There are many thankful people out there who are indebted to lubes that contain spermicides. Spermicides can come in many forms, including jellies, foams, creams, and suppositories. Lubes that contain spermicides are like getting a great 2 for 1 deal; not only do you get the advantages of using lube to enhance your erotica, but you get the bonus of sperm killers working for you, too. Even though the lubes containing spermicides are very popular, there are a few things to keep in mind that you should be on the lookout for.

Lubes containing spermicides usually contain a chemical called non oxinyl 9 (N 9) or one called octoxynol. These chemicals work by immobilizing the sperm when they are in the vaginal canal, killing the sperm. Statistics estimate that spermicides are pretty effective at preventing pregnancy. Of all the couples who have sex using a spermicide, only about 6% will get pregnant. When spermicides were new on the market, scientists had hoped that in addition to killing sperm, the spermicides would also kill the viruses that caused a lot of STDs.

However, a 2002 study found that not only do lubes with spermicides not kill STDs, it may actually increase STD vulnerability, because spermicides are pretty irritating to the vagina. When the genitals are irritated, and when a spermicide is used, the skin and vaginal area becomes vulnerable because tissue is delicate, and tears easily, creating small open wounds, and this opens up the genital area to infection. Non oxinyl 9 and octoxynol both are effective at killing sperm, but be careful, they may really be a source of irritation, pain, and burning as well.

Instead of using lubes with spermicides, it is recommended to use lubes along with using a condom. There are three main types of lube: Water based, oil based, and silicone based. The absolute best of the lubes to use with a condom is the water based lube. Many of the oil based lubes contain oils that are similar to those in Vaseline, baby oil, and some face creams. The oil in these products can reduce condom strength by 90% in the first 60 seconds of contact! Water based lubes like KY, Astroglide, and Wet do not have oils that react with latex, making them a good choice to use to make sure your condom performs like it should. Silicone based lubes are ok to use, but many people dont like them as much as water based lubes because silicone lubes are much more difficult to wash off, and they are more expensive than water lubes. Also, silicone lubes can react with some condoms in much the same way as oil lubes can. The only big drawback of water lubes is that they tend to dry out quickly, meaning you have to keep re applying the lube. However, water lubes are cheaper than silicone or oil lubes.

It is a personal decision to use lubes that are loaded with spermicides or not. Anything is worth a try once, so when you do try a lube with a spermicide, just pay attention to your partner and keep an eye out for genital irritation. If it looks like the spermicide is causing pain, rashes, and reddened irritation, throw the lube out and go back to non spermicidal lube, and grab a condom or other birth control if you need to. And, even though it is thought that spermicides do kill SOME STDs, the lab results are unreliable and inconsistent, which makes the findings all null and void. Lubes with spermicides are great and as long as no ones skin starts burning, feel free to enjoy the benefits of lubes with the sperm killers.