Is KY Jelly Safe? 6 Dangerous Ingredients in Lube

Is KY Jelly Safe? 6 Chemicals in KY and Other Lubricants You Want to Avoid

• Parabens – Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) are used as synthetic preservatives; however, when used in lubricants they can be absorbed into the body. They disrupt hormones as they mimic estrogen and get concentrated in the breasts and ovaries.

  “They have been linked to breast cancer and found in tumors.

  Manufacturers love them because they are cheap and effectively add shelf life to a product.Although the body breaks them down quickly, these chemicals are detected in urine, breast milk, and blood. Women are particularly at risk because they are more heavily exposed to the parabens that are so common in cosmetics.

• Petrochemicals – Do you really want to apply crude oil anywhere near your koochie? Petrochemical-based lubricant brands can damage sensitive mucous membranes, and increase the risk of all infections, including sexually transmitted diseases and yeast infections.

  Lubricants have a range of osmolalities or concentrations of osmotic solutions within a cell. A study conducted at John Hopkins on personal lubricants concluded that brands with a petrochemical base expose the cells to high osmolality, causing damage to vaginal and anal tissues that make them more susceptible to infections.

  According to the study conducted by Brown at UCLA, 40 percent of the women who used petroleum jelly as a vaginal lubricant had bacterial vaginosis — an infection that can be caused by a number of common bacterial species — compared to 18 percent of women who did not use petroleum jelly.

• Glycerin – These products are hyperosmolar and can damage the vaginal lining, increasing the risk of infection and viral transmission. They can also increase the risk of yeast infection.

  “Many personal lubricants, like KY Jelly, contain glycerin, which breaks down to sugars and promotes yeast infections, and possibly also bacterial vaginosis,” says Weiss.

• Phenoxyethanol – Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether. Glycols are a series of chemicals that find their way into all sorts of toxic fuming products including paint, lacquer, and jet fuel.

  “Phenoxyethanol is used as an anti-bacterial agent in cosmetics as well as a stabilizer in perfume, but at high concentrations, phenoxyethanol can be harmful when absorbed through your skin, causing reproductive damage, and, according to the Food and Drug Administration, can depress the central nervous system in newborns,” explains Laurie Steelsmith a licensed naturopathic physician and HoneyColony Adviser.

  The breakdown of phenoxyethanol in your body releases phenol, which can adversely affect your immune system. The Environmental Working Group lists phenoxyethanolas a moderate hazard, with possible links to toxicity and skin irritation.

  “Although it’s found in very low concentrations in some sexual lubricants, you’d do best to keep away from it,” says Steelsmith.

• Propylene Glycol – Propylene glycol is used as a humectant, solvent, and preservative in food and tobacco products. It is also a major ingredient in the “e-liquid” used in electronic cigarettes. And since it can lower the freezing point of water, it’s also used as an aircraft de-icing fluid. Astroglide, a common over-the-counter lubricant, contains this ingredient.

  Not surprisingly, propylene glycol may cause burning or tissue irritation in some women. Women need their mucous lining to fight off infections. If that barrier gets compromised, all bets are off.

• Fragrance – This innocuous word is a code name for at least 500 chemicals that mimic natural scents! Some of the most common chemicals in perfumes are ethanol, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, a-pinene, acetone, benzyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, linalool, a-terpinene, methylene chloride, styrene oxide, dimenthyl sulphate, a-terpineol, camphor, and limonene.
  Why let mainstream brands poison us? Some of these chemicals cause irritability, bloating, joint aches, and burning or itching.

Maryam Henein is an investigative journalist, professional researcher, and producer of the award-winning documentary Vanishing of the Bees.

We here at VuVatech like to include Slippery Stuff Paraben and Glycerin free lubricant with all of our neodymium vaginal dilators. This seems to be a favorite among women with pelvic pain. Learn more about Vaginal Dilator Therapy here.