Lube 101

There’s two things you’ll find in every convention swag bag: condoms and lube. The reasons are obvious, and we all know what to do with condoms. But what about the lube? Did it irritate your skin? Did your casual sex partner get weirded out at using lube? And which lube is best? The grocery store choice fatigue comes to the sex shop. It’s easy to get lost in lube sauce, but here is a helpful guide to decide which lube is best for you.

• Silicone based: 

  • Best for Anal Sex

  • Safe to use with condoms

  • Cannot be used with silicone sex toys

  • Long Lasting

  • Can cause vaginal irritation

  • Difficult to clean

• Oil Based:

  • Weaken latex and non-latex condoms

  • 18-65, researchers confirmed that those using oil-based petroleum jelly as a lubricant experienced an increased risk of getting bacterial vaginosis by 22% and the risk of yeast infections by 32%.  

• Water Based: 

  • Easy to clean from skin, bedsheets, and toys with soap and warm water

  • The Journal of Medicine found that women using water-based lubricants experienced less genital irritation after sex than women using silicone-based lubricants

  • Doesn’t last as long as silicone lubricants

• Hybrid:

  • Typically a mixture of water based and silicone lubricants

  • Alternative for toys

  • Easy to clean

  • Can still have pH irritants
    

What Lube Shouldn't I Buy?

If you have a vagina, you know anything can throw it off. Lube is no exception. If you experience irritation with your lube, check the pH. Vaginal pH is acidic (around 3.8-5), and choosing a lubricant with a similar pH can relieve these symptoms. This includes many water based and hybrid lubricants. But those lubes that promise you’ll taste like bubblegum are probably not a good choice if you want to avoid irritation. 

Can’t I just use coconut oil/olive oil/ beef tallow as lube?

Oil is oil. Your body isn’t a frying pan. Save it for the kitchen - not the bedroom. These “natural lubricants” can degrade condoms, but can also cause vaginal irritation.

What about anal sex?

Coconut oil can cause buildup. Its thick consistency and ability to turn from liquid to solid can cause buildup internally if not cleaned properly. In addition, many coconut oils contain additives that can cause internal skin irritation.

Sources:

McGeorge, E. (n.d.). Types of lubricants for sex. The Pelvic Hub. https://www.thepelvichub.com/blogs/health/types-of-lubricants-for-sex?srsltid=AfmBOopfYODk7p7sPQdlYC5VY99ba5MMhPTBwHYrxTLtmvJu3sOV9-R9

Telfer, N. (2022, December 8). How to pick a lubricant. How To Pick A Lubricant. https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/how-to-pick-a-lubricant