How fast does oil break down latex?
As little as 60 seconds of exposure to oil can degrade latex condoms. Even if pregnancy prevention isn't a concern, there's evidence that water-based lubes are better for your natural ecosystem.
Using baby oil with a condom will damage the latex of the condom, causing it to break. It's important to use only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide, with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly, cold cream, butter, or mineral and vegetable oils damage latex.
Because polyisoprene and latex are so chemically similar, these non-latex condoms can also experience latex erosion from mineral, coconut, or olive oils. "I prefer to steer clear of oil-based lubes with any condoms," she says.
Olive oil has the potential to dissolve latex condoms, which can increase the risk of infection and unintended pregnancy. Due to this, it is not advisable to use olive oil as a sexual lubricant.
Water-based or silicone lube are always safe to use with any kind of condom. Don't use anything that has oil in it, like lotion, vaseline, or oil-based lubes with latex condoms. Oil can damage latex condoms and make them break. You can generally use oil-based lubes with non-latex plastic condoms.
Oil-based lubricants (e.g., petroleum jelly, shortening, mineral oil, massage oils, body lotions, and cooking oil) should not be used because they can weaken latex, causing breakage. For more information on how to use a condom correctly, visit CDC's Condom Effectiveness web site.
Unlike latex condoms which can't be used with oil-based lubes (the oil degrades the latex), polyurethane condoms can. That means coconut oil and products like Foria's Awaken Arousal CBD Oil and Quim's Smooth Operator CBD Intimate Serum are all fair game.
"Coconut oil cannot be used with latex condoms because it can break down the latex and cause the condom to break," explained Dr. Landry. Only water- and silicone-based lubricants can be used with latex condoms without risking breakage, said Dr. Landry.
According to scientists in Greece, olive oil may be better than Viagra when it comes to boosting sexual performance. The study, published by the University of Athens, examined over 600 men and found that an olive oil-rich diet cut the risk of erectile dysfunction by up to 40 percent.
Non-latex condoms, on the other hand, are made using polyurethane, which is a synthetic non-biodegradable plastic, meaning they will never break down at all. Sending them into water will not help as well as there aren't enough decomposition microbes around, meaning the condoms end up bobbing around for years.
Does oil based lube damage condoms?
Safe to use with- Internal condoms only—oil-based lubes can undermine the strength of latex and polyurethane/polyisoprene condoms, increasing the risk of breakage.
Mineral oil and non-polar solvents are able to interact with the latex polymer really well, diminishing the interactions between the individual polymer chains to each other, hence causing a weakening in the material and the break down of latex condoms.
