Lube is a liquid or gel-like substance that is primarily used to get rid of vaginal dryness so that sex can be prolonged and enjoyed. As this is a substance that enters the cervical region or anal region by virtue of intercourse, many people wonder whether it has adverse effects on health.
With an increase in the demand for flavored water-based lubes, concerns of health safety are natural to come along in the thoughts of its end users. The truth is that as long as you are not allergic to any ingredients used in the product, lube does not cause any health issues.
To alleviate the risk of an allergic reaction, you should read the ingredients list carefully before buying.
What can you use personal lube for?
Lube can be used for a variety of purposes. Some of these include:
- Making different positions during the intercourse more comfortable
- Creating moisture so that sex can last longer and be less painful
- Decreasing any friction during prolonged sex
- Improving your overall sense of pleasure
- Enjoying penetrative, non-penetrative, masturbatory, and toy-related sex
- Decreasing the failure of contraception
Facts to check about lube before using it
If you’re worried about lubricants affecting your health, then there are a few factors that you can look out for to put your mind at ease. Some of these include the following:
a. The pH of the lube is important
As you may know, pH imbalance can lead to the overproduction of yeast in the vagina, which can lead to a yeast infection. These infections are very uncomfortable, to say the least, and they have a tendency to recur.
While they are easy to get rid of, yeast infections can leave you feeling itchy, dry, and in pain, which is why it’s important to avoid them at all costs.
Therefore, when you’re buying new lube, you need to check its pH levels. The levels can be between 3.8-4.5 – these are considered safe for vaginal use. Anything that exceeds 4.5 is a no-go.
b. High Osmolality can be a bad thing
Most commercially available lubes have high osmolality. High osmolality means that it has the ability to draw out moisture from tissues and muscles.
While this may seem like a good thing for those with vaginal dryness, it definitely is not a good thing! It’s better to use a lube that offers moisture through its ingredients rather than taking it out of your tissues.
This is mainly because this can contribute to a higher risk of infection and disease transmission.
c. Toxic Chemicals can harm your body
It goes without saying that you should not be using any product that has toxic chemicals in it, especially when the product is one that can enter the body.
There are many toxic chemicals that can harm your vagina and are commonly used in lubes. Some of these are:
- Cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane and cyclotetrasiloxane – These substances can cause uterine cancer, and can also lead to reproductive harm.
- Parabens – these can sometimes irritate the mucous membranes in the vagina, cause endocrine disruption, lead to fertility problems, and even lead to genital rashes.
- Chlorhexidine gluconate – This chemical can kill off healthy bacteria in the vagina, leading to infections.
Final thoughts
Lube, in general, does not cause health problems and can help you enjoy better intercourse. However, you should keep an eye out for the factors mentioned above to make sure there is no risk of health problems at all.
Besides, adding more flavor to the experience can be a major turn-on. If you’re already using lubes, you can also try a variety of novelty flavored options from Lube-d. It’s available in equally appealing Bacon, Fried chicken, and BBQ sauce flavors.