Vaginal lubrication is the naturally produced lubricating fluid that reduces friction during sexual intercourse. It is often produced on occasions of women's sexual arousal. Vaginal dryness is the condition in which this lubrication is insufficient. Lubrication occurs when opposing surfaces are completely separated by a lubricant film. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ... Turn on redirects here. ...

External female genitalia showing female lubrication

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 502 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (764 × 913 pixel, file size: 454 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) source: http://commons. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 502 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (764 × 913 pixel, file size: 454 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) source: http://commons. ...

Composition

The lubrication fluid contains water, pyridine, squalene, urea, acetic acid, lactic acid, complex alcohols and glycols, ketones, and aldehydes.^{[citation needed]} The fluid is typically clear and more resembling of male pre-ejaculate than male ejaculate. It can vary in consistency, texture, color, and odor, depending on sexual arousal, the time of the menstrual cycle, the presence of an infection, and diet. Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Pyridine is a chemical compound with the formula C5H5N. It is a liquid with a distinctively putrid odour. ... Squalene is a natural organic compound originally obtained for commercial purposes primarily from shark liver oil, though there are botanic sources as well, including amaranth seed, rice bran, wheat germ, and olives. ... Urea is an organic compound with the chemical formula (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Nonproprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ... Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic chemical compound with the formula CH3COOH best recognized for giving vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. ... For the production of milk by mammals, see Lactation. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Ethylene glycol (IUPAC name:ethane-1,2-diol) is a chemical compound widely used as an automotive antifreeze (coolant). ... Ketone group A ketone (pronounced as key tone) is either the functional group characterized by a carbonyl group (O=C) linked to two other carbon atoms or a chemical compound that contains this functional group. ... An aldehyde. ... Semen or ejaculate is the fluid discharged from the penis during ejaculation, usually at the time of orgasm. ... Look up Consistency in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up texture in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ... Odor receptors on the antennae of a Luna moth An odor or odour (see spelling differences) is a chemical dissolved in air, generally at a very low concentration, which we perceive by the sense of olfaction. ... Turn on redirects here. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes that occurs in the females of several mammals, including human beings and apes. ... An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. ... In nutrition, the diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. ...

Vaginal fluid is slightly acidic and can become more acidic with certain sexually transmitted diseases. The normal pH of vaginal fluid is between 3.8 and 4.5,^[1] whereas male semen is typically between 7.1 and 8 (a neutral substance has a pH of 7).^[2] A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an illness caused by an infectious pathogen that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. ...

Changes in vaginal lubrication

Certain medications, including some over-the-counter antihistamines, as well as life events such as pregnancy, lactation, menopause, aging or diseases such as diabetes, will inhibit lubrication. Medicines with anticholinergic or sympathomimetic effects will dry out the "mucosal" or wet tissues of the vagina. Such medicines include many common drugs for allergic, cardiovascular, psychiatric, and other medical conditions. An antihistamine is a drug which serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions, through action at the histamine receptor. ... Kittens nursing Lactation describes the secretion of milk from the mammary glands, the process of providing that milk to the young, and the period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young. ... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in women. ... It has been suggested that Longevity genes be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the disease that features high blood sugar. ... An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. ... Sympathomimetics are a class of drugs whose properties mimic those of a stimulated sympathetic nervous system. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... A medication is a licenced drug taken to cure or reduce symptoms of an illness or medical condition. ...

Role in disease transmission

Safe sex educators warn that the vaginal fluids of a woman who is infected with HIV or other STDs can transmit the disease, even in the absence of direct penile-vaginal sexual intercourse, so direct contact is discouraged. Safe sex (also called safer sex or protected sex) is a set of practices that are designed to reduce the risk of infection during sexual intercourse to avoid developing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an illness caused by an infectious pathogen that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. ... Look up Contact in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Artificial lubrication

When natural lubrication is insufficient, penetrative intercourse may be uncomfortable or painful. A personal lubricant applied to the vaginal opening and/or the penis can prevent this discomfort. More rarely, a vaginal suppository may be inserted prior to intercourse. Personal lubricants are specialized lubricants which serve to reduce friction with the vagina, the anus, or other body parts. ... Four 500mg acetaminophen/paracetamol suppositories A suppository is a medicine that is inserted either into the rectum (rectal suppository) or into the vagina (vaginal suppository) where it melts. ... The word intercourse refers to: Look up intercourse in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Oil-based lubricants can weaken latex and reduce the effectiveness of condoms, latex gloves, or dental dams as either forms of birth control or for protection from sexually transmitted diseases, so water- or silicone-based lubricants are often used instead. Personal lubricants are specialized lubricants which serve to reduce friction with the vagina, the anus, or other body parts. ... A condom is a device, usually made of latex, or more recently polyurethane, that is used during sexual intercourse. ... A blue nitrile medical glove. ... Dental dams or rubber dams are essentially rectangular sheets of latex used in dentistry, specifically endodontic therapy. ... For other uses, see Birth control (disambiguation). ... A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is an illness caused by an infectious pathogen that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. ... Personal lubricants are specialized lubricants which serve to reduce friction with the vagina, the anus, or other body parts. ... Personal lubricants are specialized lubricants which serve to reduce friction with the vagina, the anus, or other body parts. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Mayo Clinic - Vaginal dryness