K-Y jelly - lubricant discontinued by K-Y Brand - review by Vanessa Weiss

KY Jelly is another classic water-based lubricant that seems to pop up in everybody's household. This is likely because it is available at almost every pharmacy and supermarket. However, it's just that—a super basic fluid/jelly used to lubricate something for insertion.

The only time I would use KY (if I had to use it at all) is to get a little bit of lubrication going on something I needed to insert, such as an enema nozzle, speculum, or other such implement. That's right, I wouldn't even use it for sex toys. I found it to be irritating to my delicate lady bits.

The ingredients that comprise KY Jelly are as follows: Purified water, Glycerin (moisturizer), Hydroxyethylcellulose (thickening agent), Chlorhexidine Gluconate (antiseptic/preservative), Gluconolactone (moisturizer), Methylparaben (preservative), Sodium Hydroxide (preservative).

Besides containing parabens, which can be irritating and are of questionable status in terms of whether they are safe, it contains two things which cause me to pause. An antiseptic preservative (Chlorhexidine Gluconate is used in toothpastes, and as a preservative) and Sodium Hydroxide, which is more commonly known as lye, a corrosive alkaline. They are all in such small quantities that the chances that any of these ingredients will cause you actual harm is low, but they can irritate your skin—they irritate mine!—with prolonged use.

The product is clear, very thick, and has the consistency of, say, hair gel. It works quite well for adding a touch of lubricant to, as I said, the tip of an enema nozzle or to a speculum, but does not work well as a sex lubricant. It does not last long enough and gets quite sticky.

It is easy to dispense given that it comes in a squeeze tube.

It has no discernible odor, but has a bitter, chemical taste which seems to coat your mouth even if you only get a tiny bit on your tongue. Just try to not eat any of it—lube doesn't need to be in your mouth, to be honest.

This does not perform well as a sexual lubricant. It gets sticky very fast and the more you add, the more sticky it gets.

KY Jelly was originally used as sterile surgical lubricant, and it does indeed serve that function rather well. With several antibacterial/antiseptic ingredients, it served its purpose in the operating theater rather well. But in the bedroom, I'd recommend you look elsewhere.

It washes off easily, you can even towel it off with a warm washcloth—unlike silicone-based lubricant, this is fairly easy to clean up.

Since it is water-based, it is compatible with condoms and with most toys, should you feel adventurous enough to give it a go.