Types of Personal Lubricant

Three main types of lube are available online, in drugstores, or in big-box stores. Each has it has pros and cons:

• Water-based lubricants: These are the most common type. They are gentle on sensitive skin and safe to use with all condom types. However, they tend to dry up quickly and may require frequent application.
• Silicone-based lubricants: Some people prefer these because they feel silkier and last longer than water-based lubes. They can also be used with all condom types. Even so, silicone-based lubes can degrade silicone sex toys and may cause skin irritation for some.
• Oil-based lubricant: Oil-based lubes are long-lasting but tend to be messier and can leave oil stains. They can also degrade latex and cause latex condoms to burst. These are often best used for skin-to-skin contact, such as for a massage or mutual masturbation.

Are There Natural Alternatives?

Some natural alternatives to water-, silicone-, and oil-based lubes may be designed specifically as personal lubricants, while others are products you see on grocery store shelves:

• Aloe vera: This cooling, gel-like natural moisturizer is increasingly used in over-the-counter lubes like Aloe Cadabra and Almost Naked. Aloe vera can be used with all condom types but should be washed off after sex because it has astringent properties that can dry tissues out.
• Coconut oil: This longer-lasting natural oil solidifies at room temperature but liquefies when applied to the skin. Though coconut oil is gentle on the skin, it has antibacterial properties that can disrupt the vaginal pH in sensitive people. Coconut oil is also unsafe for latex condoms.
• Vegetable shortening: This product used in baking has properties similar to those of coconut oil, changing from a solid to liquid with body heat. Like coconut oil, it cannot be used with latex and can also alter vaginal pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity), making it more appropriate for anal sex or masturbation.

Additives and Specialty Products

Many ingredients are commonly added to personal lubricants for sexual pleasure, to help ease pain with sex, or to prevent pregnancy. Examples include:

• Spermicides: Sperm-killing agents like nonoxynol-9 are roughly 79% effective in preventing pregnancy on their own and up to 99% effective when used with a condom. Even so, nonoxynol-9 can cause vaginal irritation and lesions that increase the risk of HIV.
• Numbing agents: Topical anesthetics like lidocaine can make vaginal and sex more comfortable and even help prevent premature ejaculation. Though lidocaine is generally safe, it can cause mild redness, swelling, and itching for some.
• Warming and cooling agents: Capsaicin, a chemical derived from chili peppers, and menthol, an organic compound derived from mint, create warming and cooling sensations that some find sexually stimulating. In some people, they can cause burning, pain, and swelling.
• Flavorants: Beyond their novelty value, these additives can hide the taste and smell of condoms and lube, which some find off-putting. Sold in a variety of fruit flavors, these chemical flavorants can promote yeast infections due to their high sugar content.

Are There Risks I Should Know About?

When used appropriately, personal lubricants can increase sexual pleasure. However, potential risks may influence your choice of lube, including:

• Condom rupture: Avoid oil-based lube of any kind with latex condoms. This includes baby oil, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, Crisco, and “natural” lubricants containing coconut oil.
• Yeast infection: In addition to sugary flavorants, a viscous sugar commonly used in water-based lube, called glycerin, can fuel a yeast infection. If you have or are vulnerable to yeast infections, opt for products labeled glycerin-free.
• Vaginal pH: A healthy vaginal pH ranges from 3.8 to 4.5. Most commercial lubricants have pH levels far higher than this. To avoid vaginal inflammation and infection, opt for lube with a pH in the healthy range and avoid those that don’t post the pH on the product label.
• Mucosal irritation: Preservatives commonly used in personal lubricants, called parabens, can cause vaginal and anal irritation in people with sensitive skin. If you experience pain and discomfort with your current lube, consider buying brands labeled paraben-free.

Key Takeaways

• Lube, or personal lubricant, can reduce friction and increase comfort during sexual intercourse and masturbation.
• The three major types of lube (water-based, silicone-based, and oil-based) differ in their ingredients, texture, which condoms you can use them with, and how long they last.
• Oil-based lube is never used with latex condoms because it causes bursting. Other risks include vaginal irritation with spermicidal lubricants and yeast infections with glycerin and flavored lubricants.