Is spermicidal lubricant dangerous for me to ingest? What if I swallow a little bit of it during oral sex?

Is spermicidal lubricant dangerous for me to ingest? What if I swallow a little bit of it during oral sex?


2 minute read

When we talk about spermicide, whether in a lubricant, by itself, or as part of a lubricated condom, we usually talk specifically about the ingredient nonoxynol 9.

It is not a particularly tasty ingredient. Most people who have tasted spermicidal lubricant will agree that it tastes fairly bitter and gross.

One would hope that you would refrain from having more as soon as you got a taste of it.

Condomania Recommends: Trojan ENZ Condoms With Spermicide

If you are worried about swallowing a little bit of lubricant with spermicide, like maybe what was leftover on a penis or toy after using a condom with spermicidal lubricant on it, never fear.

You are good to go, although you might want to grab a mint or glass of water to get the taste out of your mouth.

Ingesting spermicidal lubricant does not become much of an issue until you start talking about ingesting large amounts, such as an entire bottle.

We would very much not recommend that, as nonoxynol 9 (and many other spermicidal lube ingredients) have not been studied as a food product.

Therefore we do not know any short or long-term effects of ingesting large amounts of them.

Basically, be smart and drink water, not lube. Honestly, this goes for all kinds of lubes.

Consuming a small amount of any lube (water-based or even silicone-based) is no big deal swallow and move forward. Studies show that in small doses ingesting these types of products has no real bodily effects.

However, we strongly suggest staying away from using any lube as a refreshment.

Silicone-based lubes, the main ingredient is, you guessed it, silicone. Not approved as something you would want to fill your stomach with.

Although water-based lube sounds much more appealing, most water-based lubricants contain glycerin as a main ingredient. Glycerin is also a main ingredient in many soaps, shampoos, etc.

It's not dangerous for use externally, but it certainly has not been tested for its ability to make it through your digestive system.

A good read: Are Spermicidal Lubricants a Good Form of Birth Control?

A little bit won't hurt you, not at all, but we do not recommend replacing your favorite sports drink with a bottle of lube. Everything in moderation!

« Back to Blog