TresSugar

Glycerin in Lubricants May Cause Yeast Infections

DearSugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:00:00 -0800

Finding a personal lubricant that you like is a tough quest, since there are so many different kinds to choose from. There are silicone-based lubes, water-based ones, and many contain glycerin to make them even more slippery.

But is glycerin a bad thing? Well it depends on whether or not you are prone to yeast infections. You see, glycerin is a sugary liquid, and since yeast feeds on sugar, you can see why these two would make a bad combination. Look for a glycerin-free lubricant if your lady business is sensitive to this kind of thing.

Check some options below.

Astroglide Glycerin & Paraben Free	Sliquid H2O Intimate Lubricant
Maximus Personal Lubricant	Slippery Stuff Gel
Liquid Silk	WET Naturals Silky Supreme Personal Lubricant

Source

Lube Quiz: Does It Contain Glycerin?

DearSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Glycerin and lube can be a very bad combination for women - I'm talking about a yeast infection waiting to happen! So if your body is sensitive to glycerin, test your knowledge about these lubricants to see which ones are safe for you.

Question 1 of 8

Astroglide lubricant

Hump Day: Why Do I Get Dry Sometimes?

TresSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

"I get really dry sometimes when my boyfriend and I are having sex. I know all about lubricants, but I'm having trouble guessing when I might need help." To read Dr. Glickman's response, read more

There are a lot of reasons why women experience fluctuations in how much they lubricate. For some, it’s just part of the menstrual cycle. Some women lubricate more at ovulation, while others say that’s when they’re driest. Lots of women also report that their vaginal lubrication changed when they got pregnant and again, some say that they became much wetter and others say that they got drier. So while we know that changes in hormones can influence it, there’s a lot of variation in how much and in what direction. It’s also worth mentioning that menopause generally reduces how much lubrication your body will produce.

Lots of medications and drugs also affect vaginal lubrication, even if it’s rarely listed on the bottle or box. For example, allergy medications are formulated to dry the mucous membranes in your sinuses, but they can do the same to the vagina. Anti-depressants, antihistamines, anxiety medications, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, and drinking alcohol can do the same. In general, if a medication or drug makes your mouth or sinuses dry, it could also reduce vaginal lubrication. Unfortunately, most doctors are unaware of these effects or they don’t feel comfortable talking to their patients about it.

I think it’s really unfortunate that we have this cultural myth that vaginal lubrication is proportional to arousal. Many women find that they can be totally turned on while being pretty dry and others might be quite wet while barely aroused. The best thing we can do is learn to separate the two things in our minds.

You say that you know about lubricants, but for the folks who don’t, here’s a little info.

There are pros and cons to the lubricants on the market, and it can take a little experimenting to find one that will work for you. You might also find that a lube that worked great for a long time isn’t working so well anymore. It’s kind of like shampoo or skin lotion - after a while, you might need to change brands as your individual chemistry changes.

Water-based lubricants can be thin and slippery, or they can be thicker gels. They rinse away really easily, making cleanup a snap, but they do dry out after a while. The glycerin-based lubes last a bit longer, but they tend to get sticky when they dry out. You can add a little water or saliva to freshen them up. While glycerin doesn’t cause yeast infections, it can make one worse if you get one for some other reason, so if you’re prone to yeast infections, avoid these lubes. The glycerin-free lubricants don’t get sticky, but they usually don’t quite last as long. They soak in like hand lotion, so adding water doesn’t work; you need to add some more.

Silicone lubricants don’t dry out (so if you spill some on the kitchen floor, be sure to wipe it up) and are hypoallergenic. They’re also waterproof, which is a plus if you want to have sex in the shower but it can make them a bit trickier to clean up and they sometimes stain sheets. They’re also hypoallergenic and have no taste or scent.

Some people like to use oils as sexual lubricants. If you want to give them a try, use something organic and vegetable-based, such as coconut or almond oils. Mineral oils like baby oil or Vaseline actually dry the skin since the body can’t absorb them or break them down. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so it doesn’t go rancid. Keep almond oil in the fridge. And never use oils with latex condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps. Oils will make them dissolve: a condom will break in about 30 seconds if it comes into contact with oil.

A few tips for using lubricants. First, keep the bottle near the bed. You’ll want to be able to grab it when you need it. Second, pump bottles make it a lot easier to add more without fumbling to get the bottle open. Third, if you accidentally get too much lube out of the bottle, don’t put the extra back in. You don’t want to contaminate the bottle with anything that might be on your hand. And lastly, many lube makers offer single-use packets or small bottles. While they cost more per ounce than larger bottles, you can stick them in a pocket or purse pretty easily, not to mention your carry-on bag.

So I think that the best thing for you to do is to keep lube handy and use it when you need it. It takes about 5 seconds to apply and it’ll make sex a lot more fun. And don’t stress about whether it means anything that you sometimes need a little extra slipperiness.

Don't forget to send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman will offer his sound advice!

Can Sex Cause a Yeast Infection? Yes and No

DearSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:00:00 -0800

If you've ever had a yeast infection, you know that it's not something you want to go through again. The good news is that you can do a lot to keep the healthy bacteria below your waist at a normal level, like wearing cotton undies, loose fitting pants, and avoiding douching altogether.

Staying dry down there is crucial in order to avoid the annoyance of a yeast infection, but that can be tough if you're a sexually active person. Natural lubrication that your body makes isn't going to affect your lady business, but if you use a personal lubricant that contains glycerin, for many women, that's a yeast infection waiting to happen, so make sure your lube is glycerin-free! Also, if you don't use condoms and your man does his business inside of you, make sure to use the bathroom after sex to help release some of the semen.

There's something else to think about when it comes to sex and yeast infections so read more.

Hormonal birth control can cause yeast infections for some women, so if you're prone, try Monophasic birth control, where the same dosage is delivered daily, which can help curb an infection. If that doesn't work, you may benefit from experimenting with other forms of BC until you find the right one for your body. Another thing to note is that pregnancy can cause a yeast infection. Now I'm not saying having an infection means you're preggers, but it could be one of the early signs.

Source

What's the Deal With Glycol in Lubricants?

DearSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

If you're prone to yeast infections, and you're a fan of using personal lubricant, then you probably found my Lube Quiz very helpful. It showed you which lubes contain glycerin and which don't, but I recently noticed another ingredient in some water-based products that I thought you should know about - propylene glycol.

To find out if this is something to avoid, read more.

Propylene glycol is a faintly sweet and colorless, clear, viscous liquid that's derived from natural gas. Sounds sexy, doesn't it? It can be found in many products including moisturizers, toothpaste, mouthwash, and medications, in addition to many edibles such as cake mix, salad dressing, and fat-free ice cream. The ingredient is identified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) because of its low oral toxicity (meaning it won't badly harm you if ingested), although it may irritate your eyes, and some may experience a burning sensation from contact on their skin.

KY products such as Yours+Mine and Astroglide contain propylene glycol, so if you've noticed irritation from using these products, this ingredient may be the culprit. If you want a propylene glycol-free lube, try Sliquid H20, Pjur Woman Bodyglide, Slippery Stuff, or Good Clean Love.

This Week With DearSugar

DearSugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:00:00 -0700

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Personal Lubricant in Mousse Form

DearSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

If you're taking hormonal birth control, allergy medication, or just have a difficult time getting aroused, you're probably not creating enough natural lubricant down there, in which case bottled lube could be your new best friend! Some contain silicone, some are water-based, and some are oil-based, but they all have one thing in common - they're liquid or gels, which means they can be drippy, messy, and difficult to apply.

If you can relate, then you may be interested in this new form of personal lubricant that makes so much more sense. Replens Intimate Options comes in mousse form ($9.70) - brilliant, right? You can squeeze a little in your hand or directly on the money spot, and it stays put right where you need it. It has a silky texture that's not sticky, and it can be purchased with either no scent or a subtle hint of vanilla. Intimate Options does contain glycerin, which some women may be sensitive to (it can lead to yeast infections) but if you don't fall into that category, you just might want to add this to your nightstand drawer!

Should You Avoid Lubricants That Contain Silicone?

DearSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I'm a huge fan of water-based lubricants since they're so easy to find (KY Jelly and Astroglide are sold at nearly every drugstore). They're also safe to use with condoms and sex toys, they are fairly inexpensive, and they wash off easily with water. I try to avoid ones that contain glycerin though, since they can be yeast infections waiting to happen.

So what about lubes that contain silicone? Is this something you should avoid? If you're curious to know then read more.

Don't throw out that bottle of Wet Platinum just yet! Although silicone seems like an ingredient you wouldn't want anywhere near your lady business, it's being used in lubes because of its safety and effectiveness. It has both good and not-so-good qualities, so check the chart below to see if it's something you'd be interested in using.

Pros

Cons

Since these lubes contain no water, they never dry up, so they'll stay slick for a long time.
Silicone is great for people with sensitive skin.
They can also be used for full body massages, and they'll leave your skin soft.
Since they won't break down in water, they can be used in the shower or bath (or even underwater or in the rain, if you're into that).

You can't use silicone-based lubricants with silicone rubber sex toys as they'll break down the material.
Cleanup is not a breeze, and it's difficult to get off your sheets or other fabrics.
It's more expensive than water- or oil-based lubes, but since you use less, the price is pretty comparable at the end of the day.
They can leave a coating on your skin that some people don't like.
Most taste bad.

Dear's Advice: Not all silicone lubricants are created equal. If you're interested in trying one out, buy the the higher quality ones such as Eros (8.45 ounces for $33.95) or Wet Platinum (4 ounces for $18).

Source

Lubricants: Oil, Water, and Silicone Based

DearSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Having sex doesn't always feel as amazing as we think it should, and that's where lubricants come in handy. A few drops on either partner will make things glide along smoothly when the woman isn't creating enough of her own natural juices. There are so many different kinds to choose from and since I've already told you about glycerin and the ingredients in many lubricants that can cause yeast infections, why don't I now tell you about the differences between ones that are oil, water, and silicone based?

Click here to read more.

	Oil Based	Water Based	Silicone Based
Types and Brands	Vaseline, mineral oil, baby oil, vegetable oil, cold creams, lotions	Astroglide, KY Jelly, Probe, Wet, Liquid Silk	Eros, Wet Platinum, ID Millennium
Should be used with what type of condom	Polyurethane	Polyurethane or Latex	Polyurethane or Latex
Use with sex toys	Can be used with any toys except those made out of latex.	Can be used with toys made out of any material.	Never use with a toy made out of silicone (it'll break down the material).
Cool Facts	It beads up when in contact with water.	Instead of applying more of this lube, you can reinvigorate it by adding a little water to you or your partner's parts.	Since it doesn't break down in water, some people like to use this kind of lube when being intimate in the bath or shower.
Cleanup	Washes off with soap and water.	Rinses off easily with water.	Washes off with soap and water.

Dear's Advice: I'd stick with a water-based lubricant. It's the cheapest to buy, easiest to find (you can get it at most pharmacies and grocery stores), it can be used with all types of condoms, and it washes off easily from skin and fabric.

Source

This Week With DearSugar

DearSugar — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:00:00 -0800

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