Some Lubes Raise Risks
posted: 27/05/2010
Gay and Bi men have been advised for many years to use a water or silicone-based lube for anal sex. A new research study helps men and women who have anal sex to choose the lubes that are safer and work well - like Wet Platinum .
The results suggest people should avoid the ones like KY Jelly that seem to increase the risk of sexually tranmsitted infections (STIs).
This new study has caused a stir at the International Microbicides Conference, underway in Pittsburg, USA.
STI risks rise with some lubes
Some lubes increase the risk of getting a bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), like gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis. Almost twice as many people using certain lubes (12%) were diagnosed with rectal gonorrhoea, chlamydia or syphilis, compared with 5% of those who didn’t use a lubricant.
Even when the researchers took into account things like the number of partners, frequency of sex, and condom use, they found that the use of certain lubes was associated with a three times bigger rise in rectal STIs.
Lubricants are not regulated like medicines: they are ‘medical devices’ and do not have strict safety testing. Many include things that are ‘not friendly’ to the cells lining the rectum. KY Jelly, for example, contains the disinfectant clorhexidine.
Keep using lube – but change your brand?
People should continue to use lube for anal sex. Without lube there’s a good chance of discomfort, pain, soreness, bleeding, and tissue damage in the anus and rectum – and this makes it much easier for HIV and STIs to be passed on.
People in this study used various kinds of lubricant: 67% had used a water-based one such as KY Jelly, 28% a silicone-based lubricant, 17% an oil-based lubricant such as Crisco, and 6% used a numbing lubricant to deaden feelings.
Choose lubes carefully
The researchers recommend choosing lubricant carefully. More research is needed to assess the risks with each of those commonly used.
Better Choice
The study found that a silicone-based lube, Wet Platinum, and a vaginal water-based lube, PRé, did not damage the cells.
Best Avoided
Other studies have shown KY Jelly can kill friendly bacteria in the vagina, and this and several similar water-based lubricants damaged the cell lining of the rectum. Another study tested six lubricants that can be bought over the counter in the USA. They studied the physical properties of each.
Four lubricants Astroglide, KY Jelly, ID Glide and Elbow Grease did risky things to rectums. They are strongly hyperosmolar. This means they suck water out of the cells lining the rectum into the rectum and they also strip off the protective epithelium (lining) of the rectum. Astroglide caused almost as much damage as nonoxynol-9, the spermicide that increases the risk of HIV infection.
These lubes were also tested on ‘friendly’ bacteria that are part of the normal vaginal flora. Astroglide killed off one species of Lactobacillus, and KY Jelly, which contains the disinfectant clorhexidine, killed all species.
PRÉ (limited UK availability) and Wet Platinum caused relatively little damage and seem a better choice.
There is an urgent need to conduct further research into sexual lubes, to distinguish between harmful and harmless ones, and it looks like it is time to have stricter safety checks before allowing sexual lubes to be sold.
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