# What did our Grandparents use for sexual lubricant? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280 "2013-10-03T17:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/21 "2013-10-03T20:17:26Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Not to mention, some sex acts require the use of them. Anal sex without artificial lubricant has been used as a method of birth control (mostly in the peasant class) for unknown millennia. The implication is that the man is unsophisticated and uncaring and it’s a women’s secret to steer them to the don’t-get-pregnant hole and put up with it as being better than another child. As mentioned, if neither partner is late-20th-century squeaky clean and the man is sufficiently aroused, the act wouldn’t exactly be lube-free. ---
**Author:** ![Dax-ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dax-ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dax-ion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/22 "2013-10-03T20:18:28Z")
[quote=" Musicat Post To the OP: you realize that until an advanced age, artificial lubrication isn’t needed for most people? TreacherousCretin, post:19, topic:670280"] Cite? (Only because that hasn’t been my experience) [/QUOTE] Yep, I would figure size of relative parts and individual difference of secretion and preferences for foreplay vary and play a role. It is not a one-size-fits-all proposition plus there are many ways to skin a cat even if you are talking the Queen’s own missionary position. ---
**Author:** ![Dax-ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dax-ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dax-ion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/23 "2013-10-03T20:20:57Z")
Also as for the gentiles… do uncut penises require less lubricant for tight fits? Still… I think spit goes way back so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/24 "2013-10-03T21:51:55Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > but what did Grandma and Grandpa use? I’m probably old enough to be your father, which means my parents were old enough to be your Grandma and Grandpa. They used K-Y. \<_shudder_\> ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/25 "2013-10-03T21:58:05Z")
My grandpa just turned 93 the other day. I’ll make sure to ask him next time I visit. Shall I also ask the last time he had sex? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dax-ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@Dax-ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dax-ion)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/26 "2013-10-03T22:00:42Z")
I predict the answer is 87% likely to be “Hopefully not yet!” ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/27 "2013-10-03T22:19:05Z")
Apparently in Asia, this was used: > **[Dioscorea opposita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorea_opposita)** > > Dioscorea opposita is an obsolete synonym of two species of yams: Grind it up, and it’s known as “tororo” in Japanese: slippery white slime eaten in various ways. If you’ve ever had it (and I have many times, I lived there 8 years), then you can see how it would make great sex lube. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/28 "2013-10-04T00:03:34Z")
Vaseline, according to a randy grandma in one Xaviera H. issue. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/29 "2013-10-04T00:14:59Z")
There was a jar of Vaseline on my grandparents’ bedside table in the early 50’s. They would have been in their late 60’s. I remember being curious about it but I don’t remember if I asked anyone why it was there. I also don’t know why I remember it. I must have thought it was an odd place to keep Vaseline. Not that I had a clue what Vaseline was for. I was 7 or 8 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/30 "2013-10-04T00:40:45Z")
Our grandparents didn’t have sex. Only in our decadent modern times did the wicked deed become prevalent. I blame the MTV ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/31 "2013-10-04T03:43:47Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Cite? (Only because that hasn’t been my experience) My experience has been my cite. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/32 "2013-10-04T04:11:06Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Cite? (Only because that hasn’t been my experience) Other species seem to manage. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/33 "2013-10-04T04:37:59Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Other species seem to manage. All of my experience has been with my own species. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/34 "2013-10-04T04:55:52Z")
My grandparents’ bedroom had a big jar of Hershey’s Kisses on the nightstand. Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/35 "2013-10-04T05:50:25Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > There was a jar of Vaseline on my grandparents’ bedside table in the early 50’s. They would have been in their late 60’s. > > I remember being curious about it but I don’t remember if I asked anyone why it was there. I also don’t know why I remember it. I must have thought it was an odd place to keep Vaseline. Not that I had a clue what Vaseline was for. I was 7 or 8 at the time. I can’t stand the smell of that stuff. Doris Day has said that, at least in her earlier days, she would smear herself from head to toe with it once a week, to the point where she would sometimes slide out of bed, and this was why she looked so youthful. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/36 "2013-10-04T06:08:41Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > If either or both are still living, why don’t you just ask them?? :smack:😕:eek: Sadly all four of my Grandparents are no longer here. Secondly, my grandparents were of the generation that you did not ask these types of questions. Paternal grandfather would have chuckled and possibly answered, paternal Grandmother would have turned red and changed the subject quickly. Maternal Grandmother would have probably answered, maternal Grandfather would have made it quite clear that one does not concern themselves with another persons private life. On a personal note, I would give all I have just to spend one more day with my maternal Grandfather. The questions I would ask him would be far more important than the one I posed here. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/37 "2013-10-04T06:57:14Z")
Fancy lubricant for vaginal sex - it’s an American thing, isn’t it? In my experience over here in the Old World, foreplay and spit is all you really need. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/38 "2013-10-04T07:48:10Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Fancy lubricant for vaginal sex - it’s an American thing, isn’t it? > > In my experience over here in the Old World, foreplay and spit is all you really need. I was just coming over to post that I was surprised the discussion had came this far without someone mentioning saliva. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/39 "2013-10-04T13:25:46Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > female ejaculate Which came first, the lubricant or the ejaculate? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280/40 "2013-10-04T13:35:49Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > What did our Grandparents use for sexual lubricant? [Here’s a slick operation.](http://nearbuy.blogspot.com/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-our-grandparents-use-for-sexual-lubricant/670280.md?page=3)