Lubricants

Table P-20: Lubricants: Personal Preference1

WATER BASED OIL BASED SILICONE BASED
Thickening agents in a water-soluble base differ by: consistency, feel, duration of action Oil: mineral, olive, almond, coconut, other Silicon Dimethicone
Dry quickly;  reapplication necessary. Osmolality determines irritation Slippery

Messy/greasy

 Slippery; “coating” effect
Compatible with latex condoms Break condoms, diaphragms Not compatible with silicone rubber sex toys
Sticky Possible odor Bad taste
May contain preservatives:  parabens, propylene glycol or antiseptics: chlorhexidine-glycerin Non-irritating Non-irritating
Wash away easily Water-resistant, difficult to wash off body; stain clothes or sheets. Water-resistant, difficult to wash off body, clothes or sheets. Need soap for removal.
Astroglide Free, Slippery stuff, Just Like Me, KY Jelly, Pre-seed, Liquid Silk, Good Clean Love, YES personal lubricant Elegance Women’s lubricants

Mineral oil, olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, corn or canola oil

 Uberlube, Astroglide X, Pjur, Eros, Pink ID Millenium, Wet Platinum, KY Intrigue

Water based lubricants are often preferred for their ease of use. Not all water-based lubricants are the same, and experimentation may be necessary to avoid irritation. It is the osmolality of the lubricant that influences mucosal reaction.

Table P-21: Osmolality of Water Based Lubricants

OSMOLALITY MUCOSAL INFLUENCE PRODUCTS
Iso-osmotic 314 mOsm/kg No irritation Pre-seed
Hypo-osmotic 13-32 mOsm/kg Negative mucus production FemGlide, Slippery Stuff
Hyper-osmotic 1491-5848 mOsm/kg Mild to severe irritation Replens, KY jelly, Astroglide

Lubricants may affect sperm integrity and function, thereby decreasing fertilization potential. Motility is significantly decreased by saliva, olive oil, and KY jelly but not by baby oil.2 Motility is significantly decreased by FemGlide, Replens, and Astroglide, but not by Pre-Seed.3 Sperm chromatin integrity is significantly decreased by KY-jelly and FemGlide, but not by Pre-Seed. 4

Table P-22: pH and Osmolality of Lubricants and Sperm 5

PRODUCT pH TOO LOW PHYSIOLOGIC 7.2-8.5 pH TOO HIGH OSMOLALITY TOO LOW OSMOLALITY PHYSIOLOGIC OSMOLALITY TOO HIGH
Pre-Seed 7.25 314
Replens 2.8 2610
FemGlide 7.22 162
KY Jelly 4.52 2052
KY Liquid 3.62 5492
Astroglide 3.45 5848
Moist Again 5.29 187
Saliva 7.08 151
Water 8.01 98
Mineral oil 10.5 1735
Baby oil 7.16 1565

Based on information about pH, osmolality, and sperm influences, our recommendation for a lubricant is Pre-Seed.

Table P-23: Vaginal Moisturizers

PRODUCT INGREDIENTS USE MEDICAL STUDY
Replens Polycarbophil, glycerin, mineral oil Every 3 days Yes
Me again Hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, parabens 7 days>2/wk Yes- hyaluronic acid
KY Liquibeads (ovules) Dimethicone, gelatin, glycerin, dimethiconol Varies No
KY long-lasting Polymers, glycerin mineral oil Varies No
Emerita personal moisturizer Aloe vera gel, calendula, vitamin E, ginseng, chamomile, allantoin As needed No
Moist Again Carbomer, aloe vera, glycerin, chlorhexidine As needed No
Hyalofemme Hyaluronic acid 7 days > 2/wk Yes- hyaluronic acid
Pre-seed Hydroxyethylcellulose pluronic, arabinogalactan As needed Yes

We recommend Pre-Seed or a film of Vaseline after a bath or shower daily as a moisturizer for vulvar tissue if needed.

References

  1. Lev-Sagie, A, Kellogg-Spadt, S. Workshop on emollients, lubricants, enhancers, and topical hormones; making clinical recommendations. XXI World Congress International society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, Paris, France, September 3-8, 2011.
  2. Anderson L, Lewis SE, McClure N. The effects of coital lubricants on sperm motility in vitro. Hum Reprod. 1998 Dec;13(12):3351-3356.
  3. Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Cocuzza M, Short RA, Evenson DP. Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study. Fertil Steril. 2008 Feb;89(2):375-9. Epub 2007 May 16.
  4. Agarwal, 2008.
  5. Lev-Sagie, 2011