Picking The Right Lube
Q: I keep getting conflicting reports when I look online, and it’s really annoying. I’d like to use lube with my partner AND with my sex toys. I’ve never really found one that I like. And I keep reading that there are some types you can’t use with sex toys, and some you can, but some also last longer and work better than others. Can you recommend the best one for partner sex and the best one for solo play with silicone toys? I’m tired of these conflicting opinions.
A: My personal preference for partnered sex is silicone lube (you may have to try different ones to see which ones you like best).I find that silicone feels more slippery and stays “wet” longer than water-based lubes. You cannot use silicone lube with silicone sex toys as this can degrade the toy. For silicone toys, it’s best to use water-based lube (again, some are better than others, so you will have to experiment or check reviews online). I tend to go with lubes that have the least amount of chemicals in their ingredients list. Both types of lubes are fine to use with condoms. You cannot use oil-based lubes with condoms, but they can be used with silicone toys.
Choosing The Right Treatment
Q: I don’t have a family doctor, so when I have a health issue, I’ll go to a walk-in clinic, and I tend to see a different doctor every time. I’ve noticed that they all seem to have different preferences for treatments for stuff—namely, the two times I’ve had bacterial vaginosis (BV). The first time, I was antibiotics in a pill form. The second time, it was in a vaginal cream that I had to insert. Each had its benefits and drawbacks—the pill hurt my stomach a bit, and the cream was messy, and each was a long treatment period where I was told I couldn’t drink (is that really true?). Anyway, do you know which treatment is the best, pill or cream, so that next time (hopefully there won’t be one), I can ask for something specific?
A: I wish I had a clear answer for you. Which treatment works for any given person could be different. Medical doctors do sometimes have their preference of drugs/treatments they have found effective for their patients, so it’s no surprise you were given different treatments on each occasion. About the drinking part—alcohol may well interfere with effectiveness, so read the pharmacist’s directions you get with the medication.
