A topsy-turvy world: anal intercourse with personal lubricant increases the risk of contracting HIV, according to recent reports in some online media. The story of a false report. And the facts.
The conclusion is that after taking into account factors such as age, gender, origin and sexual orientation, the use of certain lubricants during unprotected anal intercourse MAY increase the LIKELIHOOD of contracting a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria or viruses. It is POSSIBLE that the ingredients of the lubricants kill the cells of the upper intestinal protective layer and thus facilitate infection. In any case, similar substances IN THE LABORATORY had killed such cells. IF all this is the case, the risk of infection during UNPROTECTED anal intercourse with lubricant is about three times higher than without lubricant.
The scientists even qualified the results themselves: The number of study participants was too small to generalise, their backgrounds were not diverse enough, the number of lubricants tested was too small and the observations were not long-term enough. However, there is a trend that would more than justify further studies. Many analyses of studies end with a sentence like this.
False reports
Nevertheless, some internet media soon reported that the use of personal lubricants significantly increases the risk of infection during anal intercourse. Due to a misunderstanding and translation error, the German media also spoke of a 20 times higher risk. However, the first sentence of the press release only stated that the risk of infection was 20 times higher with unprotected anal intercourse than with unprotected vaginal intercourse.
As is the case in the age of the internet: the false reports multiplied and soon there was a heated debate in the scene as to whether spit and a prayer in the evening was not better protection than lube after all.
Lubricant is part of anal sex with a condom!
In short: No, definitely not. The vast majority of anal intercourse between men takes place with a condom. Lubricant is essential because the rubber breaks much more easily without it. Firstly, shreds of rubber on the cock never look good, and secondly, they damage the partner's intestines much more than any lubricant - and thus increase the risk of infection. Apart from the fact that the condom then of course no longer has any protective effect. That's why the following still applies: when having anal sex with a condom, lube is a must!
Anal intercourse without a condom carries a high risk anyway if you don't know your partner's HIV status. The question of lubricant is of secondary importance.
A study by Stiftung Warentest, which tested most of the personal lubricants available in Germany for skin and mucous membrane compatibility in 2007, can also be read as an all-clear. Almost all of them scored "very good" or "good".
Ficki Ficki, Ouch Ouch
Incidentally, heterosexual women have the most unprotected anal sex: In industrialised nations, 15 percent of all women between the ages of 15 and 55 also like to let their visitors in the back. They are obviously also familiar with the summer hit by Berlin's drag superstar Nina Queer with the beautiful title "Ficki Ficki, Aua Aua" and therefore use a lubricant. However, in less than ten per cent of cases in combination with a condom.
And an interesting side note: Most of the personal lubricants bought in German pharmacies, drugstores and sex shops are bought by women over 50, but this has little to do with anal intercourse, even if they have interested partners or gay sons. The ladies simply want it to keep going even after the menopause.
(Paul Schulz)
The press release of the "International Microbicides Conference"
Image source men's buttocks: www.pixelio.de
