Why you should care about the ingredients in your lube
Your vagina and anus are highly absorbent due to the multitude of tiny blood vessels that are located in those regions.
The ingredients that you insert into you can cause real harm to you and any potential children you may carry.
Choosing wisely may not guarantee perfection, but it could reduce your toxic load in this one area of your life.
Let's break down the ingredients in many lube products that could be toxic
Parabens
Could be listed as methylparaben, butylparaben, polyparaben, etc
Endocrine disruptors that are known to disrupt hormone-dependent organs (which includes your reproductive system). They bind to hormone receptors and wreak havoc. Small quantities are still dangerous. Do your best to avoid.
Phthalates
Could be listed as abbreviations such as DEHP, DHP, DEP, etc
Endocrine disruptors that are often added to fragrances to prolong them and make them even more potent. Most products that have undisclosed fragrances or fragrances that are not made from distilled flowers or essential oils will most likely contain phthalates. See this guide here on a list of some phthalate-free fragrances.
Petroleum-derived ingredients
Includes things like polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, mineral oil, vaseline, and potentially propanediol
Petroleum itself is a toxic substance that we really should be moving away from as a society. Refined or not, petroleum products are non-biodegradable compounds that contain and release multiple carcinogens. Whenever we can, we should try to avoid petroleum and its byproduct - plastic.
Carbomer
These acrylic acid polymers are are non-biodegradable and can be carcinogenic.
They are difficult to avoid as they are used as binders in a variety of products. If possible, try to avoid.
Poly-quaternium
Quaternium compounds usually have numbers associated with them, such as polyquaternium-15, etc
These polymers also have the ability to bind to hormonal receptors and can disrupt
Silicone-based
Silicone is a non-biodegradable man-made compound that is very useful for many applications but is best not to be ingested or inserted. Non-medical grade silicone can leach plasticizers and other harmful chemicals. In addition, PFAS could also be found on certain silicone-based compounds such as dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane and others. Silicone can be safely used in many scenarios such as in the case of menstrual cups and discs (medical grade silicone only). It also provides a longer lasting alternative to single use plastic. However caution should be exercised when choosing silicone lube products as it is being inserted into the body; in a region that is highly absorbent and sensitive. When possible, choose water, oil, or aloe-based products.
Fragrance (Parfum)
Where do I start with this? If you'd like to learn more about the harmful effects of fragrance & parfum, check out this article here. Most manufacturers do not disclose the specific fragrance chemicals they use in their products in order to protect their product's unique formula. While this is great for business, the problem is that it means you have NO IDEA what's in it.
There are over 4000 chemicals that can be added to a product under the label 'fragrance' or 'parfum', many of which are certainly phthalates. Phthalates are linked to increased breast cancer, early puberty, and other endocrine disorders, especially in men. However, manufacturers use them because they are cheap to procure and make fragrances last much longer than they usually would. Basically, it's Money 1: Health 0.
A product such as this might look very simple with its 6 ingredient list, but that very last ingredient (parfum) could encompass hundreds of toxic substances that the manufacturer is legally allowed to refrain from disclosing.
Whenever possible, simply choosing 100% aloe-vera or coconut oil is the simplest way to reduce your chances of inserting something that could potentially toxic to your one and only body.
Low-toxic lube products and ingredients to consider
I hope this post has given you a better idea of why your lube could be toxic has helped you decipher some low toxic lube products and ingredients that you can choose.
If you'd like my list of low-toxic deodorants that won't irritate your lungs or poison our air, check out this article here and...lube long and prosper (hehe).
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