Does Flavored Lube Cause UTIs? What You Can Do To Avoid the Discomfort of a UTI

Your vagina burns. It’s itchy, irritated, and you’ve seen some blood in your urine. You’re pretty sure you have a UTI, but how did you develop one?

Could it have been the flavored lube you used earlier this week?

We get it, chocolate and fruity flavors might sound enticing at the moment, but the symptoms of a UTI are not fun to deal with. 

Here you will learn about the science behind flavored lubes and UTIs, what you can do to minimize or avoid the discomfort, and an all-natural substitute.

Table of Contents

• Does Flavored Lube Cause UTIs?
• How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing a UTI From Flavored Lube?
• How To Choose a Lube That Will Lessen Your Chance of a UTI
• Avoid Flavored Lube – Choose a Lube With Ingredients That Are Beneficial to Your Body
• Enjoy Sex While Decreasing Your Chance of a UTI – Use Chiavaye’s All-Natural Personal Moisturizer and Lubricant

Does Flavored Lube Cause UTIs?

Using lube can help spice up your sex life and also make sex a more enjoyable experience. If you use and love lube, don’t be scared. Using lube doesn’t directly cause UTIs, but there are some ingredients in different lubes that can be the cause of a UTI — and flavored lubes tend to have many of them.

Some ingredients used in flavored lubes that create artificial scents and flavors can alter the vaginal flora or microbiome (the “good” bacteria) inside the vagina, altering the pH level of the vagina. 

When the pH level of your vagina is too high — typically anything over 4.5 — it can cause a UTI. 

The Scientific Explanation of Why Flavored Lube May Cause UTIs

Any time the pH level is altered inside the vagina, you may be in danger of developing a UTI. Although a “normal” pH level is typically between 3.8 and 4.5, this can vary depending on age and health.

This “normal” range is determined to be protective because it’s moderately acidic, creating a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing an infection. 

An unbalanced vaginal pH can be caused by many things, including:

• Unprotected sex
• Antibiotics
• Douching
• Menstrual periods
• Ingredients found in some flavored lube, like:
• Glycerin
• Nonoxynol-9 
• Propylene glycol
• Parabens
• Chlorhexidine gluconate

At Chiavaye, we don’t recommend using flavored lubes — we also don’t recommend reaching for just any household products, either. Many household products can have a similar reaction to the vaginal pH as flavored lubes, which is why we suggest investing in an all-natural, chemical-free, vegan personal moisturizer and lubricant. 

How Do I Know If I’m Experiencing a UTI From Flavored Lube?

Your vagina is itchy, it doesn’t have the best smell, and it burns when you pee — could you be experiencing a UTI? 

If you’ve recently used flavored lube and are experiencing these symptoms, there’s a good chance you’ve developed a UTI. 

Other symptoms of a UTI include:

• Frequent urination
• Feeling the need to urinate even on an empty bladder
• Bloody urine
• Pressure or cramping in the groin or lower abdomen

An undiagnosed and untreated UTI could lead to a kidney infection, so visit your doctor if you feel you’re experiencing symptoms of a UTI. If your UTI does become a kidney infection, you might experience additional symptoms like:

• Fever
• Chills
• Low back pain or side back pain
• Nausea or vomiting 

How To Choose a Lube That Will Lessen Your Chance of a UTI

Choose a Lube With a pH of 7 or Lower

An unbalanced vaginal pH is the perfect breeding ground for an infection, so choose a lube with a pH of 7 or lower. 

Remember, a “normal” vaginal pH is between 3.8 and 4.5, and choosing a lower pH lube will help keep that normal range.

When Possible, Choose Water-Based or Silicone-Based Lube

Although little is known about women’s use of lubricant and its effect on women’s sexual pleasure and satisfaction, one study found that water-based lubricants were associated with fewer genital symptoms when compared to silicone-based lube.

However, when choosing a water-soluble lubricant, be sure you’re using one without glycerin to avoid the simple sugar breakdown that often leads to vaginal yeast infections.

Avoid Glucose and Sorbitol

Glucose and sorbitol are sugar and sugar alcohols used in flavored lubes to create a sweet taste.

This sugar alcohol breaks down inside the vagina and creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to feed and grow, turning into yeast infections and UTIs. 

Avoid Glycerin

Glycerin acts similarly to glucose. This alcohol is made when the fatty acids are separated from animal fat or vegetable oil, which may cause fungal infections inside the vagina. 

Although not all lubricants with glycerin are culprits for causing UTIs, there’s no way to know which those are because manufacturers often do not disclose where their ingredients come from or how they are made.

To avoid the possibility of contracting a UTI from a flavored lube with glycerin, use an all-natural, vegan, and chemical-free personal moisturizer and lubricant option, like Chiavaye.

Keep Away From Scents and Flavors

Using any lubricant that contains scents and flavors can be dangerous for your vaginal health because they’re most often made from artificial flavoring and sugars. These can be irritating to the vagina simply because of the ingredients, so avoiding flavored lube is your best bet.

Avoid Flavored Lube – Choose a Lube With Ingredients That Are Beneficial to Your Body 

As a woman, I understand why we want to use lube during intercourse.

Sometimes our bodies take their time to catch up to our turned-on minds, you might need something to help decrease the sometimes painful friction that comes with sex, or you may need to offset issues with your natural lubrication. Whatever it may be, using lubricant can be helpful and enjoyable.

But using a flavored lube may not be the best option. Instead, choosing a lube with natural ingredients can still provide an enjoyable experience while offering benefits to your body.

Chiavaye’s personal moisturizer and lubricant is made of all-natural, vegan, and chemical-free ingredients that are good for your body. 

In our lube, you will find:

• Sunflower seed oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Evening primrose oil
• Vitamin E

That’s it. You won’t find artificial flavors, fragrances, preservatives, or hormones.

Decrease Your Chance of Experiencing a UTI With These Extra Steps

Using flavored lube is not the only way that you might experience a UTI. Although avoiding flavored lube can help decrease your chances of having one, there are other things you can do to minimize your chances of having a UTI.

Drink Plenty of Water

Fluids can help flush out your urinary tract which can lead to fewer episodes of UTIs. If you still experience a UTI, increasing your fluid intake can help lessen the need for antibiotics.

Pee After Sex

Emptying your bladder helps get rid of the bacteria that cause a UTI. Peeing after sex is especially helpful to push out the bacteria from lubes, condoms, alkaline semen, or other anatomy.

Wipe Well From Front to Back

Take the time to ensure you’re wiping well from front to back after using the restroom. Wiping from front to back helps pull the bacteria away from the vagina rather than towards it.

Avoid Using Products or Soap to Wash the Vagina

Douching or using soaps inside your vagina can increase the vaginal pH level and cause a UTI. The vagina is self-cleaning, so you only need to wash the outside of your vagina with mild soap and warm water for cleanliness.

Don’t Hang Out in Sweaty or Moist Clothes

Staying in sweaty or moist clothes can allow bacteria to enter the vagina and cause a UTI. If you’re someone who works out or sweats excessively, consider showering and changing out of those clothes as soon as possible when you’re done.

Take Probiotics

Probiotics work to restore the balance of healthy bacteria in your system, so even if your vagina has an increase in bad bacteria, a probiotic can help.

Enjoy Sex While Decreasing Your Chance of a UTI – Use Chiavaye’s All-Natural Personal Moisturizer and Lubricant 

Developing a UTI can be uncomfortable, smelly, and inconvenient. Taking the time to practice proper care and using products that are beneficial instead of harmful in and around your vagina can help to decrease your chances of experiencing one.

Chiavaye has created an all-natural and chemical-free personal moisturizer and vaginal lube to help women avoid unwanted pain while still enjoying intercourse. 

Not only is our product all-natural, but it’s also:

• Hypoallergenic
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• pH balanced

If you’re looking to avoid flavored lube and instead want a product that’s a safe solution for personal intimacy, try Chiavaye today.