The search for a personal lubricant that is comfortable and affordable, yet provides the right amount of lubrication can take you in many directions. One of those directions is petroleum jelly, or Vaseline as it is most commonly known. Many people explore it as a lubricant because it is inexpensive, readily available, and does not carry any stigma that may be associated with purchasing a sex product. Unfortunately, petroleum jelly is a poor choice as a personal lubricant for many reasons. Despite being a poor choice, petroleum jelly does have a few positive attributes, so lets have a look at the pros and cons of using petroleum jelly as lube.
Background
Petroleum jelly was first discovered as men began to drill for oil. They noticed a black slimy substance that would accumulate on the drill and cause the machinery to malfunction. In 1859 a process was found to refine that oil byproduct, leading to modern petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is a very hydrophobic substance, meaning that it will repel moisture of all kinds. This property is precisely why it is so good at reducing friction and adding lubrication during intercourse.
Pros of Petroleum Jelly as Lube
Because petroleum jelly is so hydrophobic it does not break down under moist conditions. Additionally, when it is warmed it becomes more oil-like, providing a superior slickness that is perfect for many positions. Many users say that petroleum jelly has a unique feel that is better than K-Y Jelly, Astroglide, or Anal-Eze.
One of the best qualities of petroleum jelly is that it does not dry out like water-based lubricants, eliminating the need to reapply. Imagine no longer needing to interrupt your pleasure!
Cons of Petroleum Jelly as Lube
As a personal lubricant, petroleum jelly has many downsides. The first being its incompatibility with condoms. Petroleum-based products will breakdown latex and polyurethane, so they will affect the majority of mass produced condoms. The breakdown can happen so quickly that a condom may break within a few minutes of coming in contact with petroleum jelly.
A yeast infection can be a terrible thing to deal with. Petroleum jelly has been linked to the growth of yeast. It has also been linked to bacterial vaginosis. Since bacterial vaginosis has been linked to pelvic inflammatory disease, you can see why women may want to use another product for personal lubrication. Check out this article on lubrication meant for women.
Lastly, petroleum jelly is incompatible with many of the common sex toys on the market today. The reason being that the vast majority of these toys are made from latex, rubber, or plastic. Petroleum jelly breaks all of those products down. It will cause your toys to feel tacky and, well, sort of disgusting, You will be faced with either switching to glass and metal toys or using a different lube for your toys.
Final Thoughts
Petroleum jelly as lube is not the best choice you could make. Silicone-based products offer the same level of slipperiness, while water-based personal lubricants eliminate the worries of a yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis.
What should I Use?
As an alternative to petroleum jelly, we present the best water-based lubricants that you can use without worry:
| Name | Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Type | Price | |
Nooky Lube | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Passion Lubes | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Astroglide | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Pink Water | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Liquid Silk | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
I-D Glide | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Ocean Sensuals The Natural Personal Lubricant | Water Based | $$ | Click here to see prices on Amazon.com |
Instead of always using jelly, it is better to use lubricants like water based, silicon based or oil based depending upon the requirement. As they are more safer to use.
I mistakenly used it as a lubricate for sex, I thought I was using my regular lubricating gel, but I didn’t look at it closely. Will it harm me?