Astroglide Review

Whilst creating oils for the moving parts of the space shuttle’s cooling system at Edwards Air Force Base in 1977, the chemist, David Wray, discovered an extremely slippery polymeric compound and he soon realised that his new ‘Astroglide’ could be invaluable for use in other areas.

The distinctive purple bottle of regular Astroglide contains a water-based and water-soluble gel which is long-lasting and petroleum free so it won’t affect or compromise condom or diaphragm performance, although it should be noted that it does not contain a spermicide so it is not a contraceptive. It is also non-sticky and odourless so you don’t get the gritty chemical residue that can be a side-effect of some lesser lubricants.

One of the other unusual and extremely important factors for a vegan, like Ruf, is that it actually lists the ingredients on the bottle. After scrutinising the list of Purified Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 15, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, there was only one that flagged up a concern. He was a little unsure over the provenance of the glycerin that it contained as this can be derived from animal fat but, researching the product on the internet, he was reassured and, therefore, happy to use it.

As a sexual aid, it was really rather good. The design of the bottle means that it is easy to dispense with one hand and the contents worked extremely well in making the encounter run smoothly. You only need a small amount to achieve the desired effect.

However, in the light of ongoing concerns about the number of parabens in our daily lives and a post I read recently that highlighted possible skin problems when using lubricants containing glycerin that have been opened and then left unused for many months, I was excited to learn that Astroglide now produce a glycerin and paraben free version – review to follow. I shall also be going through ‘the drawer’ to ensure that we don’t have any half-used bottles that have been lying around for a while.

Over the last couple of weeks, Ruf has been testing the Aneros Massager (more on that in a future post) and, by chance, Astroglide was the first bottle that came to hand on his crowded bedside table. He made the mistake of putting it down on its side on the floor next to the bed with the cap ajar. A week later, when I visited, I am able to report that, where he had stepped on it, some of the gel had oozed out and this was still as slimy as ever. It hadn’t dried out, it hadn’t seeped into a bigger puddle, it was still a blob of super slippery gel on the wooden floor. And, as a good housewife, with one wipe of a piece of tissue, it was gone.

Ruf has a very tight sphincter – it’s determined to remain an exit not an entrance – and he says that the lube really helps to ease the passage of the prostate massager inside. Plus, because it is water-based, the silicone toy will not become damaged by any friction.

For women like me who are experiencing a certain amount of vaginal dryness due to the hormonal imbalance of the Menopause, this is a good product. Because it does not contain any ingredients that are hormone-related, it will make sex a far more attractive and rewarding experience without interfering with the work of any prescribed treatments like HRT.

However, the problem of vaginal dryness is not confined to older women. It affects over 20 million American women and can occur as a result of:

• the rigours of childbirth or breastfeeding;
• strenuous physical exercise;
• the effects of stress and medications like the Pill or allergy tablets;
• conditions that inhibit the immune system – like Sjogren’s syndrome and lupus; or
• the after-effects of cancer treatments,

Whatever the cause, this distressing condition can range from irritating burning and itching to pain and, even, bleeding during intercourse.

These women need a personal lubricant that is water soluble and doesn’t kill off any of the natural flora in the vagina. Astroglide is able to mimic the natural vaginal fluids so it doesn’t compromise the area’s natural acidity which is vital in controlling the growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to repeated vaginal infections like thrush and cystitis. This is why it is recommended by many leading cancer care nurses and treatment centres, as well as the Sjogren’s Society, to combat the effects of vaginal dryness.

It gets even better though. Whilst Astroglide’s slightly acidic PH balance usually inhibits yeast growth, it is not recommended for use by women like me who have recurring problems with Candida, so I got very excited when I learned that there is an even more ecologically friendly Green Astroglide that is made with natural botanicals and plant extracts, replacing glycerin with xylitol, a plant-based substitute.

Whilst there has been speculation that some personal lubricants can be a candida cause, there is some evidence to show that using this particular product can decrease yeast proliferation,  so I am really looking forward to bringing you my report on its effectiveness over the next couple of weeks.