Related Stories

Share

:
The Swarthmore Food Cooperative

Comment on this article

The Lube Lad/y

by M | February 14, 2008

At the risk of being labeled the Lube Lad/y, I want to respond directly to the reader who left the following post:

Just don't get a yeast infection… I'm actually getting really disillusioned that using water-based lube actually can be *harmful*… :( And silicone lube doesn't mix with silicone toys :( :(
NOT ALL WATER-BASED LUBES CAUSE YEAST INFECTIONS. If you have experienced this problem (or if you find that lube irritates your vagina), the culprit is probably glycerin. Often added to water-based lubes to help the water molecules stay together, this compound is related to sugar and therefore makes great food for the yeastie beasties that lie in wait. This is also why some lubes get sticky (KY, I’m looking at you) as they dry up – the water evaporates or is absorbed by your skin, and what’s left is basically glycerin and other additives. In this case, you can add a little water to bring back the slipperiness.

There are plenty of water-based lubes that don’t contain glycerin and say so right on the packaging, so make sure you check next time you get some. Silicone lube is another good option and you may have already used it because it comes on pre-lubricated condoms. The poster is correct in noting that it does not mix with silicone toys, because they will actually fuse together – not what you want for your expensive new sex toy. 


I'm not going to write a very long column this week because a nasty encounter with Swat Plague and a very recent breakup have left me, respectively, quite unable to have sex and less than enthused to be thinking about it. Instead, I'm taking the opportunity to solicit some reader input. I will not be taking requests for specific acts to try and write back about because hey, I'm only going to do what I (and my partner) want to do and I think all of you should do the same. Send me questions, comments, sexy things that are on your mind – you can comment right on this post or email the Daily Gazette. Anonymous is fine.

In the spirit of what the public sphere is supposed to be like (can you tell who I've been reading?), let's start an honest conversation about the assumptions we make about each other and the role that sex plays in all of our lives – whether we have it or not.

This week in Sex: selling sex toys is no longer criminal in Texas.

Share:

Print    Email

Aria Mediterranean Cuisine Opens in the Ville

This past Saturday marked the opening of “... one of the most-anticipated restaurant openings in the area”: Aria Mediterranean Cuisine, owned by Azim Naderpoor, opened for business.

#1: 2/14/2008 at 8:50 a.m.

  • U
  • D
  • (+5)

Sorry to hear about your breakup. Though it seems like everyone on campus is either reeling from or preparing for a breakup these days... A different version of a Swat Plague?


— :-( | Unregistered, Swarthmore

#2: 2/15/2008 at 11:11 a.m.

  • U
  • D
  • (+5)

"I will not be taking requests for specific acts to try and write back about because hey, I'm only going to do what I (and my partner) want to do and I think all of you should do the same."

With all due respect to the Bone Doctor, I feel like this is a more constructive attitude for a sex columnist to have. While it is great to be able to have the broad perspective from which to write about sex issues, sex should not be imposed on someone in any way. I think the best thing for a sex columnist to know is what makes him/her happy and what the process was to find that out. Thus, he/she will be better informed to help others through the process, no matter how complicated or lube-challenged.


— L | Unregistered, Swarthmore

#3: 2/17/2008 at 1:59 p.m.

  • U
  • D
  • (+4)

What is this Swat Plague that everyone talks about? Is it mono?


— J | Unregistered, Non-Swarthmore

#4: 2/17/2008 at 2:24 p.m.

  • U
  • D
  • (+6)

Nothing that serious—just a bad bug which seems to cause a fever, and some other unfortunate symptoms.


— Miles Skorpen | Staff

Submit a Comment

: Log in to verify your identity.
: Required, but will not be made public.

Comments posted anonymously must be approved by Gazette staff before they are published.

Discussion Rules

  • Be nice.
  • Be constructive.
  • Don't curse.
  • Don't threaten.

More details on our policies here.

Register an Account | Login