Sex Lubes Raising HIV Risks?

posted: 24/02/2011

In May we reported news that some sex lubricants raise the risk of passing on HIV. Now more information has appeared from a lab study of 41 lubricants. Four Astroglide lubricants make HIV multiply, and most sex lubes appear to damage the lining of the vagina and rectum, raising the risk of HIV being passed on.

Carraguard, a gel formerly tried as an experimental microbicide, however did not damage the cells.

Safety test all sex lubes

The researchers recommend that sex lubricants should all have rigorous safety testing, including a study to see if they increase the risk of passing on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Using water-based and silicone lubricants along with condoms is recommended to prevent HIV transmission.   

This study was in the laboratory, so they need to check their results in real life with people. “What happens in the laboratory environment does not always happen in the human body. In fact, lubricants generally appear to play an important role in preventing the spread of HIV,” said Dr. José Fernandez-Romero, senior investigator of the study. Intercourse without them can damage cells, which could promote HIV transmission. Condom-safe lubricants also may reduce the likelihood that a condom will break. But we need to know more,” he added.
 

Despite the common use of sexual lubricants, their effects on passing on of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections has never been thoroughly studied.  

41 different sex lubes tested
In this study, researchers at the USA’s Duke University and the Population Council investigated the anti-HIV activity of 41 personal lubricants, in the laboratory.
 

No sex lube harms HIV
None of the lubricants harms or damages HIV.
 

Astroglide lubes multiply HIV
However, four lubes made HIV multiply - at least in the lab

• Astroglide Liquid
• Astroglide Warming Liquid
• Astroglide Glycerin & Paraben-Free Liquid 
• Astroglide Silken Secret.

All are sold in the UK.
 

All four have a common ingredient called polyquaternium. Three of the lubricants had polyquaternium-15. A related polyquaternium compound makes HIV multiply in the lab.
 

Damage to vaginal and rectal linings
These four lubricants and most of the others tested seem to damage the lining of the rectum and vagina in this laboratory-only study. There are special thin surface cells lining the vagina and rectum which are the only natural barrier to HIV infection – and lubricants damage these cells and that gives HIV a way into the body, causing HIV infection.

Condoms prevent HIV from passing through the lining of the vagina and rectum. 

Sex lubes are still strongly advised - perhaps not Astroglide - because sex lubes help prevent HIV by reducing invisible chaffing of the special skin that lines the vagina and rectum.   
 

Source 

There are more details in this aidsmap.com article
 

AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses article (free online)

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