Wet and dry sex—the impact of cultural influence in modifying vaginal function

Abstract

In a number of countries, but especially in sub-Saharan Africa, many women practice so-called “dry sex” usually by instilling vaginally various astringent substances to dry up the normal lubrication fluid created by sexual arousal and give the impression the vagina is still virginal tight and “hot”. This behaviour is normally undertaken to conform to male-dominated cultural concepts that vaginal lubrication fluid (“wet sex”) putatively indicates female infidelity, possible infection, licentiousness, coldness and makes coitus less pleasurable because of reduced friction. Many of the chemical substances employed for this can produce damage to the cervical and vaginal epithelium and thus possibly facilitate infection and transmission of HIV although no causal relation between possible damage and disease transmission has yet been definitively established. Few studies, however, have been conducted to examine the actions of the substances on vagina/cervical structures and their many functions.

Keywords:

• vagina
• lubrication
• perivaginal musculature
• wet sex
• dry sex
• HIV
• astringents
• cervix
• coital friction