3 Reasons Not To Use Saliva As Lubricant

You may wonder if you can use saliva as a lubricant, but it's not a good alternative to use during vaginal or anal sex if you or your partner do not have any lubricants on hand. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can spread to the genitals through saliva, which can irritate the vagina.

Some evidence even suggests some people prefer to use saliva over other lubricants. Water- and silicone-based lubricants are safer than saliva and help reduce friction. Coconut oil is another option that helps treat vaginal dryness and pain.

Saliva may seem like an accessible, harmless swap for your own natural lubrication or the store-bought kind. Read on to learn why it might not be safe to use saliva as a lubricant and what to use instead.

Can I Use Saliva As Lubricant?

It may be unsafe to use saliva as a lubricant. Saliva also has different properties than personal lubricants and increases the risk of vaginal or skin infections. You may also spread STIs like herpes, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.

STIs Can Transmit Through Saliva

Using saliva as a lubricant may increase the risk of STIs, which can be transmitted to the genitals through saliva. A person with herpes can transmit the infection, for example, to their partner during anal, oral, or vaginal sex. Herpes might be spread by having contact with the saliva or skin of a person with oral herpes.

The virus can still be contagious, even if you do not see a cold sore on or around a person's mouth. "Herpes can present with blisters or sores, but it can also present asymptomatically," Felice Gersh, MD, an OB-GYN at Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, told Health.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, and trichomoniasis can also spread to the genitals through saliva. These infections, like herpes, may not have any symptoms.

You Might Develop a Vaginal Infection

The bacteria in saliva are different than the bacteria in your vagina. Saliva also contains digestive enzymes that break down food.

These bacteria and enzymes may upset the vaginal microbiome and make you susceptible to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Both vaginal infections develop if something throws off the balance of microbes that naturally exist in the vagina.

"Using saliva as lube provides a perfect storm to alter the vaginal ecosystem enough to trigger one of these infections," said Dr. Gersh. Saliva can also set off a process of inflammation that leads to burning and itching.

Saliva Doesn't Have the Qualities of Lubricants

Dr. Gersh still didn't advise using saliva, even if you remove the risk of contracting an STI or vaginal infection. "[Saliva] has no innate qualities that would make it a good lubricant. It does not have the slippery consistency; it evaporates and dries more quickly, and further, it's irritating," said Dr. Gersh.

Personal lubricants, in contrast, create slickness that's very similar to your body's natural lubrication. This consistency helps decrease friction, which can cause small nicks or tears in the anus and vagina. Breaks in the skin can be painful, allow harmful germs to enter your body, and cause a skin infection.

What Can You Use As Lube?

"[Most] people have probably used spit as lube with a partner at some point, but it is not the best or safest choice," said Dr. Gersh. Consider this a reason to stock up on other personal lubricants so you'll be prepared whenever you need it.

Here are some safe products to use as lubricants:

• Coconut oil: This natural product may work as an effective lubricant. Some evidence suggests that coconut oil might treat vaginal dryness and pain. Keep in mind that coconut oil might degrade the quality of latex condoms and cause them to break.
• Oil-based: Baby and mineral oils are effective alternatives, but they might stain fabrics and degrade latex condoms.
• Silicone-based: Opt for this lube if you have sensitive skin. Silicone-based lubricants are safe to use with condoms but might degrade the quality of sex toys.
• Water-based: You can use this type of lube with condoms and sex toys. Water-based lubricants are usually easy to wash off but may be sticky and dry out quickly.

A Quick Review

Saliva may always be available to you, but it's not safe to use as lubricant during sexual activity. STIs, such as herpes or syphilis, can be transmitted through saliva. You might also be likely to develop vaginal infections or irritation if you use saliva as a lubricant.

Plus, saliva doesn't always have the slippery consistency of other lubricants. It's best to have coconut oil or water- or silicone-based lubricants on hand to use instead of saliva.