ABSTRACT

Sudol, Kristin M. and David M. Phillips. 2004. "Relative safety of sexual lubricants for rectal intercourse," Sexually Transmitted Diseases 31(6): 346–349. (offsite full text)

Objective
The current study was conducted to determine the relative safety of sexual lubricants for rectal use.

Goal
The goal was to identify a sexual lubricant that would not damage the rectal epithelium.

Study design
The authors describe a mouse assay to determine the degree to which lubricants cause rectal sloughing. Lubricants were also tested for cytotoxicity and their effect on herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infection after rectal challenge.

Results
Of the products tested, Delube and KY-Plus are most likely to damage the rectal epithelium, whereas Viamor, Vagisil, and Astroglide would cause some degree of rectal damage. PBS, Carraguard®, and methyl cellulose were not toxic in any of the assays.

Conclusion
The authors have developed a quantitative method to assay the degree of sloughing of the rectal epithelium. Using this and other techniques, the degree to which lubricants could be safe for rectal use can be predicted.

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