Someone asked us: I’ve heard friends say that coconut oil is a great lubricant. I tried it and I really like it, but I’m worried it’s not safe. Can coconut oil cause yeast or bacterial infections?
Coconut oil is super popular for all kinds of health and cosmetic uses. However, there’s not a lot of research on its use as lube, so we don’t know for sure if it can cause yeast or other infections. However, coconut oil can cause irritation for some people because of allergies or sensitive skin. The skin on your genitals is also much more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body.
If you do try it, just make sure there aren’t things added to the coconut oil, because sugars, fragrances, and other things added to it could cause yeast or other vaginal infections. And if you try it and do have issues after, it’s a good idea to steer clear of it until you check with a nurse or doctor about it.
If you’re using condoms to protect yourself from STDs or pregnancy, don’t use an oil-based lube like coconut oil. Oil-based lubes can damage the material that many condoms are made of and cause it to break. It’s safer to use water or silicone-based lubes with condoms.
It’s confusing, we know. That’s why we made this chart:
Condom x Lube Chart
The best way to know what material and ingredients your condoms and lubes are made of is by checking the packaging that they came in or checking the manufacturer’s websites for the condoms and lubes.