Is KY Jelly Safe?
If your lubricant itches or burns, consider it a sign to trash it! The global personal lubricants market size was valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.65% from 2023 to 2030. The market growth can be attributed to the increased demand for these products owing to the rising number of vaginal dryness & erectile dysfunction cases, and the growing need for alternatives to enhance the sexual experience.
And when 25,000 Americans were asked about the brands they use, many respondents named KY Jelly. Indeed, some 70 percent use commercial lubricants, while 17 percent opt for petroleum jelly, and 13 percent use oils.
But is KY Jelly safe? How about other mainstream lubricants? Answer: NO
Since the vagina is a mucous membrane, it secretes and absorbs fluids at a higher rate, as do some of the external portions of the vulva, including the clitoris, clitoral hood, labia minora, and urethra.
Since most mainstream lubricants contain nasty chemicals, they can damage your genitals and upset a woman’s internal pH and beneficial microbes, making her more prone to harmful organisms.
“Women should be aware that there is mounting evidence that some products that are inserted vaginally can cause damage to vaginal tissues, and can increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, chlamydia, and HIV,” says Joelle Brown of the University of California, Los Angeles, who was the lead author on a study about personal lubricants.
Johnson & Johnson and Trojan continue to dominate the personal lubricant market. And yet their top-selling products, like Johnson & Johnson’s KY Jelly can cause rectal damage and erode vaginal tissue.
Furthermore, the vast majority of lubricants are ” hyper-osmotic products” that cause irritation, inflammation, and epithelial cell damage in vaginal and rectal tissues.
“This is a big deal,” points out Elizabeth Moriarty, Clinical Herbalist and owner of HERBOLOGIE. She is also the master mind behind Curious and our Superior Cannabinoid Hemp Oil. This damage increases the likelihood of transmission of sexual infection by 50 percent.”
Further, this inflammation and damage to epithelial cells is correlated with a heightened risk of cancer. All water and water/glycerin products are hyperosmotic to varying degrees.
On the other hand, though, can lubricants be beneficial? The answer to that one is decidedly “Yes.” In a recent study by Indiana University, researchers surveyed approximately 2,500 women and found that those who used a lubricant reported higher levels of satisfaction and pleasure. Seventy percent of the women said the lubricant gave more pleasure while 30 percent said it made sex more fun. The ages of these women varied from 18-68.
“The right lubricant is silken to the touch and the slip and glide allows you unbridled pleasure,” says Moriarity.
The key, then, is to avoid lubricants that contain harsh chemicals, particularly petrochemicals that found their start in the automotive industry and have somehow made their way to your private parts. Read labels and examine the ingredients as carefully as you examine the foods you eat.
If you can’t pronounce it, you probably should not put it in or on your body.
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 several 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 phenoxyethanol as 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.
Source: Substack
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