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The ultimate lube test

Serious about your health? Check. Condoms ready? Check. Your partner willing to use it? Check. All your efforts might be in vain if you use the wrong lube. Watch this video to see why.

You might have used oil-based lube with a male condom a thousand times without it breaking. However, the problem is that the damage isn’t always so obvious. You are still putting yourself at risk for infection of HIV or some of the other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because oil weakens condoms.

Water-based lubricants might not be available at your local clinic but are freely available at pharmacies and many stores. It is important to check the label first. If all else fails and lube isn’t available in the heat of the moment, saliva will be your next best bet (except when blood is present of course).

Female condoms give you an alternative, safe option. Because they are made of polyurethane and not rubber, they are compatible with oil. An added bonus is that they are well-lubricated and you might not need extra lube at all.

Unsafe sex is so yesterday. Here’s to pleasure without unnecessary post-coital angst!

(Kyle Boshoff and Ilse Pauw from Health24 and Vumani Mkhize, Multimedia Editor, 24.com, February 2011)

 Related links:

Click here for all you need to know about STIs and safer sex

Our HIV Centre

Sources of latex exposure

 

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