Could Personal Lubricants Cause Thrush?

Further to my post on STDs in America and Condoms Causing Thrush, on reflection, this link between flavoured condoms and yeast infections would not surprise me at all. As I wrote in my post An Inconvenient Truth, the vagina is a very delicate ecosystem that naturally contains a certain amount of the yeast, Candida Albicans.

However, if you start invading it repeatedly with a foreign body, the fragile tissues become irritated. If you compound that irritation by infiltrating the area with flavoured, sugary lubes and condoms, it’s going to start interfering with the balance of good and bacteria because Candida Albicans loves sweet stuff.

Complementary therapists will propound the theory that Candida feeds on this lovely treat and starts to proliferate, until it outnumbers the good guys who normally keep it in check.

Result – a yeast infection.

However, conventional GPs refute this assertion saying that any yeast and sugars in our food/personal health products are totally different from those which are associated with Candida and that they have no effect on its numbers. Candida like other yeasts, lives on sugar. But the “advice” to avoid eating sugar makes no difference – all starch and sugars from whatever source in the diet are broken down or converted to glucose, which is the type of sugar in the blood used to fuel cells. The body regulates its blood glucose levels within a narrow range (unless one is diabetic) and can even convert proteins and fats into glucose when needed to maintain the supply. So it is impossible to get rid of this sugar in the blood, and avoiding eating any form of sugar makes no difference to Candida as if it does invade the body it will get all the glucose it wants.

When I contacted Durex in the UK, a spokesman gave this comment on the subject:

“This issue has come up before and is anecdotal rather than having any evidence to back it up. It may be based on the perception that flavours and fragrances will lead to infection.

I have not come across any published articles with evidence of flavoured or fragranced condoms leading to an increase in sensitivity reactions or vaginal thrush infections.

As medical devices the flavours have to be evaluated as safe to use so that they are confirmed as non-toxic and non-irritating. Despite this there is always the possibility that a minority of people may be sensitive to flavours that are used on the condoms and this minority may be better off avoiding these condoms and/or contacting their doctor to establish what they may be sensitive to.

However, things seem to be rather different in the States where some brands of condom are specifically recommended for oral sex only because they can cause problems if used vaginally or anally. These problems were unspecified, although I did read one website that advised to avoid using condoms containing the spermicide Nonoxynol 9 as it can cause small sores, especially in the rectum, increasing the risk of HIV transmission.

The problem is that the vagina is naturally acidic and lubrication is alkaline (as is seminal fluid & saliva) which can change the ph balance of the vagina. This may cause opportunist yeast infections especially for women who are particularly prone to them. Complementary therapists will say that, for those who are susceptible to yeast infections because of systemic Candida overgrowth in their bodies, putting a substance into the vagina that contains any form of sugar or sweetener could well cause a problem. The jury is out on glycerin because it is not thought to feed plaque or raise blood sugar levels. However, it does have a ‘shelf-life’ so lubes containing either glycerol, glycerin or glycerine should not be left lying around half-used as they can cause an irritation.

So I thought I would investigate the composition of the flavourings. So far, I have ascertained that Durex Play Tingle (known as Tingling in the US) and Play Cherry contain saccharine, whereas some of the other flavored lubricants use sodium saccharine. Glycerin is used in Play Heat (known as Play Warmer in the US) lubricant and condoms, Massage 2-in 1, and Passion Cherry. However, Play More and Play Tingling are glycerin-free.

My personal view is that if you know you have a problem with yeast infections, it is best to avoid flavoured condoms and lubes and always check the labels for added sugar or glycerin(e). I certainly don’t seem to have had a problem with Play Feel but I cannot find out whether it contains any of the substances I’m trying to avoid because it does not include the ingredients on its packaging.

There is an interesting article on what’s in personal lubricants at The Ecologist.

I do know that there is at least one glycerin free lubricant and that’s made by Astroglide.