Trusted for 24+ Years
Desensitizing Lubes
Dr. Lisa Lawless, CEO of Holistic Wisdom
Clinical Psychotherapist: Relationship & Sexual Health Expert
Longer Sex Using Desensitizing Lubricants
If you struggle from premature ejaculation and desire to have longer sex, then desensitizing lube and gels can make that possible. These desensitizing lube are designed to help make your skin feel somewhat numbed, so you do not feel as much sensation. They typically contain anesthetics such as benzocaine, lidocaine, and prilocaine.
When using desensitizing lube, remember that anytime you use a product like this, you can expose your partner to the product and desensitize them. Thus, the best way to avoid this is to make sure that you apply it before sexual contact, which will allow it to absorb into your skin. This will make it less likely for the desensitizing lube to rub off onto them. In addition, you can also wear a condom. This will keep your partner from becoming desensitized and help desensitize you even further.
Desensitizer Lube Health Warning
Many desensitizing lubes on the market contain benzocaine. Benzocaine is a topical anesthetic used to numb the skin or mucous membranes. Benzocaine products are available in varying strengths and are often seen in over the counter sunburn products. Typically, delay sprays have about 7.5% in them.
Anything that you put inside either vaginally or anally is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, so it is essential that you not use benzocaine in large amounts to avoid health problems. This is one reason why we offer benzocaine free options in our desensitizing lubes.
Some of the health problems associated with high-concentrations (anything over 14%) in such products may be at increased risk of developing a potentially serious blood condition known as methemoglobinemia (a benzocaine-induced MHb).
Desensitizing lube can also contain numbing drugs that can include lidocaine, tetracaine, and prilocaine. The FDA said consumers should be cautious about using them without medical supervision.
Leaving the desensitizing lube on the skin for long periods or on large portions of their bodies can increase the risk, officials have said. Small children and people with heart or severe liver disease are also at higher risk. Extreme overuse of benzocaine skin-numbing creams can cause irregular heartbeats and even life-threatening conditions.
Using Desensitizing Lube For Anal Play
We do not encourage people to use desensitizing lube for anal play, as listening to your body's discomfort is essential to good health. Using a desensitizing lube not to feel pain may keep you from knowing that you are causing damage to sensitive tissue. Please see our articles on Anal Sex & Analingus as well as How To Use Anal Toys for more information.
Benzocaine Free Desensitizers
We have some options available for benzocaine-free desensitizing lubes, and we are happy to help you should you need help in choosing one. In addition, we also have male masturbators that are designed for desensitization training such as the Fleshlight Stamina Training Unit.
These men's sex toys are designed to provide intense sexual stimulation and get used to the feeling. Thus, allowing a man not to feel as intensely stimulated when he has sex with a partner by becoming accustomed to it.
For more information on lubricants, make sure to check out our Ultimate Personal Lubricant Guide.