel pain. We recommend looking into our guide to anal stretching to properly prepare for anal sex safely. Learning to stretch your anus can help prevent pain and injury later on.

Oil-based lube can work well for anal, because it lasts a long time and has a luxurious, smooth feel to it. It can even double as massage oil. However, it has one key flaw that’ll be relevant if you’re engaging in safer sex: “If you are using condoms, oil-based lubes should not be used, because the oil can cause the condom to rip or tear,” Bezalel says, due to how oil weakens latex. What’s the best type of lube for anal sex?Glycol is a humectant that many manufacturers add to water based lubricants. Propylene glycol serves as the main ingredient in many warming lubricants. AH! YES OB soothes and heals sensitive skin, which is why this particular lube is great for anal sex. Coconut oil comes in a solid form, so when you’re about to use it, either warm it up over hot water or simply rub it between your palms, and it’ll become runny. I recommend not storing it longer than a few weeks as it’s a natural product with no preservatives.