Women say sex lubricants pleasurable

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The use of lubricants during sex alone or with a partner contributed to higher ratings of pleasurable and satisfying sex in women, U.S. researchers found.

Debby Herbenick, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University, and colleagues said the study involved women who used one of six different water- or silicone-based lubricants.

The study found that side effects were rarely associated with lubricant use: vaginal tearing occurred during less than 1 percent of vaginal intercourse events and genital pain was reported in less than 5 percent of intercourse acts when lubricant was used.

The study -- involving 2,453 women -- found participants strongly endorsed the notion that lubricant use improved the sexual experience. In more than 70 percent of events, women indicated using lubricants made sex feel very pleasurable and more comfortable.

Eighty-five percent of the women -- ages 18 to 68 -- were heterosexual and 56 percent were married, with an average age of 32.

The findings are being presented Monday at Indiana University.