Does baby oil break condoms?

Yes, fast. Mineral oil weakens latex and polyisoprene within a minute or two of contact. Only polyurethane and nitrile condoms tolerate oil.

Is baby oil safe for the vagina?

It is not designed for it. The fragrance can irritate and the oil lingers. Most people who try it once are fine; repeat use is where the problems start.

Can you use baby oil for anal sex?

Without condoms, people do, but it is hard to clean up and the fragrance irritates there too. A silicone lube like Uberlube lasts as long and is condom safe.

What about fragrance free baby oil?

Still mineral oil, still breaks condoms, still lingers. It solves one of the three problems.

Can you use baby oil as lube?

No. Mineral oil destroys latex condoms faster than almost anything tested, it was never meant for internal use, it lingers for days, and the fragrance irritates. The oil based products that do the job properly.

By the Wet Betty editorial team. Published Invalid Date. 3 min read. How we review.

No. Baby oil is mineral oil with fragrance. Mineral oil is on the WHO list of products that damage latex condoms, and it does so within minutes. It was never designed for internal use, it lingers inside the body for days because it is not water soluble, and the fragrance is a common irritant on mucous membranes.

What baby oil actually is.

Read the back of the bottle: mineral oil, fragrance. Some versions add aloe, vitamin E or chamomile, which changes the marketing and not the product. Mineral oil is a petroleum distillate, a close relative of petroleum jelly in liquid form. It is made to sit on top of skin and keep water in. That is a good thing on a baby's back and a bad thing inside a body.

The condom problem.

The WHO/UNFPA/FHI360 advisory lists mineral oil, with petroleum jelly and cooking oils, among the products with a highly damaging effect on latex. Mineral oil is among the worst of the group: brief exposure in lab testing sharply weakens latex. Polyisoprene condoms fail the same way. Only polyurethane and nitrile condoms tolerate oil.

If a condom is part of the plan, baby oil is not.

The lingering problem.

Water based lube leaves within hours, carried out by the body's own fluids. Mineral oil is not water soluble and has nowhere to go. It coats the vaginal lining and stays for days, trapping bacteria against the tissue and changing the environment the normal bacteria depend on. The 2013 study that linked petroleum jelly inside the vagina to bacterial vaginosis also found that women who used oils inside were more likely to carry Candida, the yeast behind yeast infections.

It also stains, and the stain sets in the dryer.

The fragrance problem.

Fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact irritation on skin. Mucous membranes are thinner, absorb more and react faster. The scent that is pleasant on a towel can sting, itch and inflame inside the vagina or on the penis, and it can do that on the first use. Fragrance free baby oil removes this one problem and keeps the other two.

Oil based options made for the job.

If the reason for reaching for baby oil is the long lasting, no reapply feel, two kinds of product give you that without the petroleum.

A silicone lube is the direct replacement. Uberlube is three ingredients, lasts as long as any oil, is condom safe, and osmolality does not apply because there is no water in it. It needs soap to wash off, and it should not be used on silicone toys.

An oil based lube made for the purpose is the other route. Coconu Oil Based is a blend of food grade plant oils with no fragrance and no petroleum, packaged for the bedroom and sold as a moisturizer as well. It carries the same condom warning as any oil, so it is for people who are not using latex or polyisoprene condoms.

Either one costs about what a large bottle of baby oil does. If you have already used baby oil and have burning, itching or a change in discharge that lasts more than a few days, see a clinician. Nothing here is medical advice.

01
Uberlube.
Silicone by Uberlube. 3.8 oz.
Three ingredients, lasts forever, feels like nothing. Not for silicone toys. Osmolality does not apply to silicone.
Osmolality
Not applicable
WHO band
Not applicable
pH
n/a
Glycerin free
Yes
Latex condom safe
Yes
Silicone toy safe
No
Parabens
None
Organic
No
Check price on Amazon Prices change. We show the search so you always land on the live listing.
02
Coconu Oil Based.
Oil based by Coconu. 3 oz.
A food grade oil blend that doubles as a moisturizer. Never with latex or polyisoprene condoms.
Osmolality
Not applicable
WHO band
Not applicable
pH
n/a
Glycerin free
Yes
Latex condom safe
No
Silicone toy safe
Yes
Parabens
None
Organic
Yes
Check price on Amazon Prices change. We show the search so you always land on the live listing.

Wet Betty may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes which products we recommend. How this works.

Questions people ask.

Does baby oil break condoms?: Yes, fast. Mineral oil weakens latex and polyisoprene within a minute or two of contact. Only polyurethane and nitrile condoms tolerate oil.
Is baby oil safe for the vagina?: It is not designed for it. The fragrance can irritate and the oil lingers. Most people who try it once are fine; repeat use is where the problems start.
Can you use baby oil for anal sex?: Without condoms, people do, but it is hard to clean up and the fragrance irritates there too. A silicone lube like Uberlube lasts as long and is condom safe.
What about fragrance free baby oil?: Still mineral oil, still breaks condoms, still lingers. It solves one of the three problems.

Sources.

1.Use and procurement of additional lubricants for male and female condoms, Advisory note, WHO/UNFPA/FHI360, 2012.
2.Intravaginal practices and risk of bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis infection among a cohort of women in the United States, Brown JM et al., Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2013.
3.Lube, what it is and how to use it, University Health Services, The University of Texas at Austin.