Petroleum and oil-based lube

Petroleum and oil wear down latex and cause breakage. If you're using a latex condom, you should avoid oil-based lube -- period. This includes petroleum jellies (such as Vaseline), massage oils, hand and body lotions, shea butter and Crisco! (Anal walls weren't made for baking). Oil-based lubes can be used with polyurethane condoms; however, the oil can leave a coating on the anal or vaginal walls and can cause bacterial infection.

This doesn't mean that sex has to be completely fat-free. Massage oils and lotions are superb for massages, muscle-flexing and posing, oil wrestling and all sorts of sexual fun, including masturbation.

Guys who have tightly stretched skin when erect often prefer to use lube for masturbation to help prevent chafing of the skin. A popular lube for solo action is Stroke 29 Rocket Fuel, which is known for its high viscosity, and it heats up with friction.

A final word of warning about oil-based lubes: They stain. (Laundry time!)

Water-based lube

Water-based lube -- the most common type of lube -- is latex-condom-friendly, so it's safe to use with your Trojan or Durex brands. The main ingredients are water and glycerin, so cleanup is easier, and it won't ruin your sheets.

Saliva is water-based but dries quickly, so it's not recommended as a primary lubricant. However, spit can be used to refresh a lube that starts to lose its glide, which water-based lubes tend to do. A couple of recommended H2O lubes are Astroglide Personal Lubricant, which is very slick and long lasting, and Liquid Silk, which looks and feels like semen.

Silicone-based lube

The newer and more versatile lubes are silicone-based, and can be used with either latex or polyurethane condoms. Silicone is waterproof, so it's great for underwater sports of all kinds. It lasts longer than water-based lube, and you don't need to use that much.

Wet Platinum is a popular, long-lasting and very slick lube. Try Gun Oil for masturbation. The thing to keep in mind with silicone is that it cannot be used with silicone sex toys because it will destroy the toy -- kind of like rubbing two panes of glass together.

Natural lube

Pre-cum is a man's natural lubricant. Unfortunately, it is not an option for safer sex. There is also a natural lube secreted by the colon and the anus, but for purposes of anal sex, additional lube is most often necessary.

Organic lubes do exist. Homeopathic Masculine Formula by Sensua Organics offers lube packed with more natural ingredients than a Whole Foods market! If you have concerns about the safety of chemicals in lube, a safe choice is Probe, which contains few ingredients and no benzoates, and it uses citrus seed extract as a preservative. Frixion lube is made with plant extracts and contains natural aphrodisiacs.

What's going on in there!

It's important to consider what chemicals are in lube:

• Before you get too excited by the thought of using peach or passion-fruit lube, you should know that flavored lube contains sugar, which can cause infection if used in the ass or vagina. Flavored lube is recommended for external use only.
• Some lubes contain benzocaine, which numbs the anal walls to reduce pain. I recommend against using this type of lube for anal sex because it can cause harm to the anus and actually desensitize the pleasurable sensations of anal sex. You may not feel the pain in the moment, but you may later on. Ouch!
• Lube containing nonoxynyl-9 is no longer recommended because new info suggests that N-9 may actually weaken the anal walls, making sex less safe.
• Substances such as parabens or glycerin can cause allergic reactions in some people. You can test lube on your inner elbow and see if a rash appears.

How much?

A common complaint is that lube is expensive. Look for small bottles or free samples to try out before you invest in a big tub of sticky stuff you may not like. Some Web sites will send you free samples in the mail. You may have to try a few different brands or types before you find one that works for you.

Article originally from Gay.com by Dr. Omar