title: Men's use and perceptions of commercial lubricants: prevalence and characteristics in a nationally representative sample of American adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most research on men's use of commercial lubricants during sexual activities is in the context of condom use and often specifically among men who have sex with men. Less is known about men's use of lubricants associated with a broader range of sexual experiences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are to document the prevalence of commercial lubricant use among adult U.S. men (age 18+), to document men's use of lubricants across solo and partnered sexual behaviors, and to assess men's perceptions of the contributions lubricants have to the sexual experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, which involved the administration of an online questionnaire to a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographic characteristics, recent and lifetime commercial lubricant use, lubricant use during specific sexual behaviors, frequency of lubricant use, and reasons for lubricant use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most men in the United States (70%, N = 1,014) reported having used a commercial lubricant, with men older than 24 and those in a relationship more likely to report lubricant use. About one in four men had used a lubricant in the past 30 days. Intercourse was the most common behavior during which men used lubricant, though solo masturbation and partnered sexual play were also frequently linked to lubricant use. The most common reasons for lubricant use included "to make sex more comfortable," "for fun," "curiosity," and "my partner wanted to."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most American men have used a lubricant; lubricant use is common across all age groups, and some of the most common reasons why men report using lubricants have to do with sexual enhancement, comfort, and pleasure. Clinicians may find these data helpful to their efforts to educate patients about lubricant use, comfort during sex, and sexual enhancement.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herbenick
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004644:Emotions; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008418:Masturbation / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054327:Lubricants
keywords: Lubricant; Men's Sexual Health; Sexual Pleasure