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)

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.
 

Source