Choosing The Right Lube For Postpartum Pain With Sex

Pelvic Pain

Sep 20

Roughly 60% of people experience pain with sex after childbirth, and a huge culprit behind this pain is vaginal dryness resulting from decreased estrogen as a result of milk production.

Choosing the right lube can make all the difference. This video breaks down the benefits and drawbacks of the three main kinds of lubrication to help you make the best choice for yourself. And want to learn more about postpartum pain with sex? Register for our postpartum sex webinar here!

The three most common kinds of lubrication are water based, silicone based and oil based lubrication. Let’s dive into the benefits and drawbacks of each!

Water based (Product recommendation: Slippery Stuff)
- Benefits
  - Fragrance free
  - Non-staining
  - Typically not irritating to folks with sensitive skin
  - Dries clear
- Drawbacks
  - Absorbs quickly and may require reapplication
Silicone Based (Product recommendation: Uber Lube)
- Benefits
  - Lasts longer, requiring fewer reapplications
- Drawbacks
  - Can cause staining of sheets
  - Cannot be used with silicone toys because it degrades the material
Oil based (typically coconut oil or olive oil)
- Benefits
  - Great for folks who like using natural products
  - Affordable
- Drawbacks
  - Can cause staining of sheets
  - Cannot be used with latex condoms
  - Must use a clean container, not the container used for cooking

And that’s that! The three main types of lube explained. Check out the video above for far more detail, and contact us here to learn more about how pelvic floor physical therapy can help you!

This post was written by Dr. Rebecca Maidansky, PT, DPT, owner and founder of Lady Bird Physical Therapy. Rebecca is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Austin, TX and founded Lady Bird Physical Therapy in 2019. She is the creator of Birth Preparation and Postpartum Planning, Baby Steps Fitness and the head writer and editor of The Pelvic Press.

Rebecca is a passionate writer and vocal advocate for pelvic health and the importance of improving access to perinatal care. She believes strongly that many common pregnancy pains and postpartum symptoms can be eased or even prevented with basic education and care.

She created this blog to help all birthing people manage common pregnancy pains, prepare for birth and recover postpartum.

Rebecca Maidansky