Dear Chris,
I recently ordered a personal lubricant called Firefly by a company called Applied Organics. I was particularly interested in this product because it does not have any of the scary synthetic ingredients that so many other lubes do. It also does not contain glycerin, which I have heard can cause yeast infections in those who are prone to them. Anyway, long story short, Firefly claims that it is safe to use with latex condoms, yet it is an oil-based lubricant.

Granted, the oils are not petroleum-based, but they are oils nonetheless (canola and shea butter, for example), and I have always thought that any oils could weaken latex.

So, my question for you is, what is the straight story here? Is Firefly safe to use with latex condoms, or is this company giving false information on their Web site? For those of us interested in natural alternatives to synthetic products, the accuracy of such information is crucial. And, yes, I know I could use polyurethane condoms instead, but I have seen conflicting evidence of their effectiveness compared to latex, so I’d rather not take any unnecessary risk.
Sincerely,
Lost in Lube

Dear Lost,
One of the first things I started to wonder after reading your question is how you found out about this lube. Was this something you heard about from a friend or from a physician (more specifically a gynecologist), or did you stumble across it during searching the Internet for lube? The main reason I wonder is because I would put a little more faith in a product recommended and endorsed by a gynecologist versus one that you just managed to find.

I did go the Firefly Web site and have to admit that I found it to be a little too “commercial.” What I mean by this is that the site is of course going to talk about how fantastic the product is. Someone in the marketing department would quickly be fired for setting up a Web site that does not promote how wonderful the product is. My overall impression after going through the various sections of the site is that the product is too good to be true. A lube that never dries out, can be flushed out of the body, especially the vagina, easily and naturally, is latex compatible and has the best customer satisfaction out of all lube brands … seems like something is not quite right here.

Having worked in the adult industry, I would give this lube my seal of approval based on the characteristics the site suggests. Based on being an educated consumer, I approach this lube with caution.
Something else that bothers me a bit about this specific product is the lack of Food and Drug Administration testing and backing. There are always loop holes to get out of being required to submit a product to the FDA, but my feeling is that if this company wants everyone to know how fantastic they are, they would want to submit their product to the FDA as soon as possible. Yet, there are no records — at least for public viewing — about this product.

As far as latex compatibility, the fact of the matter is that I do not know. Since there seems to be a lack of data about the testing of this lube with latex, and the only information available is through the Web site, I would say be cautious. You should be able to find this information (for example, I looked up ID Glide, and the FDA record talks about its compatibility with latex). If you want to continue to use this lube and, of course, use condoms, start keeping track of how many condoms break during sex. Keep a small notebook by the bed, and every time a condom breaks while you are using this lube, mark it down.

Once the bottle you ordered is gone, get a different lube and repeat the same series of record keeping and then compare the failure rate. Until further testing comes out and is available, this is the only way you are going to be able to see the compatibility for yourself. I realize that is not the answer you were hoping to hear, but there just is not enough available data to give an informed, definitive answer at this point.

As far as that goes, if you are looking for a lube that is more natural and if you are prone to yeast infections (I am assuming you are since you cited that specifically in your question), I recommend you pick up a bottle of O’my and use that as your comparison lube. It is also fantastic for women prone to yeast infections in that it helps break them down and also helps prevent them. It is also more cost efficient than Firefly seems to be. Personally, the amount of faith I put in O’my is superior to Firefly. I tend to trust companies that have been around for several years and have spent a lot of money not only on product development but in also promoting sexual health and wellness.

So there is my final answer. Until further research and testing are done and made available for public viewing, Firefly does not get my seal of approval and I recommend trying another natural lube.

Have fun, be safe and good luck.
Have a sex question for Chris? Send it to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chris Bidiman is a junior studying School and Community Health and a Safer Sex Outreach speaker.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.