Sexual Health

CMECNE

What and When to Tell Patients About Lubricants?

Learning Objectives and CME/Disclosure Information

This activity is intended for healthcare providers delivering care to women and their families.

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

1. Describe the reason why it is important for practitioners to discuss lubricants with patients
2. Recall the most common misconceptions regarding lubricants

Estimated time to complete activity: 0.25 hours

Faculty:

Susan J. Gross, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACMG
President and CEO, The ObG Project

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies. All identified conflicts of interest (COI) are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PIM policy. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

The PIM planners and others have nothing to disclose. The OBG Project planners and others have nothing to disclose.

Faculty: Susan J. Gross, MD, receives consulting fees from Cradle Genomics, and has financial interest in The ObG Project, Inc.

Planners and Managers: The PIM planners and managers, Trace Hutchison, PharmD, Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP, Judi Smelker-Mitchek, MBA, MSN, RN, and Jan Schultz, MSN, RN, CHCP have nothing to disclose.

Method of Participation and Request for Credit

Fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity are as posted on The ObG Project website. During the period from Dec 31 2017 through Jan 25 2023, participants must read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures and study the educational activity.

If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please complete the test and evaluation. Upon registering and successfully completing the test with a score of 100% and the activity evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately.

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and The ObG Project. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education

The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 0.2 contact hours.

Read Disclaimer & Fine Print

CLINICAL ACTIONS:

Inquire about patient’s use of lubricants if/when the patient expresses any discomfort with intercourse
Address misconceptions by educating women about lubricant basics and encourage women to try various lubricants until they find the one that works best for them
If a patient is currently using a lubricant during intercourse, it is likely that any experienced pain is due to causes other than vaginal dryness

SYNOPSIS:

Use of lubricants can be essential for allowing sexual intercourse to be pleasurable. Given the array of available options on the market, as well as numerous misconceptions regarding lubricants, women often find it helpful when providers educate them about available options and make recommendations. It is important to reassure women, especially young women, that the use of lubricants should not be considered shameful in any way, and that the need for lubricants is dependent on many physiological factors that are not age related.

KEY POINTS:

There are significant differences between lubricants, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” product
The “classic” lubricants, those which are most ubiquitous and often most popular due to effective advertising, are not necessarily the most effective
Lubricants are either water-based or silicone-based and differ significantly from each other
- Silicone based lubricants last longer, feel silkier and can be used in water, but should not be used with silicone toys
- Water based lubricants are experienced as “slicker and thinner”, dry up faster and are easier to clean
Textures vary from watery to more viscous, or “tacky”
Most women prefer those that remain more fluid for a longer time; however, each woman should try various options to determine what feels best for her and her partner
Pure coconut oil is a popular, effective and natural lubricant that is easily available
If patients are prone to yeast infections, they should avoid glycerin-based lubricants; this includes all flavored lubricants
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) should never be used as a lubricant
Lubricants should be used on partner’s penis, as well as on the vulva or intravaginally

Learn More – Primary Sources:

Treating vulvovaginal atrophy/genitourinary syndrome of menopause: how important is vaginal lubricant and moisturizer composition?

To Lube or Not to Lube: Experiences and Perceptions of Lubricant Use in Women With and Without Dyspareunia

A Randomized, Double-blind, Crossover Trial Comparing a Silicone-vs. Water-based Lubricant for Sexual Discomfort after Breast Cancer

Locate a Sexual Health Professional:

AASECT-Referral Directory 

ISSWSH-Find a Provider 

SSTAR-Find a Therapist

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What and When to Tell Patients About Lubricants?