Featured Image Credit: Getty stock
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships
Joe Yates
People are getting creative in the bedroom, and while sex therapists encourage us to let our imagination run wild...it's not always done in a safe way.
While being resourceful can spice things up, not everything in your cupboards should end up near your private parts - and that's exactly what doctors are advising, after countless people hailed one everyday household item as a miracle bedroom solution.
For some, lube can actually irritate the area in which it's applied, and so a little bit of creativity is called upon.
While you're probably spinning off items in your home that people may use to ease friction, I'm sure butter would have sprung to your mind, but I can fortunately say no one is buttering up their bits for a good time...or at least no one I'm know.
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I'll let the Redditor explain what they're using under the sheets that has left experts less than impressed.
"I have really sensitive skin and never found a good lube until I tried coconut oil. It is amazing… Never going back," they shared.
Another added: "I’ve been using it for years. It’s the best stuff. All those other lubes are full of chemicals."
One even went so far as to call it a 'godsend', saying it totally changed sex for them and their partners.
But while it might be slippery, smell nice, and double up as massage oil, doctors are waving a massive red flag.
Dr Megha Pancholi, a general practitioner and sexual health lead for Boots Online Doctor, explained per the Metro: “Even a small amount of oil can compromise condoms, so it’s important to opt for water-based lubricants.”
That's because oil breaks down latex and polyisoprene condoms, making them way more likely to tear - and that means a higher risk of STIs and pregnancy, and that's just the beginning.
"Oils can irritate genital or anal tissues and may cause tiny micro-tears in the skin or mucous membranes," Pancholi said, which opens the door for viruses and bacteria to get in.
Meanwhile, Dr Babak Ashrafi, a sexual health expert at Superdrug Online Doctor, added that women are particularly at risk.
"Oil-based products can disrupt the vagina’s natural pH balance and destroy protective bacteria,” he explained.
This can lead to bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and other issues nobody wants.
These thick oils can trap bacteria, cause inflammation, and make your bits feel pretty miserable over time - which of course, is not exactly the sexy experience you'd be hoping for.
Unlike purpose-made lubes, oils don’t rinse away easily either - meaning they can leave behind a residue that traps sweat and bacteria long after the fun is over.
So, if lube leaves you or your partner irritated down there, maybe stick to the more natural methods - the Hawk Tuah girl, Haliey Welch, can explain more on that!