Ask the majority of medical professionals and they will more than likely point you in the direction of a water-based lubricant because they work in harmony with the natural self-cleaning process that the vagina has.
In other words, if silicone and/or oil gets into the vagina then it will more than likely remain within the vagina until it breaks down and is flushed out, which can be possibly 3 days later. This time frame carries the chance of infection not only in the vagina but also reaching the urethra/bladder (think along the lines of raising your chance of a UTI infection like Cystitis and/or Thrush) because silicone and/or oil are harder to remove from any surface due to them being resistant to being broken down by soap and water (as in washing, bathing, and showering).
The old adage that oil and water never mix is so true so getting such products out of the vagina after sex is going to be difficult to say the least. If you think – just douche – then stop and read the article (at the end of this page) which explains why douching is bad news.
With this is mind we have stayed true to what most gynaecologists would turn to first and foremost that being the simplicity of a water-based lubricant. That’s because a water based lubricant (such as Moose-Joose) is all about being a ‘one for all’ product that is safe to use with condoms as well as being respectful to preserving any sex toy you own, and will leave the vagina naturally as the vagina begins its own self-cleaning function.
We also believe if you have anything troubling you in this sensitive area or any past/current medical or fertility issues then your GP/Gynaecologist/Consultant is the person you must talk things over with before jumping in and purchasing any lubricant. Why? … because you may discover a lubricant is merely masking a medical or fertility issue for which you need specific prescriptive medication or a referral for treatment.
Mirror our Ethos
“remember to care for yourself from the inside out… …..your future self will thank you for it”
Here are a few pointers for you to think about when considering other lubricants compared to water-based.
Ellen Barnard, co-founder, co-owner of A Woman’s’ Touch and sexual health social worker along with physicians at Madison W.I says :
“There are certain things that you should never let touch your vagina, anything that cause a warming or cooling sensation because they irritate the skin. That would include menthol, peppermint, cinnamon, capsaicin., it can lead to terrible skin reactions with really profound long-lasting skin irritations.”
Barnard further stressed :
“Then there are other ingredients used in lubes on my do not use list. Avoid anything oil-based. It might be natural, but alas, it has some serious downsides. The oil can hang out in the folds of your vaginal skin and go rancid.
Plus waxes like Beeswax, Shea Butter, and Jojoba Oil. Those can stay in the vagina and basically cause changes in how the vaginal skin replaces itself.”
Anal Lubricants
The FDA considers anal use an ‘off-label’ application of personal lubricants and does not do any tests exposing them to tissue in the rectum. The FDA also has a list of chemicals that are ‘enerally recognized as safe’ but such ingredients do not need to be tested – Richard Cone (Dermatologist) – nor are they tested on the skin, and once approved, a company doesn’t have to list he ingredients on the label, which makes self-regulation difficult.
As with all lubes, ingredient awareness is becoming more and more important, but even more so with anal lubricants.
Botanical / Plant Based Lubricants by Dr. Sandy Skotnicki – Dermatologist :
“People often assume a ‘botanical (plant)’ product means it’s good for them. But it is a skin product in any formulation made from plants for therapeutic, flavour or fragrance properties. What’s also confusing is whether skin break outs are the result of an allergy or an irritant reaction. The rate of irritation reactions to them are widespread. Irritant contact dermatitis reactions can be quite uncomfortable, setting off fairly immediate redness, burning, swelling and itching.”
Now Onto Oil-Based Lubricants
Dr. Mary Minkin OBGYN Professor at Yale stated :
“keep all oil-based lubes — including vaseline— out of the bedroom. They are difficult to wash out of the vagina. That means it turns your vag into a breeding ground for bad bacteria, putting you at risk for a yeast infection. To make matters worse, oil and latex don’t get along, meaning it could wreck the efficiency of your condom, landing you with an unwanted pregnancy or an STI”
(1) Baby Oil by DR Anique Ali – UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NISHTAR
It can break down latex and polyisoprene — When exposed to mineral oil, condoms lose up to 90 percent of their strength. This increases the risk of pregnancy as well as the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
It doesn’t easily wash off — If you’re not careful, baby oil can stain your sheets, clothes, and underwear. Even worse: you can’t remove it from your body with a simple shower since it doesn’t easily react to soap and water. This can leave you feeling “greasy” a few hours or even days after your sexual encounter.
It can cause vaginal infections — Since baby oil isn’t easy to clean and wash off, it has the tendency to stay in the vagina or anus for several days. This, coupled with the fact that it promotes bacterial growth, means that those who like to use baby oil are more prone to infections in the genital and rectal area.
“Aside from this, it’s not recommended to ingest baby/oil – think mixing intercourse with oral sex. This can be harmful to your health in the long run.
It makes women more prone to getting bacterial vaginosis, because it/oil can’t easily be washed out which can lead to more serious conditions like pelvic inflammatory diseaseand create an environment that encourages bacteria to thrive. This in turn, raises the risk of infections.
Simply put: Baby oil is inadvisable for oral, vaginal, and anal sex. It’s more advisable to use commercially sold personal lubricants that are either water-based ordesigned to provide lubrication without harming your health.”
(2) Doctors reveal if it’s safe to use coconut oil on your vagina
Many people use coconut oil as part of their beauty regimens, and lately it’s become increasingly common for women to use the oil as a vaginal lubricant. But when it comes to the products we use on our vaginas, it’s always better to be safe than sorry — so is it safe to put coconut oil on (or inside) your vagina? We spoke to gynecologists about whether or not it’s actually safe to use coconut oil in or on the vagina.
Dr. Peter Rizk, an OBGYN fertility and women’s health expert for Fairhaven Health, told HelloGiggles that the body doesn’t generally use oils for vaginal hydration.
“Although oils can temporarily relieve vaginal dryness and discomfort, they have to then be cleaned out by the vagina and can actually interfere with vaginal self-cleaning,” Rizk explained. “Topically applied oils have been associated with an eight fold increase in vaginal infection.”
Michael Krychman, M.D, Executive Director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship Medicine, has similar concerns.
Krychman noted that although many women find products like coconut oil soothing and helpful in the short-term, they have been linked to severe vaginal infections.
Rizk explained that coconut oil has a significant impact on antimicrobial activity, and its effect on the vaginal micro-biome hasn’t been well-studied to date. (Note to scientists: here’s something to research.)”We do know that coconut oil decreases water movement across cell membranes. Consistent production of mucus and exfoliation of the vaginal mucosal barrier is important for healthy vaginal physiology,” Rizk said. “Unfortunately, we don’t know how coating of the mucosa with coconut oil changes water permeability of these tissues, and it may negatively impact normal healthy vaginal function.”
Few things are more unpleasant than a vaginal infection — so it seems like a good idea to listen to the experts and keep coconut oil out of your vagina.
Dr Rachel Shepherd from Texas University commented on Coconut Oil :
“Coconut oil has become a popular home remedy for multiple physical complaints including vaginal dryness. The vagina is a delicate microenvironment that is sensitive. Using products in the vagina can affect the overall health of the vaginal tissue. There has been recent interest in coconut oil as a natural moisturizer for the vagina. Often we think natural is safe but that may not always be true when it comes to our health.
The bottom line is the research studies on coconut oil in the vagina have not been completed and there are varying opinions on whether it can be safely used as a lubricant or moisturizer for the vagina.”
In addition to the above, the following was also expressed by Dr Rachel Shepherd from Texas University:
“Coconut oil is oil based which can put you at risk for a biofilm in your vagina and therefore at risk for recurrent bacterial infections”
Dr Shepherd further went on to explain that vaginal dryness can be caused by lactation, menopause, medications, inflammatory bowel disease and many other conditions so it is important to be fully evaluated before self-treating. Any time a product is introduced intoa sensitive part of your body, it is important to monitor for signs of contact dermatitis or worsening symptoms like itching, irritation, redness, pain or odour.
It can break down latex and polyisoprene — When exposed to mineral oil, condoms lose up to 90 percent of their strength. This increases the risk of pregnancy as well as the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
It doesn’t easily wash off — If you’re not careful, baby oil can stain your sheets, clothes, and underwear. Even worse: you can’t remove it from your body with a simple shower since it doesn’t easily react to soap and water. This can leave you feeling “greasy” a few hours or even days after your sexual encounter.
It can cause vaginal infections — Since baby oil isn’t easy to clean and wash off, it has the tendency to stay in the vagina or anus for several days. This, coupled with the fact that it promotes bacterial growth, means that those who like to use baby oil are more prone to infections in the genital and rectal area.
(3) Tea Tree Oil ; Dr. Raquel Dardik AssociateGynaecology Professor sat Langon esays
“this particular oil has the potential to cause painful chemical burns in your vagina. So while it might smell heavenly, keep it far awayfrom your garden down under”
Fertility/Conceiving & Lubricants:
Is there really anything of substance in media conversations that lubricants hinder or help when trying to conceive?
Study’s involving 296 couples, 14% of whom used lubricants regularly, 29% occasionally, and 25% when trying to conceive, came to the conclusion that using lubricants did not affect natural fertility, during procreative intercourse.
They proposed threereasons for the results:
Firstly, lubricants may not remain in the upper vagina, which is where sperm is deposited.
Secondly, sperm deposited in the upper vagina swims very quickly into the cervix/fallopian tubes.
Finally, lubricants may actually increase the chances of getting pregnant simply because thereis more thanlikely more frequent sex”
Importantly, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Prof. Allan Pacey) stated “It would seem reasonable to assume these lubricants do not do any harm if they are used according to the manufacturer’s instructions” and “sperm-friendly lubricants work by maintaining the appropriate balance of salts and sugarsfor the sperm to survive”
His reference to the importance of sugars is rather interesting considering the recent media hype about Glycerin /sugars in lubricants being a bad thing. With the latest information below we think that negativity towards Glycerin /sugars might well be misguided after all. See reference (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Queen’s University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science, UK – Goldenberg RL & White R Fertil Steril.1975;26(9):
“Fifteen substances utilisable as vaginal lubricants were therefore tested for their effect on sperm motility in vitro…salt and glycerin had minimal detrimental effects on motility and are apparently the lubricants of choice when an infertility problem exists.”
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PMIDAlthough we have refered to lubricants and fertility iss
Though we have focused on the interest surrounding lubricants concerning fertility in this section, what we did discover along the way is , fertility issues can actually be affected simply by what you use in the bedroom – think sex toys, dilators, and personal lubricants. For further reading on the subject check out our ‘OMG Page’ (for sex toys etc) and ‘Organic, Natural and Then Some Page’ (lube ingredients). Some of the content may well surprise you, and you may find a simple change in products may help you conceive more easily without any need to swap to specifically titled lubricants if you are happy using the one you currently use (if you use one).
We strongly advise discussing such matters (ingredients etc) with your GP especially now that the medication via the vagina is becoming an alternative to taking things by mouth (orally).