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A Practical Guide to Lubricants

Updated 2026-11-02 · Draft: awaiting expert review

Some evidence

Advice on condom compatibility is well established. Evidence on lubricant ingredients and tissue irritation comes mainly from lab studies.

Lubricant can make sex more comfortable and more enjoyable. Here is how water-, silicone-, and oil-based products differ, which work with condoms, and how to avoid irritation.

Why use lubricant?

Using lubricant is common and nothing to be embarrassed about. In a diary study of more than 2,400 women, using a water- or silicone-based lubricant was linked to higher ratings of sexual pleasure and satisfaction, and genital symptoms were rare.

Natural lubrication varies with arousal, hormones, medicines, and age. Water-based lubricants are a recommended first step for vaginal dryness.

The main types

  • Water-based: safe with all condoms and easy to wash off. In the diary study above, they were linked to fewer genital symptoms than silicone-based products.
  • Silicone-based: safe with latex condoms and long-lasting.
  • Oil-based (including baby oil, petroleum jelly, lotions, and cooking oils): do not use with latex condoms. Mineral oil can weaken latex within minutes, making condoms more likely to break.

Avoiding irritation

  • Many water-based gels are far more concentrated than the body's own fluids (high 'osmolality'). In lab tests, these products damaged samples of genital and rectal tissue, while products closer to the body's natural balance and silicone-based products did not.
  • WHO guidance for lubricants used with condoms recommends products whose osmolality is close to that of the body.
  • Choose unperfumed products, and stop using any product that causes burning, itching, or soreness.
  • If dryness or pain continues, talk to a doctor or pharmacist; there are treatments that can help.

This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting supplements, especially if you are pregnant, have a health condition, or take medication.

Sources

  1. Association of Lubricant Use with Women's Sexual Pleasure, Sexual Satisfaction, and Genital Symptoms: A Prospective Daily Diary Study (Herbenick D et al.). The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02067.x
  2. Mineral oil lubricants cause rapid deterioration of latex condoms (Voeller B et al.). Contraception, 1989. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-7824(89)90018-8
  3. Is Wetter Better? An Evaluation of Over-the-Counter Personal Lubricants for Safety and Anti-HIV-1 Activity (Dezzutti CS et al.). PLoS ONE, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048328
  4. Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms: WHO/UNFPA/FHI360 advisory note. World Health Organization, 2012. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/76580
  5. Condoms. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/condoms/

We summarise research in our own words and link to the original. We do not copy text or images from these sources.