The surprising item that could get you pregnant if expired — no, it’s not condoms

Lube is one of the most powerful sexual tools ever invented. But much like five-day-old shrimp, once it goes bad, it can be lethal.

Using lubricants during sex can enhance pleasure and make for the perfect orgasm cocktail.

But while it might make for a less bumpy ride, this bedroom aid can have its downsides. And it’s not just sodden bedsheets you need to be worried about.

Medical professionals are urging the public to check the expiration dates on lube, as out of date products can contribute to condom failure and potentially unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

While it’s not uncommon to hear public service announcements about condoms expiring — rubbers typically considered ‘safe’ for three to five years before becoming drastically less effective — there’s far less information out there about the dangers lube poses.

So before you assume you’re good to go because the condom’s in date, pharmacist Alex Pearson tells Metro how expired lube could be the thing that catches you out.

How can expired lube cause condom failure?

Alex, pharmacist and co-founder of prescription service Rxdigital, explains: ‘Lubricants are designed to reduce friction between the condom and the skin. If a lubricant has degraded, dried out or changed texture after expiring, it may no longer function effectively.

‘Reduced lubrication can lead to increased friction during sex, which places additional stress on the condom material.’

When used properly, condoms are approximately 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, in typical real-world use, considering the massive factor human error play, this drops to around 85%.

Alex notes that although condoms are ‘designed to withstand the friction of sexual activity and most are pre-lubricated, they are not unbreakable,’ and ‘if friction increases due to insufficient lubrication, this can raise the risk of the condom stretching excessively or breaking.’

And since friction can increase if lubricant ‘dries out more quickly or fails to maintain a smooth barrier between surfaces’ — which it can when expired — it’s wise to make sure the product is working as it should.

Intimate wellness expert, Dr Sima Al Asad, warns that the type of lubricant also plays a part.

‘Water-based or silicone-based lubricants are generally safe to use with latex condoms’, she tells Metro, ‘whereas oil-based products such as petroleum jelly, baby oil or massage oils can weaken latex and increase the risk of condom breakage’.

On the contrary, if the correct lubricant is used correctly, Dr Sima says it can actually help condoms work more effectively by reducing friction, improving comfort and protecting the condom material.

How to tell if your lube is out of date

The most obvious measure is the expiration date; some products have a specific month and year printed on the bottle, while others might display an ‘opened container’ symbol indicating a number of months, typically six or 12, that the product remains usable after opening.

Some may have no expiration date at all, but if that’s the case, don’t worry. There are other signs you can look out for to determine whether or not your KY is still OK.

For starters, Alex says ‘changes in texture are one of the most common indicators.’

‘If a lubricant becomes unusually thick, sticky, grainy or separated, it may no longer function properly,’ she continues. ‘Lubricants are designed to create a smooth, consistent layer between surfaces to reduce friction, so changes in texture can affect how well the product works.’

Smell and colour also come into play here, yet this can sometimes be tricky to discern depending on the kind of lubricant you’re using. For example, water-based lubes can have a tangy or earthy smell, whereas silicone-based lubes typically have a neutral scent.

As a general rule of thumb, if something seems off, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

And if you start experiencing irritation, burning, or redness, after using a product, stop doing so immediately and consult a pharmacist or doctor.

How can lube make sex more pleasurable?

Dr Sima says it’s ‘a shame’ lubricant is often overlooked when it comes to day-to-day use, explaining: ‘I always encourage people to think of lubricant as part of looking after their sexual wellbeing rather than something that’s only used in certain situations’.

It’s not just intercourse that can benefit from lube either; pleasure during masturbation can also be heightened with the aid of some extra slick.

By reducing friction and and preventing discomfort, lube can help you focus entirely on enjoying yourself. So please, keep at it, folks!

Just remember: you wouldn’t eat chicken past its expiration date, so anything that goes near your genitals should be the same.

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