Essential Information for Buying Vaginal Lubricants

How to Decide Which Lubricant Is Right for You

The use of vaginal lubricants is well worth considering if you’re experiencing a lack of physical arousal or vaginal dryness during sex. Being well lubricated can decrease the risk of vaginal tears and irritation, which can, in turn, reduce your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you’re using a condom, the right lube can also help cut down on the risk that the condom will break.

With so many lubricants on the market, however, how do you know which one to choose?

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Water-Based Lubricants

Water-based lubricants are usually the best option, especially if you’re using a condom and/or are prone to yeast infections (overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast). Silicone-based lubricants are also okay to use with condoms. People sometimes choose silicone-based lubricants over water-based options because they can be more slippery and also last longer, especially in the bath or shower. They can be more expensive, though, and can also break down sex toys made of silicone.

Oil-Based Lubricants

These are problematic and must never be used with latex condoms. The oil breaks down the latex and makes the condoms easier to break.

You should also never use a lubricant that contains oils, fats, or greases, such as petroleum-based jelly (like Vaseline), baby oil or lotion, hand or body lotions, mineral oil, cooking oil or shortening, or oily cosmetics like cold cream. They can seriously weaken latex, causing a condom to tear easily. They may have other adverse effects as well, such as promoting yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.

When Does Vaginal Dryness Occur?

You may have heard that vaginal lubricants or moisturizers are only for women going through menopause. Vaginal dryness is a common result during this time in a woman’s life when her estrogen levels naturally drop. However, normal estrogen fluctuations throughout a woman’s life can also often cause vaginal dryness, creating the need for extra vaginal lubrication. Vaginal dryness often occurs during menstruation, pregnancy, nursing, and times of emotional stress.

Some drugs can interfere with vaginal lubrication, including:

  • Oral contraceptives, such as Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone)
  • Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam)
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as such as Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine)
  • Other antidepressants, including Wellbutrin (bupropion), Remeron (mirtazapine), Viibryd (vilazodone)
  • Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam)
  • Beta-blockers, such as Tenormin (atenolol) and Lopressor (metoprolol)

Further Reading on Vaginal Dryness

  • How does lubricant use affect STD risk? If you’re having penetrative sex, whether it’s anal sex or vaginal sex, lubricants are a good idea. They reduce friction, making repeated penetration less likely to cause microscopic damage, or even tearing, of the vaginal or anal canal.
  • How to use condoms and prevent condom failure: No form of birth control is perfect, not even condoms, which can break and tear during sex. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that about 2% of condoms break. Making sure you’re using condoms correctly can help to prevent breakage.
  • Everything you need to know about condoms: What they are, how they work, and more.
  • Should you use additional lubricant with a lubricated condom? Condoms can be an effective means both of birth control and of protecting against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But what else can you do to make your sexual experience even better? Are you covering all your bases?
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Brown JM, Hess KL, Brown S, Murphy C, Waldman AL, Hezareh M. Intravaginal practices and risk of bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis infection among a cohort of women in the United States. Obstet Gynecol. 2013;121(4):773-780. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e31828786f8

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Condom fact sheet in brief.

  4. Lee JJML, Low LL, Ang SB. Oral contraception and female sexual dysfunction in reproductive women. Sex Med Rev. 2017;5(1):31-44. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.06.001

  5. Faubion SS, Rullo JE. Sexual dysfunction in women: a practical approachAm Fam Physician. 2015;92(4):281-288.

  6. UpToDate. Patient education: vaginal dryness (Beyond the Basics).

  7. Hosseinzadeh Zoroufchi B, Doustmohammadi H, Mokhtari T, Abdollahpour A. Benzodiazepines related sexual dysfunctions: a critical review on pharmacology and mechanism of action. Rev Int Androl. 2021;19(1):62-68. doi:10.1016/j.androl.2019.08.003

  8. Lorenz T, Rullo J, Faubion S. Antidepressant-induced female sexual dysfunction. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1280-1286. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.04.033

  9. Zhong Q, Anderson Y. Management of hypertension with female sexual dysfunction. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022;58(5):637. doi:10.3390/medicina58050637

  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. Primary prevention methods.

By Tracee Cornforth
Tracee Cornforth is a freelance writer who covers menstruation, menstrual disorders, and other women's health issues.