Lubricant is not an optional extra. When a condom is used, lube makes it less likely to
break, slip or fall off, and it makes sex more comfortable — which matters most for anal sex,
because the rectum has no natural lubrication. It also helps when vaginal dryness is caused by
menopause or a skin condition.
The one rule that matters more than brand or price is what the lube is made of. Water-based
and silicone-based lubricants are the safe pairing with condoms. Oil-based products — kitchen
oil, butter, hand lotion, and many “natural oil” products — can damage a latex condom and cause
it to break.
We have sorted everything we have written on the subject into the sections below: what the
types actually are, which oils are safe and which are not, what happens with fertility and
pregnancy, and the practical questions (expiry, how much, and whether spit will do).
Start with the types
Oils — the ones people ask about
Making your own
Fertility, pregnancy and dryness
- Lubricants and fertility
- Lubricants during pregnancy
- Lubricants and dryness after menopause
- Lubricants and arousal
- Using too much lubricant
More from this cluster
- What lubricant actually does
- Ingredients to look for if your skin is sensitive
- Choosing a lubricant for sensitive skin
- Coconut oil vs commercial lubricants
- Is petroleum jelly safe as a lubricant?
- Lubricant and urinary tract infections
- Hormones and natural lubrication
- Where natural lubrication comes from
- Where to buy lubricant at Walmart
- Is EmuAid safe as a lubricant?
- Aveeno lotion as a lubricant
- The most common lubricants, compared
If you are looking for the mechanics rather than the product, start with how to put on a condom.