using vaseline as lubricant 

Is it safe? Can you use vaseline for anal sex & masturbation?

 

What is Vaseline

It would be best to start by describing what Vaseline consists of. Vaseline is described by the manufacturer as 100% pure petroleum jelly - basically it's a blend of oils and waxes. In other words, it's 100% oil-based. That means that if used as lubricant for anal sex it will disintegrate condoms which can cause breakage. Additionally, although it's a great moisturizer, it was never created to act as a lubricant.

Can You Use Vaseline as Anal Lubricant?

It's important to keep in mind that you should never use an oil-based lube (like Vaseline) for anal sex when using a condom. As previously mentioned, it can break down the latex material found in condoms and more often than not it will cause it to break. Even if you were to have anal sex without a condom (bareback) then as sex educators, we would advise against using vaseline as lubricant for anal sex as it was never created to act as a lubricant for sex in the first place. Reason for this will be discused below. 

The Cons of Using Vaseline as an Anal Lubricant

There are many reasons to why one should not use Vaseline as an anal lubricant, but the following should be kept in mind if you are considering using it or have used it in the past:

1. It may increase the risk of contracting an infection

   Vaseline, being oil-based, has the ability to attract a lot of bacteria that is found in the anal cavity, thus increasing the risk of bacterial infection. If not cleaned out well enough (and "I got almost all of it off" will not suffice here), then being that it tends to harbour bacteria and is extremely hard to wash off completely, you are risking leaving the bacteria collect thereby increasing the risk of contracting an infection.

2. It's thick and sticky. gummy and icky

   Sure, you could imagine that Vaseline would be a great lube since it's thick and creamy, and it will just "stick in the anus and stay there". Nope. Oh it will definetely stay there, but because there is no thinning agent, Vaseline is not slippery enough and thus it will just be sticky, gummy and icky. It's also very clumpy, so once you stick your rod in the hole it tends to bunch up and it just fails miserably. 

3. It's downright hard to clean. really hard

   You can scrub, dub and rub away, but you'll still feel the vaseline, and you know what's worse than bringing a sponge to your anus? Having that icky feeling stay there for days in-between your ass cheeks. At every moment of your day, you will be reminded that you used Vaseline as anal lube and now you have to pay the price of your butt cheeks sliding against eachother. 

Alternative Anal Lubricants to Using Vaseline

There are other options that will ensure that you have a great time during anal. Using the right lubricant will make anal sex that much more pleasurable and that much less painful. Water-based lubricants are usually the go to product for anal sex. Sure you have to re-apply at times (not as often as you think), but they stay where you put them and they are a pleasure to clean off. In addition, you can use water-based lubes with condoms for anal sex. These lubes will not cause condoms to break as water does not interfere with latex in any way.