At its core, people want to know: Do anal numbing lubes work? It’s a perfectly natural question when you think about it. Given interest in this topic, I felt inspired to pen this post. Power Glide: Get your anal play on with body care. A slightly numbing sex lube can harden the penis, making it stiff and slippery at the same time. The short answer to that question is yes. That said, they don’t always have the same effect on everyone. If you are a gay man that is new to bottoming, numbing lubes may help ease anal pain. A numbing cream usually contains an oil-based formula designed to protect and moisturize sensitive skin. However, it is not compatible with latex condoms. People who enjoy partnered sex should consider using polyurethane condoms when applying numbing creams. Why Use Anal Numbing Lubricants: Less Pain and General Stimulation

Apply a generous amount on your anus and use your fingers to coat your outer and inner rim. Do the same for your partner's penis and the sex toy. Take it slow on the first insertion. Beyond the base of the lubricant, there are other things to keep in mind when looking for a go-to option. Mason recommends a high-viscosity, long-lasting lube for extra comfort. Jojoba oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or sweet almond oil are also good ingredients to look for, per the Cleveland Clinic. A fragrance-free lube is ideal for everyone, but if you have sensitive skin or you've been sensitive to lube in the past, it’s even more important to find an option that’s hypoallergenic and made without fragrances. “Use a high-quality lube, be patient, and take the time to really enjoy yourself and set time aside to get fully aroused for sex,” Gigi Engle, ACS, a certified sex educator and host of Internet Sex Therapy, tells SELF. “The more lube the better. I always say you shouldn’t be thinking there can be “too much” lube. You should want to be on a water slide. It just makes everything better. This applies for all kinds of sex—but is especially important during anal—because the anal doesn’t self-lubricate like a vagina.” What you should avoid in an anal lube Many lubricants are safe for anal sex, but there are products that are specifically marketed or designed to enhance enjoyment of anal sex. ( Wikipedia)Believe it or not, there are natural alternatives to the chemical numbing lubes on the market. Speaking for myself, I’ve found silicone based products to be the best. Oil-based lubricants are slippery and long-lasting, which is why sex experts like them. Coconut oil-based lubes especially have become popular in recent years. However, “oil-based lubes cannot be used with polyisoprene or latex condoms, as the lube can cause them to weaken and break,” says Mason. We do recommend using condoms for any kind of sex, so ensure that you find a compatible option (like lambskin, nitrile, or polyurethane condoms) should you opt for an oil-based lube. What to look for when shopping for anal lube Hopefully, the information presented here will help you make the wisest choice for your sexual needs. Thanks for taking the time to read. There are some lubes that contain more of the numbing agent then others. I’ve seen products that contain 1% lidocaine and others with 5% benzocaine.

The decision to use a numbing lube is personal in nature. As a gay man who bottoms, I completely understand the allure of these types of products. I’ve tried other products but they all seem to clump up. That’s not the case with Pjur’s product line. Unlike vaginas, [which provide natural lubrication], anuses do not self-lubricate,” board-certified ob-gyn Jacques Moritz, MD, previously told SELF. Anal penetration without adequate lubrication can cause the tissue in your anus to tear, SELF previously reported, which is both painful and dangerous. These tears in the anus area can make you more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (or STIs), like gonorrhea and HIV, according to Dr. Moritz. What kinds of lube are safe for anal sex? After he squirted a good-sized amount up my hole with a specialized lube launcher, I was able to handle his largeness. What are numbing lubes?

Strength: Anal lubricants with natural ingredients can be a great option for comfortable penetration. Lube up the body and sex toy before getting started. All of the experts we spoke to discouraged the use of flavored or scented personal lubricants for anal, vaginal, and oral sex. What’s more, avoid glycerin in your lubes, as it contains sugar, and that can alter vaginal pH, SELF previously reported. Water-based lube is also the best lube for sensitive skin. According to Engle and Dr. Queen, you should also avoid petroleum-based lubricants, and anything with parabens or preservatives. Oh, and please don’t put Vaseline down there. If you use a lube with numbing agents that gives you “tingly” or desensitizing sensations for vaginal sex, Dr. Queen says to skip it for anal play. “Anal sex can be painful when it’s not done right, but you want to listen to those messages and respond accordingly,” she says. “Slow down, add lube, take a break, ask your partner to be more gentle, etc. You don’t want to ignore your body’s signals. If you’re numb, you won’t receive those signals clearly, which can put you at risk.”

Throw on your bathing suits, folks, because we're going down the slip-n-slide to find the best anal lube for you. Going into anal sex without a lubricant is like going through your day without coffee: painful and almost always unsuccessful. On a more serious note, “using lube for anal play is crucial,” Jenn Mason, founder and owner of WinkWink, a Washington-based, women-owned sex shop, tells SELF. We spoke with experts to understand what to look for when shopping for anal lubes and why it’s beneficial for anal sex. Why should you use anal lube? Most lubes that are marketed promising a reduction in sensation are in water based form. That’s because the chemical properties of the desensitizing agent(s) are more soluble in water. The relaxer is derived from the jojoba plant containing bio-natural infusers that help to relax the anal wall. Gay and bisexual men who are new to bottoming often reach for numbing lubes as a way of breaking themselves in. But sometimes, the top will recommend use of a product if they happen to be large.

A numbering lube is a product that usually contains a chemical numbing agent designed to desensitize the anal wall so that the person being penetrated experiences less pain and discomfort. Compared to water-based lubes, numbing formulas offer a greater slippery effect to make the action smoother. While their desensitizing active ingredients offer an easing effect, making the anal experience more pleasurable and pain-free. To make anal penetration smoother, apply a bit of lubricantto the body and start by warming up. Use your anal-safe sex toys: from butt plugs and anal beads to classic vibrators and prostate massagers! As the anal muscles contract when stimulated, the sphincter reflex creates an 'iron grip' at the entrance. That's why many people can't avoid the feeling of discomfort or pain during anal masturbation or sex. When absorbed by the skin, the topical anesthetics of a numbing cream decrease the sensitivity in the anal region. An example can be found in Pjur Analyze Me Silicone Lubricant. The reason I like this one is because it contains an anal relaxer and not a chemical numbing agent.