What the science says about vaginal lubricants

What the studies say overall

Almost all clinical research on lubricants has been done with postmenopausal women or women treated for cancer, with vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse (Sarmento et al., 2024; Biehl et al., 2019; Juliato et al., 2017).

In this group, a network meta-analysis of trials found that vaginal lubricant was more effective than a sham treatment at reducing sexual dysfunction measured with the FSFI questionnaire, although its effect was smaller than that of oestrogens and laser in the same analysis (Sarmento et al., 2024).

A randomised trial with postmenopausal women with pain during intercourse found that lubricant gel used before intercourse improved sexual function and pain to a degree comparable to a vaginal oestrogen (de Paula et al., 2025).

Outside these groups there are fewer data. In a representative US sample, about two in three women had used lubricant at some point and one in five in the past month (Herbenick et al., 2014).

In a five-week diary study of more than two thousand women, water-based lubricants were associated with fewer genital symptoms than silicone ones, and both types with more pleasure and sexual satisfaction, though this is not a comparison of cause and effect (Herbenick et al., 2011).

A systematic review carried out for the WHO pooled two randomised trials in which using lubricant improved women's sexual wellbeing, with no effect on HPV infection (Kennedy et al., 2021).

For women with breast cancer being treated with tamoxifen, a small trial observed an improvement in sexual function after using lubricant for 30 days (Juliato et al., 2017).

And a comparison of four clinical guidelines for cancer survivors indicates that all of them recommend non-hormonal lubricants or moisturisers as the first option for vaginal dryness (Bhinder et al., 2025).

In a survey of women with breast cancer, vaginal dryness was the most common symptom, but only a minority used lubricant (Pearson et al., 2025).

A consensus of Spanish radiation oncologists includes lubricants among its recommendations after pelvic radiotherapy, together with hormone therapy, dilators and vibrators (Gil Haro et al., 2025).

A systematic review on the menopause found that over-the-counter lubricants and moisturisers were the most widely used treatment for genitourinary symptoms (Mili et al., 2021).

Where they disagree

An analysis of the placebo groups of two trials found no differences in cell maturity or vaginal pH between those who used lubricant and those who did not (Constantine et al., 2014). In other words, lubricants have been studied for their effect on comfort during intercourse, not for changing the tissue.

A systematic review of trials with postmenopausal women points in the same direction: vaginal oestrogen improved the signs measured at examination more than lubricants and moisturisers did, but not the symptoms that the women themselves described (Biehl et al., 2019).

Moreover, not all lubricants are the same: a review of their composition notes that it varies widely and that some may be harmful because of their pH, osmolality or additives (Potter et al., 2021).

Limits of the evidence

The trials are small and have been carried out with very specific populations (postmenopausal women, people with cancer) and over a few weeks (de Paula et al., 2025; Juliato et al., 2017). The meta-analysis compares treatments indirectly (Sarmento et al., 2024).

The results cannot simply be extrapolated to young women without symptoms. Only one study, an observational one, compares types of lubricant (water-based versus silicone), and none compares brands (Herbenick et al., 2011).

The studies, one by one

We have gathered 13 verified studies. Each summary is our own; the quotation in inverted commas is taken word for word from the original abstract, in English.

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