Is it safe to use coconut oil as lube? Ob-Gyns explain

Like just about anything, picking the right lubricant is a personal choice that looks different for everyone. Considering how many options there really are—between water-based, silicone, and oil-based products—it’s important to do your research. And by research, I mean: understand the ingredients, consult a doctor, and then put it to the test.

But whether you’re all-organic or you just forgot to restock your bedside table with a fresh bottle of your favourite water-based product, there are plenty of reasons you might not reach for traditional lube when the mood strikes—and instead rummage through your pantry for an alternative instead. Enter: coconut oil.

'Some people may have a desire to stick to oil-based lubricants, like coconut oil, because it contains less ingredients or other synthetic materials that they may wish to avoid, [like] added fragrances, which may cause vaginal irritation,' says Dr. Tiffany Pham, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and Flo Health advisor. Plus, 'natural, oil-based lubricants offer an easily accessible alternative to traditional lubricants.'

Meet the experts: Dr. Tiffany Pham, MD, is a board-certified ob-gyn and Flo Health advisor. Dr. Alyssa Dweck, MD, is a New York-based ob-gyn and author of The A to Z for Your V.

All-natural? Possibly in your cupboard already? Better for your vagina? By all accounts, this sounds like the ideal lube. But is it actually safe to use pure coconut oil or coconut oil-based lubes for sex? With a little help from board-certified ob-gyns, Women’s Health is breaking down all the benefits—and potential risks.

What are the benefits of using coconut oil as lube?

There are plenty of reasons to swap out your traditional lubricant for coconut oil. Here are just a few, per Dr. Pham.

It lasts longer than water-based lubricants.

Unlike water-based lubricants, which have a tendency to run out quickly, coconut oil actually lasts a lot longer. This is because, like silicone lube, it has a thicker consistency, says Dr. Pham. So, if you’re sick of reapplying your lube again and again, coconut oil might be the move.

Coconut oil is more accessible than other lubricants.

While lube isn’t necessarily expensive, coconut oil is an even cheaper alternative, according to Dr. Pham. It’s also more accessible—after all, it can be found at practically any grocery store or pharmacy. If you’re shy about shopping for your pleasure products, you can easily grab some coconut oil at your local supermarket.

It has other uses, too!

Coconut oil is so easy to find, in fact, that it’s possible you already have it in your kitchen cupboard. And if you don’t own a jar, it’s worth the (affordable) price tag: you can also use it as a beauty tool to moisturise your skin, soften brittle nails, and hydrate your hair.

It can help with vaginal dryness.

Remember when I said that coconut oil was a great tool for hydration? Well, that doesn’t just apply to your hair and legs. Dr. Pham points out that it can also act as an excellent vaginal or vulvar moisturiser. “It can be used on the skin topically as a moisturiser,” she explains. 'Therefore, if you experience vaginal dryness—which can be significant in the postmenopausal population—coconut oil might be beneficial to use.'

What are the potential risks of using coconut oil as lube?

While coconut oil as lube has plenty of pros, there are a few warnings to heed, too.

It can break down condoms.

While coconut oil is 'overall a safe option,' per Dr. Pham, it’s not ideal to use any kind of oil-based lube if you’re planning to use a condom or dental dam. 'These barriers are made from latex, which can be broken down by oil,' she says. This might put you at higher risk of pregnancy or STIs, adds Alyssa Dweck, MD, a New York-based ob-gyn.

It could disrupt your pH balance.

Like all oils, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that can disrupt your pH balance, Dr. Pham explains. While the slightly acidic nature of your vagina typically inhibits bacterial and fungal growth that lead to vaginal infections or yeast infections, 'if this environment gets disrupted by the antimicrobial properties of the coconut oil, it cannot do its job in protecting your vagina and maintaining the proper pH balance,' she says. 'Therefore, you may be at risk for certain vaginal infections,' like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections.

Before you panic, though, this might not apply to everyone, adds Dr. Dweck. '[While] some people can put literally anything in the vagina and have no problem, others are super sensitive to either specific products, specific ingredients, or just all of the above,' she explains. 'Plenty of people do use coconut oil for sexual activity and it is generally considered safe.' TL;DR? If you know you’re prone to BV or yeast infections, just proceed carefully with oil-based products.

It can slow down sperm mobility, if you're trying to conceive.

'Anything oil-based has the potential to alter sperm motility,' explains Dr. Dweck. But again, this differs from person to person.

'Once again, some people will get pregnant right away without any trouble whether they’re using a coconut oil-based lubricant or something else,' she adds. But if you’re already struggling with infertility or having difficulties getting pregnant, you might want to try avoiding oil-based lubes. Instead, you might opt for a lubricant that is specifically safe for sperm, like Pre-Seed Fertility Lubricant, adds Dr. Dweck.

What should I look for in a coconut oil lube?

Shopping for lube involves a little bit of trial and error, but it’s ultimately up to personal preference. It’s perfectly fine to use pure coconut oil (as in, unrefined, with no added ingredients) in solid or liquid form, Dr. Dweck says. 'This is likely going to be very well-tolerated with minimal side effects,' unless you are someone that’s prone to yeast infections and/or BV says, Dr. Dweck. Score.

If you’re allergic to coconut oil, specifically, you can always use another type of oil, too, says Dr. Pham. But whenever you’re using pure oil as a lube—be it coconut oil or another type, like olive oil, canola oil, grape seed oil, or vegetable oil—select something that has been 'minimally processed, which decreases the additives and ingredients that can be added in order to refine the oil,' she adds. 'Aloe vera can also be considered as a natural alternative to coconut oil.'

You could also purchase a personal lubricant that has coconut oil as a base ingredient. Some people like these products because they have a thinner, lighter consistency than the classic stuff, and they might feel nicer on your skin. But coconut oil-based lubes may contain a blend of other ingredients that could be potential irritants, Dr. Dweck says. If you have sensitive skin, it’s always better to go for a lube that has as few ingredients as possible—in particular, beware of lubes with a fragrance, she adds.

So, is it safe to use coconut oil as lube?

Technically, yes, it is safe (i.e., nothing catastrophic or life-threatening will happen). But there are factors to consider before trying it out for yourself. Think about whether you’ve taken other proper precautions: are you on birth control? Have you recently been tested for STIs? Has your partner? Are you prone to infections?

'It’s hard to say if oil-based lubricants are superior to traditional lubricants because the decision on which type of lubricant you choose is rather personal and it depends on the needs of that individual,' Dr. Pham says. But much like water-based lubes and silicone-based lubes, coconut oil-based products (and coconut oil itself!) are 'overall a safe option to consider when choosing lubricant.' So, go forth!