If you've tried sexual lubricants in the past, then you know howe beneficial they can be. Not only can they help to enhance your sexual ecstasy, but also they increase your sensitivity, promoting more comfortable, frictionless sex. But did you know that specific lubes contain ingredients that may not agree with your delicate vaginal environment?
We agree, that there’s no such thing as too much lube, some intimate lubes are a food source to yeast cultures, promoting their growth in your vulva and vagina, causing an annoying fungal infection usually referred to as thrush.
Statistically speaking, 75% of people with a vagina experience at least two episodes of thrush in their lifetimes, characterized by intense itchiness, irritation, and soreness of the vulvar area, plus vaginal discharge. If you're a thrush sufferer, then you know well how aggravating these symptoms can be, and how it can frequently reoccur, making you feel out of touch with yourself.
Don't let this situation turn you off. it's time to have a closer look at all the lifestyle factors that may trigger thrush, including your lube.
Join us as we discover all the ingredients you must avoid in a sexual lubricant and how to reach a new level of ecstasy with a secret key ingredient that improves your vaginal health. But more on that later. Regain that great sexual confidence, and keep creating passionate encounters by finding the best lube for thrush sufferers.
What is Thrush?
Vaginal Thrush is a yeast infection usually caused by a fungus called Candida Albicans. Commonly, your vagina maintains an acidic environment, around pH 4, that protects its habitual balance and prevents the overgrowth of this naturally occurring yeast and other sexually transmitted infections.
Typically, Candida is harmless, but in warm, airless, moist conditions, the pH changes, and the vagina's healthy balance of microflora is disrupted. As a result, yeast thrives, developing and causing the following symptoms:
- Itching and irritation in the vagina and vulva
- A burning sensation, especially during intercourse or while urinating
- Redness and swelling of the vulva
- Vaginal pain and soreness
- Vaginal rash
- Thick, white, odor-free vaginal discharge with a cottage cheese appearance
- Watery vaginal discharge
Many women experience chronic or recurrent thrush, which is four or more occurrences within a year. If this is true for you, we recommend visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist to get a correct diagnosis and determine an effective treatment plan. Keep in mind that some topical treatments used in thrush can weaken latex condoms, diaphragms, and caps, so it’s best to avoid sex if you’re pursuing these treatment options. Consult your health care professional.
There are several causes of yeast infections, including a weak immune system, too many antibiotics, stress, and side effects from oral contraceptive pills. Although Vaginal candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it can be triggered by sex, primarily when you use non-vaginal-friendly sexual lubricants. Below, we have listed what ingredients best to avoid ensuring your vagina's natural balance.
Ingredients to avoid in an intimate lubricant
All lubes are not created equal, or for the same purpose. Chances are, the tube or bottle you picked up off the shelf could do you more harm than good if not used correctly.
Lubes come in various base types such as water, silicone, oil, or hybrid. Not all are safe, and some can disrupt the natural acid pH of your vagina, leading to thrush. Before purchasing any, you need to learn the basics to choose the best lube for pH balance.
Here are some harmful ingredients that trigger thrush you must avoid:
Parabens: Although Parabens are a group of chemicals that prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and yeasts, they mimic estrogen in the body, influencing abnormal cell growth. Some studies have associated parabens with the development of breast cancer. If you’ve had an estrogen-positive tumor before, avoiding parabens could be the best choice for your health.
Glycerin: This sugar alcohol polyol compound is the primary food source for yeast. Even though it’s commonly used in lubes to increase its longevity and glide, when glycerin concentration exceeds 40%, it actually causes vaginal pH imbalance. Therefore, it aggravates and irritates the vulvar and vaginal skin, promoting vaginal dryness, making you susceptible to developing thrush.
Phenoxyethanol: According to the EWG, this chemical is moderately hazardous, with possible links to skin irritation and toxicity. High concentrations have been associated with reproductive damage, depressed immunity, and reduced nervous system function in newborns.
Propylene glycol: This potentially toxic ingredient may cause some women to experience tissue irritation.
Chlorhexidine: Commonly found in some lubricants, this ingredient can trigger irritation and toxic effects for some women.
Acetate: Any ingredient that ends in acetate means it’s alcohol. Alcohol is naturally drying and can be irritating to delicate skin. Too much scratching can tear the tissue, opening you up to other infections and STIs.
Nonoxynol-9 (spermicides): Spermicides can irritate your genital area, increasing the risk of recurrent yeast infections.
Flavorings and Fragrance: These compounds can irritate the vaginal environment and disrupt its pH balance.
Petroleum or petroleum-based products: Due to their alkaline properties, petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or baby oil disrupt the natural, acidic vaginal ecology. These are not intended for vaginal insertion and will most likely promote yeast growth and bacterial infections.
Every vulva-owner should use pH-balanced lubricants and choose condoms that are not lubricated with the products mentioned above.
Now that you know what not to use, you might wonder what that game-changing ingredient could be?
It’s an organic component with antifungal properties that soothes and moisturizes the delicate skin of your vagina and vulva. Moreover, it eases the discomfort from irritation and inflammation while it relaxes your pelvic floor muscle tension.
If this sounds like just what you need, get prepare to be amazed by the ingredient Cannabidiol, a 100% federally legal cannabinoid with promising benefits that’s is on everyone’s lips these days. Prepare yourself to meet a whole new benefit for CBD in your daily life: CBD as an anti-fungal.
CBD Oil for Candida
There are over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plantthatinteract with our internal endocannabinoid system (ECS). Among these, we find Cannabidiol (CBD), currently known as an effective acute and chronic pain reliever that reduces inflammation and muscle tension with no psychoactive effects. It also lowers symptoms of anxiety and stress while improving decreased appetite.
These well-known benefits only represent the tip of the iceberg in our understanding of Cannabidiol and its benefits. It turns out that after several years of study and tests, experts began to dig deeper, looking for other potential properties of CBD. Finally, in 2011, research revealed a potential new benefit: CBD possesses moderate antifungal properties.
Moreover, secreted in the same glands that produce CBD, we find aromatic oils called terpenes. Research suggests that some of these, such as Beta-caryophyllene, have additional antifungal effects. When combined with Cannabidiol, its fungicide properties experience a boost, killing more effectively the Candida Albicans.
In short, CBD and certain terpenes work together to destroy fungal infections without the undesirable side effects of antifungal medication, such as abdominal pain, rashes, skin redness, burning, and even potential liver damage. For these reasons, more people are considering CBD as a solution for their candida concerns.
CBD as an Anti-fungal
Cannabinoids are plant-based compounds that can prevent fungal infections by blocking their spread and reproduction on a molecular level with a low risk of side effects. Once CBD is inside the body, this cannabis extract is soon attracted to fungal cells, ultimately binding with them.
Then, the chemical process of oxidation and the movement of electrons begins, breaking the fungi’s strong cell membrane and blocking ergosterol production, which is an essential compound for its survival. In this way, the fungal cells cannot grow, multiply, or build on themselves to survive for long. You can understand deeply how CBD oil might work as an antifungal by reading several resources.
While the research in this area is inconclusive, some studies indicate that consistent supplementation with CBD oil may help candida sufferers manage the condition and overcome the problem of itching skin.
Note: CBD oil is federally legal when it is derived from hemp and only contains less than 0.3% of the psychoactive compound THC. Each state may have its own rules and regulations around CBD oil. Research on local CBD laws and purchase CBD products from a reputable source.
Best Lubes for Thrush Sufferers
If you’re seeking safer intimate lubricants for thrush, you’ve come to the right place. It is time to take your sexual health into your own hands! No more swelling or redness, just pure satisfaction. Here’s the list of the best lubes for thrush sufferers that will get the job done without tip the scale of good and bad bacteria:
GoLove CBD Intimate Lubricant
America's Pleasure Coach, Dr. Sadie Allison,sexologist and bestselling author,along withher husband, CBD scientist John Renko, B.S.E.,have developed the first PhD-formulated, water-based CBD sexual health and wellness lubricant. GoLove’s dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic formula has a unique blend of body-safe ingredients enriched with hyaluronic serum and enhanced with 200mg of therapeutic US-grown organic CBD.
This non-psychoactive cannabinoid that many people count on nowadays to help them with anxiety, pain, and discomfort has outstanding fungicide properties that will ease the symptoms of your vaginal thrush.
GoLove helps moisturize and nourish your delicate skin while soothing vaginal pain, eases discomfort from inflammation, while minimizing dryness. This lubricant mimics the vagina’s natural lubrication and pH to prevent irritation and infections.
CBD’s calming effect helps lower your anxiety and focus on the pleasures of intimacy while relaxing your pelvic muscles and increasing blood flow to heighten your tactile pleasure sensations. Since the vagina is one of the most absorbent parts of your body, you’ll soon replace your daily stress with the sweet experience of arousal and release.
To ensure the quality of the product and protect cannabinoids from light degradation, GoLove’s bottle is made of premium glass that blocks over 80% of light. Its founder, Dr. Allison, ensures that Golove is scientifically formulated, thoroughly tested, purity-assured, and carefully blended. "Safe for you. Safe for your lover. Safe with latex and silicone toys". It contains no oil, parabens, glycerin, alcohol, glycol, petrochemicals, silicone, fragrance, or artificial coloring. Embrace yourself and don’t put off intimacy any longer; grab some GoLove tonight and slide into more extraordinary sexual experiences.
References
https://www.self.com/story/6-lube-ingredients-to-avoid
https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-your-lifestyle-giving-you-thrush