Why is Oil based lube bad for vaginal use?

Contributor: Darling Dove Darling Dove
Cause... Nobody ever really says why, just that you shouldn't do it. I can't think of a reason why it would be since.. we rub lotions all over the rest of us and they have oil in them, and so do lip balms and such. Just wondering.. why exactly is oil bad for vaginal use?
03/04/2010
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Contributor: GingerAnn GingerAnn
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03/04/2010
Contributor: CockGawker CockGawker
It could potential create a bacterial infection because it lingers longer.

However, peeps have been using oil loooooooong before KY was invented.

I can't use KY or any lube with glycerine -- but I do use a coconut oil based lube which is more water soluble and has never given me problems in 10 years or so.
03/04/2010
Contributor: EffinSara EffinSara
I know I've read a real answer before... it was something about the vagina not being able to flush out oils the way it should, and that it gets in the way with the vagina's other self-cleaning processes making infection more likely.

Oil also breaks down latex, which is bad for latex condoms and rubber toys.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I've come to the conclusion, for myself and only myself, oil is fine so long as it's natural/food/nut/seed oils not petroleum based/mineral oil. The natural oils wash away just as well, for me, as anything else and cause no issues.

Then again, I can also use glycerin with no issue so maybe I have a super friendly vagina.
03/04/2010
Contributor: CockGawker CockGawker
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I've come to the conclusion, for myself and only myself, oil is fine so long as it's natural/food/nut/seed oils not petroleum based/mineral oil. The natural oils wash away just as well, for me, as anything else and cause no ... more
I turned to oil based when I couldn't find a water based lube that worked for me. It does limit my toy materials though.
But I've recently found Sliquid works fine for me as well --which is water based lube that that doesn't contain glycerin -- now I can use my silicone toys
03/04/2010
Contributor: Darling Dove Darling Dove
Hmmm..

I've found that lubes with lesser amounts of glycerin are fine for me, so maybe some natural oils would be as well. Wet Original Gel tastes like sugar syrup though, and its a definite no-no for me so basically if it tastes like sugar I can't use it. Thankfully a lot of glycerin-using lubes seem to be lighter on the sweet stuff than wet.

What kind of lubes exist that use natural oils? most of the oil based lubes on EF seem to be jack off lubes.
03/04/2010
Contributor: SexyTigerX SexyTigerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Dove
Hmmm..

I've found that lubes with lesser amounts of glycerin are fine for me, so maybe some natural oils would be as well. Wet Original Gel tastes like sugar syrup though, and its a definite no-no for me so basically if it tastes like ... more
Darling Dove,

Just thought you would see this post on lubes. link

I was wondering about oil based lubes also. There's a lot of great info there. Hope it helps.
03/04/2010
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I've come to the conclusion, for myself and only myself, oil is fine so long as it's natural/food/nut/seed oils not petroleum based/mineral oil. The natural oils wash away just as well, for me, as anything else and cause no ... more
We've used quality oils too. I don't have any problems with them or with glycerin either.

But I understand that these can be a problem for some people.
03/04/2010
Contributor: CockGawker CockGawker
FYI

For those of you who would like a little more sweetness in your lube but have issues with glycerin -- you can try dissolving a pinch of Xylitol in the formula. Xylitol is an all natural sweetner which, due to it's unusual carbon structure, also happens to act as a bacterial inhibitor.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
Quote:
Originally posted by CockGawker
It could potential create a bacterial infection because it lingers longer.

However, peeps have been using oil loooooooong before KY was invented.

I can't use KY or any lube with glycerine -- but I do use a coconut oil based lube ... more
Just a thought - the problem with the "it lingers longer" argument that's so often used is that the same could be said for silicone lube. It's specifically designed NOT to wash away without effort, yet few of us feel the need to scrub out the depths of our vaginas after using silicone lube.

I suspect the advice to not use oil-based lubes originally came from the safer-sex push. Petroleum-based oils will degrade condoms, but many people just aren't all that careful about what lube they reach for in the heat of the moment - that, or they don't remember/never knew that it would damage the condom. You tell everyone that there's a hard rule against using the lube, and prevent people from mixing up pieces of advice and ruining their barrier method. (kind of like the unflanged anal play issue - can be done in relative safety by someone knowledgeable and experienced, but your average user is probably going to fuck something up by accident every so often, so just tell them not to do it ever)
03/04/2010
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I've come to the conclusion, for myself and only myself, oil is fine so long as it's natural/food/nut/seed oils not petroleum based/mineral oil. The natural oils wash away just as well, for me, as anything else and cause no ... more
I have pretty much the same philosophy as Carrie Ann, sticking to natural oils (organic if I can find it) as opposed to petroleum or mineral based oils.

I have heard that mineral oil and petroleum oils can cause bacteria and yeast growth by sticking around longer than other products and providing a safe haven, so to speak.

But I have also never seen any studies that back this up and heard that this is primarily a myth. I say, do what's right for you and if prefer using these products and suffer no ill effects, then go for it.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Dove
Cause... Nobody ever really says why, just that you shouldn't do it. I can't think of a reason why it would be since.. we rub lotions all over the rest of us and they have oil in them, and so do lip balms and such. Just wondering.. why ... more
Not sure where this misconception comes from. Undoubtedly there are individuals that have sensitivities to oil-based lubes. I'm just as sure there are some that even sensitive to water-based lubes. The good news is that we can choose what we like best.

We use silicone for our non-silicone toys. Oil based for me and butter-based for my wife. There's a new one - butter-based? My wife's fav is made from a combination of Shea & Cocoa butter - not true oils because they are not liquid at room temperature. The cool part is they melt at body temperature making for a great combination of lubrication and skin conditioner.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
Quote:
Originally posted by Luscious Lily
Just a thought - the problem with the "it lingers longer" argument that's so often used is that the same could be said for silicone lube. It's specifically designed NOT to wash away without effort, yet few of us feel the need to ... more
I remember the very nice woman at the local sex store telling me that silicone lube sticks to your skin but isn't at all harmful because of its chemical "weave". She claimed that even though there's a filmy, silky residue left over from silicone lube, it's fine if you don't scrub it off because your skin can still breathe through it. Petroleum-based products, on the other hand, don't have that benefit. I haven't had time to look all this up to confirm that it's true, so take it with a grain of salt.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
Quote:
Originally posted by Miss Cinnamon
I remember the very nice woman at the local sex store telling me that silicone lube sticks to your skin but isn't at all harmful because of its chemical "weave". She claimed that even though there's a filmy, silky residue left over ... more
Huh, that IS interesting. I'd be curious to see any confirmation, if you ever stumble across it. Sounds like the general consensus is that, for whatever reasons, natural oils are safe, but petroleum probably aren't.
03/04/2010
Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
I used petroleum jelly for years to masturbate before I ever got any sex toys and never had any problems/infections/ir ritations. I never knew it wasn't good to use, and I don't use it anymore, just because I like the water based lube texture better.
03/05/2010
Contributor: deceased deceased
Oil and petroleum based lubes cause bacterial vaginosis.
03/07/2010
Contributor: Alan & Michele Alan & Michele
I think it depends on the kind of oil and on the individual. We had a doctor years ago suggest unrefined organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and we've been using it for that ever since. It's been a blessing on the few occasions when a sex toy has chafed me internally, and I've also used it as part (notice I said part) of a natural yeast infection treatment before since my system didn't tolerate stuff like Monistat and Diflucan well.

However, that same doctor *did* state that most other oils were a no-no, especially petroleum based ones, because they could cause infections.

Like Luscious Lily said, I think the "oil based lubes are bad" thing is just a blanket statement they used in regards to safe sex, because all oils DO affect condom reliability.
03/07/2010
Contributor: Luscious Lily Luscious Lily
Quote:
Originally posted by Alan & Michele
I think it depends on the kind of oil and on the individual. We had a doctor years ago suggest unrefined organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and we've been using it for that ever since. It's been a blessing on the few occasions when a sex toy ... more
Thanks for catching that. I slipped when I said that just petroleum based oils will degrade condoms; I meant to say that all will do so.
03/07/2010
Contributor: J's Alley J's Alley
Ok, mineral oils...try this at home with a mineral oil (baby oil works great)

Take a saltine cracker and throw it into a bowl with the oil. It will petrify, literally. Now consider this...do you really want a material that causes any part of your body to be cut off from outside air? Not really. Honestly, lotions with mineral oil in them are bad for your skin (even though 99% of people love them). They hydrate, but you are left with a cut off from air.

Regarding natural oils...they should be fine. I actually use almond oil as a lotion because it absorbs and allows the skin to breathe. This should be safe for use, but as many have stated, condom use is a no go with them really.
03/07/2010
Contributor: Jill Ingoff Jill Ingoff
Quote:
Originally posted by Darling Dove
Cause... Nobody ever really says why, just that you shouldn't do it. I can't think of a reason why it would be since.. we rub lotions all over the rest of us and they have oil in them, and so do lip balms and such. Just wondering.. why ... more
To echo what some people already posted in this thread, if you're going to use an oil for (non latex) play - go for organic coconut oil. I've been using it for solo sessions for a while and haven't had any problems and it's body friendly oil.. but your mileage may vary, obviously
03/09/2010