Vaginal Lubrication

Vaginal lubrication is a lubricating fluid that is naturally produced in a woman's vagina. Vaginal lubrication or moistness is always present, but production increases significantly during a woman's sexual arousal in anticipation of sexual intercourse. Without vaginal lubrication, sexual intercourse would be painful to the woman, and sometimes artificial lubricants must be used to augment insufficient natural lubrication. The vagina has no glands, and therefore must rely on other methods of lubrication. While plasma seepage from vaginal walls due to vascular engorgement is considered to be the chief lubrication source, the Bartholin's glands, located slightly below and to the left and right of the introitus (opening of the vagina), also secrete mucus to augment vaginal-wall secretions. Vaginal dryness is the condition in which this lubrication is insufficient.