Buying Guides

Can You Use Vaseline as Lube? What About Coconut Oil?

by EROSSA Editorial October 27, 2026 7 min read

Not with latex condoms: the NHS says not to use oil-based lubricant with latex condoms, and the CDC says oil-based products such as petroleum jelly will cause the condom to break. Even without condoms, Vaseline is a poor choice inside the vagina or anus, and one published study linked its recent use to a higher rate of bacterial vaginosis.

Coconut oil and other kitchen oils have the same problem with latex. The good news is that the alternative is simple and cheap: a water-based or silicone-based lubricant made for the purpose.

Why doesn’t Vaseline work with condoms?

Because it is oil-based, and oil damages latex. The NHS page on condoms says not to use oil-based lubricant with latex condoms, and to use water-based or silicone-based lubricant instead.

The CDC goes further. Its how-to page names petroleum jelly, baby oil, lotion and cooking oil, and says they will cause the condom to break. Its clinical guidelines say oil-based lubricants such as petroleum jelly can weaken latex and should not be used.

A condom that breaks no longer protects against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. So if you use latex condoms, Vaseline is out.

What does Vaseline do inside the body?

The evidence here is thinner, but it points the same way.

A 2013 study in Obstetrics & Gynecology followed 141 sexually active women in Los Angeles and asked about the products they used intravaginally, including petroleum jelly and oils (Brown et al., 2013). Women who had used petroleum jelly in the previous month were about twice as likely to test positive for bacterial vaginosis: an adjusted relative risk of 2.2.

That is an association in one small study, not proof that Vaseline causes infection. It is still a good reason to choose a product made for the purpose.

Bacterial vaginosis is common and treatable. The NHS page on bacterial vaginosis lists the signs and says when to see a doctor or go to a sexual health clinic. If you notice a change after using any product, that is the place to start.

There is also a practical problem. Petroleum jelly does not mix with water, so it is hard to wash off skin, toys and sheets.

Is coconut oil safe as lube?

Not with latex condoms, for the same reason as Vaseline: it is an oil. The CDC lists cooking oil among the products that will cause a condom to break.

With polyurethane or other synthetic condoms the picture is different. The CDC says oil-based lubricants can typically be used with polyurethane or other synthetic condoms. If you are set on coconut oil and use condoms, those are the only kind to pair it with.

Inside the body, the same 2013 study found that women who had used oils intravaginally were more likely to have Candida, the yeast behind thrush: 44% compared with 5%. That figure comes from a simple comparison, before adjusting for other factors, in a small group. Treat it as a warning sign rather than a verdict.

Coconut oil also stains fabric. If you use toys, check our lubricant and toy compatibility guide before you reach for any oil.

What about baby oil, olive oil or body lotion?

Same answer. The CDC names baby oil, lotion, petroleum jelly and cooking oil together. Olive oil, almond oil and massage oil are all oils. Body lotions often contain oils and fragrance and are not made for intimate use.

For a massage, oil is fine on the skin. Just don’t carry it over to sex with a latex condom.

What should you use instead?

A lubricant made for sex. There are two main kinds that are safe with condoms.

Water-based lubricant. Safe with every condom material and every toy material, washes off with water and does not stain. The trade-off is that it dries faster and may need topping up. Discover the full range of water-based lubricants.

Silicone-based lubricant. Lasts much longer than water-based, works in water, and is safe with condoms: the CDC’s HIV prevention page recommends water-based or silicone-based lubricants to help keep a condom from tearing. The catch is toys: silicone lubricant and silicone toys are not always a good pair, which is what our compatibility guide covers. Discover the silicone-based lubricants.

If you are choosing your first lubricant and use condoms, water-based is the safe default.

How do you choose a lube if your skin is sensitive?

Start with the ingredient list, which every lubricant carries. If fragrances or colourings bother your skin in other products, choose a lubricant without them; the Durex Naturals above has neither. Fewer ingredients make it easier to work out what you are reacting to if something does not agree with you.

Try a small amount first. If you notice stinging, itching or soreness, stop using it and wash it off with water. If it does not settle, or keeps happening, speak to a pharmacist, your doctor or a sexual health clinic rather than switching products at random.

What if a condom broke after you used an oil?

Act quickly on two fronts.

For pregnancy, the NHS page on emergency contraception explains the options, how soon each needs to be used and where to get them.

For infections, a sexual health clinic or your doctor can advise on STI testing and timing.

Then switch the lubricant before next time. The condom was not at fault; the oil was.

Why do people reach for Vaseline in the first place?

Usually because it is in the bathroom and lube is not. It is cheap, thick and lasts. Coconut oil has a different appeal: it feels natural, smells pleasant and many people already trust it on their skin.

Both are reasonable instincts. The problem is only where they end up. A small bottle of proper lubricant in the bedside drawer removes the reason to improvise. Discover our condoms alongside the lubricants.

What else do people ask?

Can Vaseline cause an infection?

One study linked recent use of petroleum jelly inside the vagina with a higher rate of bacterial vaginosis. It did not prove cause. If you have symptoms, see your doctor, a pharmacist or a sexual health clinic.

Can you use Vaseline for masturbation?

Outside the body and without a condom, the breakage problem does not arise. It is still hard to wash off, and if it later meets a latex condom or goes inside the body, everything above applies again. A water-based lubricant avoids the question.

Is coconut oil OK with non-latex condoms?

The CDC says oil-based lubricants can typically be used with polyurethane and other synthetic condoms. Check the condom’s own packet as well, for the lubricants it lists.

Can you use Vaseline for anal sex?

The condom problem is the same: it breaks latex. A lubricant made for the purpose is a better choice. A silicone-based lubricant lasts longer, so it needs less reapplying.