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a) No. Latex condoms should not be used with oil-based lubricants or products that have an oil as a major ingredient. Oils weaken condoms and can increase the risk of breakage.
Clients who use condoms should be counseled on what locally available non-oil-based lubricants are appropriate with condom use.
Some substances which cause deterioration of latex condoms within an hour of exposure are mineral oil, baby oil, petroleum jelly, suntan oil, olive oil, peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, margarine, coconut oil, dairy butter, insect repellents, burn and hemorrhoidal ointments, rubbing alcohol, cod oil and shark oil. Lubricants which contain these products should not be recommended for use with latex condoms.
Other products that weaken latex condoms are specific vaginal creams, vaginal spermicides and sexual lubricants. Some of the brands that were identified as harmful to condoms are:
- vaginal creams (Monistat, Estrace, Femstat, Vagisil, and Premarin);
- vaginal spermicides (Rendell's Cone and Pharmatex Ovule); and
- sexual lubricants (Elbow Grease, Hot Elbow Grease, and Shaft).
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a) Mineral oil has been shown to weaken latex condoms significantly with an exposure time of 60 seconds.
Studies have found that some condom users think products which wash off easily with water are water-based and therefore, acceptable to use with condoms. However, several of the lotions that clients labeled as water-based contained mineral oil as a main ingredient.
- Voeller B, Coulson A, Bernstein G, Nakamura R. Mineral oil lubricants cause rapid deterioration of latex condoms. Contraception 1989;39(1):95-102.
- Tests show commonly used substances harm latex condoms. Contraceptive Technology Update 1989;10(2):20-21.
- Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, Stewart G, Kowal D, Guest F, et al. Condoms. In: Contraceptive Technology. New York: Irvington Publishers, 1994:145-78.
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b) Products that are considered water-based have not been shown to be harmful to condoms. Water-based lubricants may reduce the risk of condom failure.
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b) One study found lower condom failure rates when condoms were used with water-based lubricants. However, more research is needed.
- Gabbay M, Gibbs A. Does additional lubrication reduce condom failure? Contraception 1996;53:155-8.
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