Sorry to liken anal sex to food, but if it were a sandwich, then you and your partner would be the slices of bread and lube would be the good stuff inside. Because anal sex without lube would be not only dry, but also pointless. In fact, unlike a sad sammie, lubeless anal sex can actually be dangerous. The friction can cause actual microtears to the skin and anus, leading to infection. No, thanks.

Skip navigation! Story from Sex. Lube : It's the sex helper that should be a staple, right next to condoms. And while lube is nice for vaginal sex, it's an absolute essential for anything anal. Unlike the vagina, the anus is not self-lubricating and can't get wet unless you help it out. Aside from skipping the necessary prep work , forgetting to use lube is one of the main reasons why anal can be unpleasant for some people.

Got a symptom but not sure what's causing it? Use our award-winning symptom checker to find out — it's free! All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our safety page , or read our editorial policy. Lubricant, often called lube, is naturally produced by your body when you get sexually aroused to help make sex possible.

You always hear that anal sex requires lube, lube, and more lube, and for good reason. Without lube, butt stuff can be painful and even cause some mild bleeding afterward due to any anal tears in the sensitive anal canal tissue. Not every lube is created equal. There are generally three types of lubes: water-based, silicone-based, or oil-based, and each has their benefits and drawbacks. Lube that makes butt stuff less painful sounds too good to be true, because it is.