Dry sex

For another meaning, see Non-penetrative sex.

Dry sex is a sexual practice of people having sexual intercourse with the woman not having 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]

The concept of the practice is that a dry vagina makes the vagina tight, which is supposed to increase sexual pleasure for the man.^[4] Some men who insist on dry sex regard "wet" women to be unchaste.^[5] However, dry sex is very painful for the woman.^[1] Dry sex is common in Sub-Saharan Africa^[1][2] and it has also been reported in Suriname among Afro-Surinamese women.^[6]

Health risks

The practice has been linked to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS infection in Sub-Saharan Africa.^[1] The practice is regarded as increasing the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for both partners, including HIV^[1][3] in a number of ways. For example, the lack of lubrication causes lacerations in vaginal tissue, which increases the risk of HIV transmission .^[7][8] Drying the vagina also removes the natural antiseptic lactobacilli which can combat sexually transmitted diseases. 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 STDs in other ways.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Concern voiced over "dry sex" practices in South Africa". Cirp.org. http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/baleta1/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ ^{a b} International Family Planning Perspectives, Volume 24, Number 2, June 1998, Vaginal Drying Agents and HIV Transmission by Karen E. Kun.
4. ^ http://www.jstor.org/pss/3775349
5. ^ Sunanda Ray, Nyasha Gumbo, Michael Mbizvo (May 1996). "Local Voices: What Some Harare Men Say about Preparation for Sex". Reproductive Health Matters (Reproductive Health Matters) 4 (7): 34–45. doi:10.1016/S0968-8080(96)90004-X. JSTOR 3775349. 
6. ^ 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. PMID 18083316. 
7. ^ Hyena, Hank (1999-12-10). ""Dry sex" worsens AIDS numbers in southern Africa". Salon.com. http://www.salon.com/health/sex/urge/world/1999/12/10/drysex/. 
8. ^ ""Dry sex" worsens AIDS numbers in southern Africa - Africa". Salon.com. 1999-12-10. http://www.salon.com/health/sex/urge/world/1999/12/10/drysex/. Retrieved 2011-07-05. 

External links

• Beksinska ME, Rees HV, Kleinschmidt I, McIntyre J (June 1999). "The practice and prevalence of dry sex among men and women in South Africa: a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections?". Sex Transm Infect 75 (3): 178–80. doi:10.1136/sti.75.3.178. PMC 1758205. PMID 10448396. http://sti.bmj.com/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=10448396. 
• Civic D, Wilson D (January 1996). "Dry sex in Zimbabwe and implications for condom use". Soc Sci Med 42 (1): 91–8. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(95)00081-X. PMID 8745110. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/027795369500081X.