title: Lifetime Lubricant Use among a Nationally Representative Sample of Lesbian- and Bisexual-Identified Women in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diversity in self-identified lesbian and bisexual women's sexual interactions necessitates better understanding of how and when they integrate personal lubricant into different experiences. However, little is known about lesbian and bisexual women's lifetime lubricant use, particularly at the population level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics of lubricant use among adult lesbian and bisexual women in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from a subset of lesbian and bisexual participants who participated in the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, an online questionnaire administered to a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined socio-demographic characteristics, recent and lifetime lubricant use, lubricant use in associated with specific sexual behaviors and condom use, frequency of use, motivations for use, as well as perception of lubricant when used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of lesbian- (60.1%) and bisexual-identified (77.1%) women reported ever using lubricant; 25.7% of lesbian women and 32.7% of bisexual women used it in the last 30 days. Across most age groups, lubricant was commonly used during partnered sexual play, partnered sexual intercourse, or when a vibrator/dildo was used. Lesbian and bisexual women reported using lubricants to increase arousal/sexual pleasure/desire, to make sex more fun, or to increase physical comfort during sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lubricant use is identified as a part of lesbian and bisexual women's sexual experience across the life span, as a part of both solo and partnered experiences. As part of evolving sexual health assessments, clinicians and health educators may find value in integrating lubricant-focused conversation with their lesbian and bisexual patients and clients, particularly.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|Department of Sociology, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Devon J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hensel
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Management, Policy & Community Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herbenick
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dodge
authors.affiliation: Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.affiliation: The Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.|Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015995:Prevalence; D060728:Reproductive Health; D021841:Safe Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D054327:Lubricants
keywords: Bisexual Women; Lesbian Women; Lubricant; Nationally Representative Sample; Sexual Behavior