Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40730448›Full record

ReviewCanadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien

Approach to lubricant use for sexual activity.

Ryleigh Vanderschee, Sanja Kostov

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Toxicants in sexual health products: highlighting a critical research gap.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2026
    Article
  2. Vulvodynia (chronic vulval pain).BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Ryleigh VanderscheeFirst-year family medicine resident at the University of British Columbia in Victoria.
Sanja KostovFamily physician, and Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo present health care providers with an inclusive, evidence-based framework to identify patients who may benefit from lubricant use during sexual activity, and assist patients in selecting a lubricant tailored to their specific needs. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: A MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google search was performed for white and grey literature published from 2003 to 2024. Interdisciplinary experts in sexual health also conducted an iterative review. MAIN MESSAGE: Lubricant use during sexual activity has numerous benefits, minimal harms, and can play a role in managing many common sexual health concerns encountered in primary care. However, counselling on lubricant use can be challenging due to a lack of accessible, evidence-based clinical tools. Consequently, clinicians are often hesitant to discuss lubricant use and can only offer anecdotal advice. Lubricant use is especially beneficial for patients using condoms or experiencing dryness, pain (eg, dyspareunia), or dysfunction during sex. There are 3 main types of lubricants available: oil-, silicone-, and water-based products. For patients who use condoms or who experience recurrent vaginal infections or irritation, silicone- or water-based lubricants are recommended, which are free of harmful ingredients and are within recommended osmolality and pH ranges.

conclusionLubricant use during sexual activity can enhance sexual well-being across diverse patient populations. This review summarizes evidence and provides practical tools to help clinicians integrate counselling on lubricant use into routine sexual health discussions.

Indexed as

LubricantsSexual BehaviorFemaleHumansMaleSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual HealthLubricants

Identifiers

PMID40730448
PMCPMC12312864

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.