Dry sex is the sexual practice of having
sexual intercourse without
vaginal lubrication. Vaginal lubrication can be removed by using herbal aphrodisiacs, household detergents, antiseptics,[1] by wiping out the vagina,[2] or by placing leaves in the vagina[2] besides other methods.[3] Dry sex is associated with increased health risks.[4]
Removing or preventing vaginal lubrication through practices associated with dry sex increases friction during intercourse, which may be perceived as increased vaginal tightness, and some believe enhance sexual pleasure for the male partner.[5] Some men who insist on dry sex regard "wet" women as
unchaste.[5] Dry sex can be painful for women[1] and men.[6][7][medical citation needed] Dry sex is common in
Sub-Saharan Africa[1][2] and it has also been reported in
Suriname among Afro-Surinamese women.[8]
Health risks
The practice has been linked to the high incidence of
HIV/AIDS infection in South Africa.[1] The practice is regarded as increasing the risk of transmitting
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) for both partners, including HIV[1][3] in a number of ways. Increased friction during intercourse can cause lacerations in vaginal tissue.[9][medical citation needed] Drying the vagina also removes the natural antiseptic
lactobacilli which can combat sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, dry sex increases the risk that a
condom will break because of the increased friction. It may also result in vaginal inflammation and/or traumatic lesions which in turn may increase the transmission of STIs in other ways.
^
abcSandala, L; Lurie, P; Sunkutu, M. R.; Chani, E. M.; Hudes, E. S.; Hearst, N (1995). "'Dry sex' and HIV infection among women attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Lusaka, Zambia". AIDS. 9 (Suppl 1): S61–8.
PMID8562002.
^January 2001 edition of "Parade":
Page 45: "Dry sex is painful for both men and women and may expose one to infection."
^"Women in Action" published 2001 by Isis International
Page 11: "there is nothing pleasant about dry sex because both the man and woman feel pain and they experience cuts"
^van Andel T, de Korte S, Koopmans D, Behari-Ramdas J, Ruysschaert S (February 2008). "Dry sex in Suriname". J Ethnopharmacol. 116 (1): 84–8.
doi:
10.1016/j.jep.2007.11.003.
PMID18083316.