Can Lubes Be A Reason For Your V-Troubles?

Although it is not a necessity, lubricants or lubes make the bedroom time with you and your partner more sexy and pleasurable. In fact, they are good to ease painful sex. There is a variety of lubes available in the stores. However, your lady parts are very delicate and a small change may be able to cause you any irritation. The most common vaginal irritation faced by women today is the yeast infection that comes with symptoms like burning, itching, unusual discharge, painful urination, or even painful sex.

Recently, there are studies that have reported that lubricants can cause vaginal irritation and may even be the cause of yeast infection.

Can Lubes Cause Troubles To Your Lady Parts?

Most women complain of yeast infections at some point in their lives. It may be caused due to pregnancy, a weak immune system, poor eating habits, stress, etc. New studies show that even lubes may play a role in triggering a yeast infection.

When women run out of something, they have the natural ability to create a substitute for it. There is no change when it comes to lubricants too. When you run out of the store-bought lubes, you end up using your own lubes like petroleum jelly or baby oil so you don’t have to interrupt the sexy time. This might do the job for the time being, but you may want to rethink this every time you do it. This is because your vagina is one of the most sensitive areas of your body and anything that disturbs its environment is going to create a reaction down there.

Some of these remedies you use can create a pH imbalance in the vagina, inviting bacterial growth and other infections. Studies have reported that sexually active women who have used petroleum jelly as lubricants have increased the risk of bacterial vaginosis by 22 percent. Similarly, women who have used oils as lubes have increased the risk of developing yeast infections by 32 percent.

Unfortunately, this is not limited to just petroleum products or oils; certain store-bought lubes and other cleansing products used for the vagina can trigger an imbalance in your vaginal pH and may lead to yeast infections.

So, if you cannot do without a lube, the only solution would be to read the labels thoroughly and choose the one that suits you and your partner the best. The only way to go about it is to know what is good for your body and what is not.

What To Look Out For When Buying A Lube?

If you use lubes regularly and want a sexual experience that you will not forget for a while for all the right reasons, then you must use appropriate lubes. Lubricants are mainly divided into three common types: silicone, water, and oil-based lubes. When you purchase these from the stores, read the labels carefully and avoid them if they contain any of the following:

• Glycerin: Glycerin is a relative of sugar and is most commonly added to water-based lubes. Sugar in the vagina is not a healthy combination. This is because glycerin can disrupt the pH of the vagina and may cause yeast infections.¹
• Propylene Glycol: This is usually added to lubricants to help in water retention and absorption. However, it may cause irritations, especially on sensitive skin. These are common in flavored lubricants and those that give a warming sensation.
• Benzocaine: Benzocaine is known for its numbing effect. This is used in lubes that will help ease painful sex or may even make anal sex more pleasurable. However, never use numbing lubes. If your body senses pain, it is a sign to stop and not pay attention.
• Acetate: Anything that has acetate is alcoholic. Alcohol makes a good drying agent and your vagina does not require because it can irritate the sensitive skin and cause irritation or even infections.

Make sure you read the labels well and avoid the lubes that contain the mentioned chemical compounds to avoid infections like yeast infections. Now that you know what is not good for your lady part, here is a list of what you should look out for when you buy a lube:

• Silicone-Based Lubes: These leave your sexual experiences with your partner feeling wonderful. They are long lasting and can also be used with condoms. Generally, silicone-based lubes are hypoallergenic which means they are good for sensitive skin. The only thing to remember is that they are not sex toy-friendly.
• Aloe-Based Lubes: Aloe vera is soothing and cools the skin. It does not usually cause an allergic reaction because it does not cause any pH imbalance in the vagina. So, buy aloe-based lubes that are 100 percent natural.
• Paraben-Free Lubes: Parabens in cosmetics affect the skin negatively. Therefore, looking for lubes that are paraben-free is important so you are free of any unpleasant reactions that may arise down there.

So, the next time you are in the store doing some lube-shopping keep these in mind so you can have a good time with your partner and don’t have to worry about any infections later.