Is Lube Safe To Use During Pregnancy – And Options That Are
Is it safe to use lube during pregnancy? Yes — as long as you’re using the right ones and avoiding potentially disruptive ingredients.

We independently research and vet everything we recommend. Our team is supported by affiliate commissions. Learn more →
Updated:July 2023
While personal lubricant can be very safe to use during pregnancy, it isn’t always.
Here’s what you need to know about using lube during pregnancy:
- During pregnancy, a mucus plug forms within the cervix, which acts as a seal that protects the uterus from anything within the vagina (including bacteria, viruses, or foreign substances). For this reason, there is little to no risk of personal lubricant affecting your baby.
- The same holds true for lubes that create a warming or cooling effect. With the mucus plug in place, a fetus in the womb will not be exposed to such effects.
- Unsafe lube ingredients that disrupt the vagina’s healthy microbiome could potentially lead to infections like bacterial vaginosis — which not only puts you at higher risk of STIs but preterm labor, as well.
- There is little research into the way lubricant ingredients absorbed by your body might affect a growing fetus, however, personal lubricants that contain unsafe ingredients should be avoided as a measure of caution regardless.
- Water-based and silicone-based lubricants are safest during pregnancy, but oil-based lubricants should be avoided because they increase the risk of vaginal infections like yeast or bacterial vaginosis.
- During pregnancy, you may find that you don’t even need personal lubricant, as hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy tend to lead to an increase in vaginal discharge.
- If your doctor has advised you to refrain from penetrative sexual activity for any reason, such as pregnancy complications, heed that advice and do not have sex — using lube will not make it “safer.”
As long as a personal lubricant is made from body-safe ingredients and you haven’t been advised by your doctor to abstain from penetrative sex or sex play, you can safely use lube while pregnant.