Table 3.
Comparative findings from studies included in the effectiveness review
| Study | Findings |
|---|---|
| RCTs | |
| Rosen 201020 |
3. Sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pleasure Female sexual well-being scale: Least-squares mean change in score from baseline vs end of study: Couple lubricant (n = 80) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 6.35 vs 1.94; Female lubricant (n = 82) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 3.99 vs 1.94 Sub-domains of the Female sexual well-being scale were also reported: Interpersonal domain: Couple lubricant (n = 80) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 1.80 vs 0.13; Female lubricant (n = 82) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 1.32 vs 0.13. Cognitive-emotional domain: Couple lubricant (n = 80) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 2.48 vs 1.08; Female lubricant (n = 82) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 1.67 vs 1.08. Physical arousal domain: Couple lubricant (n = 80) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 0.81 vs 0.72; Female lubricant (n = 82) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 0.07 vs 0.72. Orgasm satisfaction domain: Couple lubricant (n = 80) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 1.43 vs 0.01; Female lubricant (n = 82) vs no lubricant (n = 82): 1.04 vs 0.01. |
| Sawaya 200821 |
6. STIs/HIV Incidence of one or more HPV type: Lubricant: 120/593 (20.2%) vs No lubricant: 131/587 (22.3%); Relative Risk (95% CI): 0.91 (0.73–1.13) Incidence of one or more oncogenic HPV types: Lubricant: 56/593 (9.4%) vs No lubricant: 51/587 (8.7%); Relative Risk (95% CI): 1.09 (0.76–1.56) |
| Observational studies | |
| Gorbach 201118 |
6. STIs/HIV Rectal STI prevalence: Consistent lubricant use: 9.5% vs Sometimes lubricant use: 2.4% vs Never lubricant use: 4.1% (p = 0.019 Fisher exact test) |
| Juraskova 20134 |
1. Vaginal dryness or pain during vaginal/anal penetration Dyspareunia (lower score is better outcome, scale from 0 to 10): Lubricant: 2.7 (SD = 2.31) vs No lubricant: 7 (SD = 2.40) Sexual discomfort (higher score is better outcome, scale from 0 to 6): Lubricant: 2.9 (SD = 2.05) vs No lubricant: 0.8 (SD = 1.00) |
| Maierhofer 201619 |
6. STIs/HIV Rectal gonococcal prevalence: comparing lubricant vs. no lubricant, Gun Oil: adjPR 1.99 (95% CI, 1.04–3.80), Slick: adjPR: 3.55 (95% CI, 1.38–9.12); other lubricants (i.e. Wet, KY Jelly, Vaseline, Baby Oil) had no statistically significant associations Rectal chlamydial prevalence: no lubricants (i.e. Gun Oil, Slick, Wet, KY Jelly, Vaseline, Baby Oil) had no statistically significant associations Prevalence of either rectal gonorrhea or rectal chlamydia: comparing lubricant vs. no lubricant, precum: aPR, 1.68 (95%CI, 1.06–2.66), Vaseline: aPR, 1.70 (95% CI, 1.10–2.64), and baby oil: aPR, 2.26 (95% CI, 1.43–3.57) other lubricants had no statistically significant associations |
| Blair 202016 |
6. STIs/HIV STI (positive test for infectious syphilis and/or rectal gonorrhea and/or rectal chlamydia): Consistent lubricant use during receptive anal intercourse in the last month: 61/91 (67%) vs Never/inconsistent lubricant use: 243/461 (53%), p = 0.012.unadjusted OR: 1.81 (95% CI: 1.12–2.93) p = 0.015; adjusted OR: 1.81 (95% CI: 1.11–2.96), p = 0.018 |
| Dodge 201517 | 1. Vaginal dryness or pain during vaginal/anal penetration Experience of pain during last insertive partnered sexual event: Lubricant: 11/61 (18%) vs No lubricant: 3/21 (14.3%); AOR (CI):0.94 (0.19–4.59) Experience of pain during last receptive partnered sexual event: Lubricant: 45/71 (63.4%) vs No lubricant: 3/17 (17.6%); AOR (CI): 6.25 (1.72–22.75), p < 0.005 Degree of pain during last insertive partnered sexual event (higher score indicates greater pain): Lubricant: 2.3 vs No lubricant: 2.9; F = 0.5 Degree of pain during last receptive partnered sexual event (higher score indicates greater pain): Lubricant: 2.2 vs No lubricant: 3.0; F = 14.3, p < 0.001 |
RCT: randomised controlled trial, STI: sexually transmitted infection, HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, HPV: human papillomavirus, adj: adjusted, PR: prevalence ratio, OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval