Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review

Promoting sexual health is a World Health Organization (WHO) priority. Lubricants are widely available and used to improve sexual pleasure and reduce pain during intercourse. To inform WHO’s self-care interventions guideline, we conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to answer...

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Autores principales: Kennedy, Caitlin E., Yeh, Ping Teresa, Li, Jingjia, Gonsalves, Lianne, Narasimhan, Manjulaa
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Taylor & Francis 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942543/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35315312
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2022.2044198
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author Kennedy, Caitlin E.
Yeh, Ping Teresa
Li, Jingjia
Gonsalves, Lianne
Narasimhan, Manjulaa
author_facet Kennedy, Caitlin E.
Yeh, Ping Teresa
Li, Jingjia
Gonsalves, Lianne
Narasimhan, Manjulaa
author_sort Kennedy, Caitlin E.
collection PubMed
description Promoting sexual health is a World Health Organization (WHO) priority. Lubricants are widely available and used to improve sexual pleasure and reduce pain during intercourse. To inform WHO’s self-care interventions guideline, we conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to answer the question: does use of lubricants during or prior to sex result in improved sexual health and well-being. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and EMBASE on 8 July 2020 for effectiveness, values and preferences, and cost data related to commercially available vaginal and anal lubricants. Data were systematically extracted and qualitatively synthesised. Effectiveness evidence was summarised in GRADE evidence profiles. Seven studies met the effectiveness review criteria. Two randomised trials found lubricant use led to improved female sexual well-being and had no impact on incidence of human papillomavirus (moderate certainty evidence). One observational study with gay and bisexual men showed lubricants were associated with increased reports of pain during receptive intercourse and no difference in pain during insertive intercourse, but a reduced degree of pain in both types of intercourse (low/very low certainty evidence). One observational study with female breast cancer survivors found better outcomes of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia with lubricant use (very low certainty evidence). Twenty-one values and preferences studies from diverse populations globally found that most individuals supported lubricant use for reasons of comfort/reduced pain and sexual pleasure. No cost studies were identified. Although evidence is limited, lubricants appear to offer an acceptable approach to improving sexual health and well-being.
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spelling pubmed-89425432022-03-24 Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review Kennedy, Caitlin E. Yeh, Ping Teresa Li, Jingjia Gonsalves, Lianne Narasimhan, Manjulaa Sex Reprod Health Matters Review Article Promoting sexual health is a World Health Organization (WHO) priority. Lubricants are widely available and used to improve sexual pleasure and reduce pain during intercourse. To inform WHO’s self-care interventions guideline, we conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to answer the question: does use of lubricants during or prior to sex result in improved sexual health and well-being. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and EMBASE on 8 July 2020 for effectiveness, values and preferences, and cost data related to commercially available vaginal and anal lubricants. Data were systematically extracted and qualitatively synthesised. Effectiveness evidence was summarised in GRADE evidence profiles. Seven studies met the effectiveness review criteria. Two randomised trials found lubricant use led to improved female sexual well-being and had no impact on incidence of human papillomavirus (moderate certainty evidence). One observational study with gay and bisexual men showed lubricants were associated with increased reports of pain during receptive intercourse and no difference in pain during insertive intercourse, but a reduced degree of pain in both types of intercourse (low/very low certainty evidence). One observational study with female breast cancer survivors found better outcomes of vaginal dryness and dyspareunia with lubricant use (very low certainty evidence). Twenty-one values and preferences studies from diverse populations globally found that most individuals supported lubricant use for reasons of comfort/reduced pain and sexual pleasure. No cost studies were identified. Although evidence is limited, lubricants appear to offer an acceptable approach to improving sexual health and well-being. Taylor & Francis 2022-03-22 /pmc/articles/PMC8942543/ /pubmed/35315312 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2022.2044198 Text en © 2022 World Health Organization. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative CommonsAttribution IGO License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/) ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. There should be no suggestion that the World Health Organization endorses any specific organization, products or services. This notice should be preserved along with the article's original URL
spellingShingle Review Article
Kennedy, Caitlin E.
Yeh, Ping Teresa
Li, Jingjia
Gonsalves, Lianne
Narasimhan, Manjulaa
Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title_full Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title_fullStr Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title_short Lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
title_sort lubricants for the promotion of sexual health and well-being: a systematic review
topic Review Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942543/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35315312
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2022.2044198
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