It is ok to experiment—BUT when that experiment starts messing with your Lady Love you must say NO!
By Taylor Sparks — Written on Jul 13, 2015
The personal lubricant market has exploded over the past several years along with scented douche and flavored condoms. Let the mass media tell it your vagina (punany, p*ssy, va jay jay) and all of its natural tendencies to lubricant itself and cleanse itself, needs to feel and smell like anything other than … well your vagina. Perhaps strawberries and cream or an island breeze would be better?
Personal lubricants can be bought in almost any corner store. There are, in fact, so many choices that it can be overwhelming. When it comes to deciding on a lubricant there are certain ingredients that should not enter your precious petals as some of these are, in fact hazardous to your health. Choosing the right lubricant is just as important to your sex life as it is your general health.
How many products do you use?
The average adult puts over 100 individual ingredients on their skin each day, with up to 60% being absorbed into the bloodstream. Women use more products and ingredients (12 products, 168 ingredients) than men (6 products, 85 ingredients) and are more at risk to developmental toxins. The vagina is covered by a mucus membrane and 100% of what you put on it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Some of these ingredients can actually have a drying effect and you can end up with micro tears in the vagina making you more susceptible to STIs. Other ingredients can trigger herpes outbreaks or yeast infections in some women. So what do you need to avoid?
- Parabens (methylparaben, butylparaben)—are preservatives used in many cosmetics and personal care products. They are known to disrupt hormone function and have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.
- Glycerin (glucose, sucrose, fructose)—What happens when you put sugar in something dark and warm and wet? Yes, you start making bread. These are derivatives of sugar and the last place they need to be is in your vagina. Glycerin has and can trigger a yeast infection in some women.
- Propylene Glycol—This cousin to anti-freeze … yes, the one in your car radiator is in everything. Its main job is to make wet things … slippery. It’s also used as a skin conditioning agent but can be highly irritating to women especially those who may suffer from chronic vulva pain (vulvodynia).
- Warming Agent (L-aginine, menthol etc)—There is nothing wrong with a little advanced tingle to get the party started. But lubricants with L-arginine can actually trigger a general outbreak in women (and possibly men) with genital herpes. Menthol, if the amount is high, can register as extremely hot on that sensitive area on a woman.
- Petroleum (mineral oil)—Vaseline, baby oil and mineral oils should not be used in the vagina or anal cavity. They don’t wash away easily so they may harbor any bacteria causing an infection. Plus oil based lubricants cannot be used with latex condoms. They will eat through that condom in 3 strokes!
- Fragrance, Perfume and Flavoring Agents—The notion that p*ssy has to taste like anything other than … well, p*ssy is ridiculous. So many of the lubricants on the market have artificial flavorings and perfumes that you have no idea what is in them and what you could possibly be swallowing. These can also trigger outbreaks, itching and dryness. And when a woman is dry … the party's over.
What’s on your condom?
So many women believe that they may have a latex allergy or that condoms themselves are making them dry. It is quite possibly the lubricant on the condom that has some or all of the ingredients on them that is giving you this reaction.
Alternatives for a healthy eco-friendly sex life
Organic lubricants, must be they water based, aloe vera based or oil (natural) based and are the best and healthiest for your vagina.
Organic Coconut oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil. Yes, coconut oil can be used as a lubricant and is very healing to the vaginal tissue. Grapeseed and olive oils can also be used. One thing is that they too can not be used with latex condoms.
Vegan condoms do not have chemical lubricants on them and are not likely to give you a reaction, not unless you truly have a latex allergy.
Be sure to check the ingredients on your personal lubricants and avoid these ingredients. An easy way to look at it is, if you can't pronounce it, denounce it!
LOVE: Organically, Purely, Deeply, Naturally, Boldly
