Water based, silicone based, oil based, heating or flavored, there are so many different types of lubes that it’s hard to know what to try. Lubricants can help to increase pleasure during sex, decrease painful penetration, decrease risk of vaginal tears or abrasions due to vaginal dryness. With so many options on the market it’s hard to decide what’s right for you. We won’t be going through brands that you can buy today BUT we’ll be giving you what to look out for to make safe decisions for your vagina!
Water vs Silicone – Water and silicone-based lubricants are less likely to cause irritation to the vagina.
Water based lubricants:
Pros
- Work with any type of condom
- Compatible with all sex toy materials
Cons
- Dry’s out quickly so may need to reapply more regularly.
Silicone based lubricants:
Pros
- Lasts longer, no need to reapply as regularly.
- Can be used with latex and non-latex condoms.
Cons
- Degrades silicone products ie silicone sex toys over time.
Oil based lubricants:
Cons
- Can degrade condom and diaphragm material leading to failure.
- Promotes an environment that breads bacteria leading to yeast infections.
Ingredients to AVOID in your lubricants:
- Sugar
- Glycerine
- Chlorhexidine
- Propylene glycol
- Petroleum oil
- Parabens
Also, if it tingles, heats or cools, give it a miss they’ll likely irritate the vagina and upset the pH balance! Glycerins can create changes in vaginal pH balances that can lead to irritations and vaginal thrush or other infections.
At the end of the day the thing to remember is to stay away from glycerin and parabens, anything that heats or cools. It’s up to you whether you choose water or silicone based, depending on the intended purpose. Hopefully this just gives you some guidance on what to look out for when purchasing for either a partner or solo adventure.
References
https://www.oncopelvicpt.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-lube-for-your-sex-life
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22082320/