Vegetable oil as a lubricant?! - Sexual Health - Women Message Board

Joodles · 05-03-2003, 10:34 PM

Okay, went to the gyno today because this is my FOURTH yeast and bacterial (combo) infection this year. I need to know what the heck is going on. She really had no ideas - I don't douche, don't eat/drink much sugar, wear cotton undies, all that stuff.

The only thing I can come up with is the lubricant my bf and I use for manual stuff (we don't have intercourse). The water-based lubes all made me end up with infections, so we've been using silicone-based ID Millennium, with pretty good success. But who knows, maybe this last time it was enough to push me over the edge. Anyway, she gave me a handout on preventing these infections, and it says to avoid commercial lubricants since they all have chemicals and additives. It said to use pure vegetable oil, i.e. solid or liquid Crisco. I saw this and thought it was crazy! Wouldn't that make the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria? Or not?

Joodles · 05-04-2003, 01:34 PM

Well, I tried the K-Y Silk-E and had a HORRIBLE reaction to it - everything turned bright red and swollen, it itched and burned like crazy, and 2 days later I had a yeast infection. I've tried other water-based lubes like WET and ID, but it all had glycerin in it, which I'm told is very bad for someone prone to yeast infections (and I did have quite a few while we used those products).

The funny thing is, on this sheet that said to use vegetable oil, it said to use it WITH unlubricated condoms! I don't remember if it said latex or another material. Probably another material, because I always thought oil-based things would mess up latex too.

I'm very curious about this veg. oil thing. I'd try just about anything to avoid these damned infections. Anyone ever tried this?

camden · 05-04-2003, 01:46 PM

That sounds insane! I have always heard that you are only to use water-soluble(?) lubricants!

Thisby · 05-04-2003, 03:32 PM

I have read the both vegetable-based and mineral-based oils are equally bad for latex condoms. Joodles' Dr probably suggested it because she knew they weren't using condoms or having intercourse (I'm figuring if Joodles told us she wasn't having intercourse, she probably told her doc).
As for it being a perfect breedng ground for yeast and bacteria, probably only if you leave it there for a few months.

Smile4uhun · 05-04-2003, 08:52 PM

That's a no no I believe should be water based products...