Personal Lubricants
What are personal lubricants?
Personal lubricants are liquid gels that are used during sexual activity. Personal lubricants are most often used to make
sex more comfortable and enjoyable. This can be for any kind of sex: partnered sex, masturbation, or when using sex toys.
Lubricants can also be used to help insert menstrual cups, tampons, or pelvic floor trainers.
There are different types of lubricants available and many brands on the market.
The three main types of lubricants are:
- Water-based
- Silicone-based
- Oils
Water-based lubricants
Water-based lubricants are the most commonly available personal lubricants and there are numerous kinds available.
They are suitable for use with condoms and with sex toys.
Water-based lubricants are absorbed by the skin. This can mean they may dry out and need re-application during sex.
However, some water-based lubricants can also act as vaginal moisturisers, which is helpful if vaginal dryness is a
problem.
There are factors that influence how healthy water-based lubricants are for the vagina. These are:
- pH (how acid or alkaline something is) The natural pH of the vagina is between 3.8 to 4.5 and it is recommended that
the pH of any personal lubricant for penetrative vaginal sex be as close to this as possible. - Osmolality (the number of dissolved particles in a fluid). If the osmolality of a lubricant is high, it will draw moisture out
from the vaginal tissues causing dryness. The osmolality of any personal lubricant should be under 1200mOSm/kg and
ideally closer to 400mOS/kg. Correct osmolality is sometimes called iso-osmolality.
The water-based lubricants listed here have the recommended pH and osmolality for use with vaginal sex. *
- Astroglide® Ultra Gentle Gel
- Good Clean Love® water-based lubricants
- Sylk® Natural Personal Lubricant
- Sliquid® Organic H2O
- YES® Water Based Intimate Lubricant
- Yes® Vaginal Moisturiser is a moisturiser which can be used as a vaginal lubricant. It has the correct pH and osmolality.
Silicone-based lubricants
Silicone-based lubricants are made from silicone polymers. Silicone-based lubricants are not absorbed by skin or mucus
membranes. This can make them longer lasting. They provide excellent lubrication but do not have a moisturising effect.
Silicone-based lubricants are suitable for use with condoms. They are also suitable for use when water is involved, such as
in the shower or bath. They not recommended for use with silicone sex toys because they may interact with the surface of
the toy, damaging it and causing disintegration over time.
There are many silicone-based lubricants available in pharmacies, supermarkets, and online.
Oils and oil-based lubricants
Oils can be a useful lubricant and vaginal moisturiser, although they do not provide moisture to the same degree as the
moisturising water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can be a cost effective and chemical free option.
Importantly, oils cannot be used with latex or polyisoprene condoms as they weaken the condom which can lead to breaks
and tears. It is also recommended to avoid using oil-based lubricants with silicone sex toys.
Oil-based commercial lubricants
There are many different oil-based lubricants available on the market, both online and in pharmacies. The following two
are just some of the ones available*:
- Olive and Bee® Intimate Cream
- YES®OB Oil Based Personal Lubricant
- Food grade oils:
Any food grade oil such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil etc. can be used as a lubricant. Lighter oils are preferable to
avoid staining of bed clothes etc.
Sweet almond oil (available in health food stores or online) is recommended by the Australian Menopause Society as a
moisturising lubricant that can also help relieve vaginal dryness.