Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a healthy sex life. However, there are some factors you have to consider with a baby on board.
One of those is the type of sexual lubricant you use. Certain lubes are healthier for your baby-making parts than others.
The pH of the vagina changes during pregnancy, so your go-to pre-pregnancy lube may result in an infection now that you’ve got a baby bump.
But don’t worry. There are several sex lubes that are safe for pregnant bodies, and you’ll find a list of the best ones below.
At Condomania, we’ve been selling lube for over 30 years, and safe sex has always been our #1 priority.
We’ve done our research and consulted with sexual health experts to compile the list below.
So, choose a sex lube for pregnancy and be confident that you can safely enjoy your changing body solo or with a partner.
Understanding Sex Lube and Pregnancy
You’ve used lube before and it hasn’t been a problem. So, why should you pay extra attention during pregnancy?
Women’s bodies change pretty drastically during pregnancy, and those changes include far more than what’s happening in your belly.
Hormonal changes alter the pH balance of the vagina (a balance of acidity that keeps the vagina clean and healthy).
When substances are introduced into the vagina, they can cause an imbalance, resulting in irritation or infection.
Your vaginal pH is different before and during pregnancy. So, your favorite pre-pregnancy lube could cause problems during pregnancy.
And you really don’t want to have issues with your vagina during pregnancy. It’s kind of an important part of the whole baby-making thing.
Unfortunately, due to hormonal changes, women are more at risk of developing infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy.
If you get BV, it’s not a huge deal. But, antibiotics are needed to clear up the infection. While antibiotics are generally safe during pregnancy, there are always some risks involved.
So, you should do everything you can to prevent infection.
The + products on the list below are unlikely to upset the pH balance of the vagina.
Some are even designed specifically to protect vaginal pH. That means you’ll be much less likely to develop an infection such as BV when using a pregnancy-friendly lube.
The products on this list also fall within healthy osmolality ranges, which helps prevents vaginal dryness and infection (I’ll explain more about osmolality after the list).
Using a lube for pregnancy is not just convenient. It’s actually safer for you and your baby. And, an affordable bottle will last your entire pregnancy.
So, put your standard sex lube in the drawer for the next few months and pick up one of the following sex lubes to use during pregnancy.
The Top 5 Sex Lubes to Use During Pregnancy
Finding a lube to use during pregnancy can be tricky. Instead of squinting at lists of ingredients and trying to choose a brand you trust, why not choose one of the expert-recommended products below?
All of the lubes on our list are safe for use during pregnancy—and they’re also super slick and slippery. We’d recommend these products to anyone—pregnant or not!
Sliquid H2O
Sliquid is one of the all-time greatest lube brands, and their classic H2O formula is perfect for pregnant bodies.
It’s made with plant-based ingredients, body-safe preservatives, and water. That’s it! It’s also 100% vegan and hypoallergenic.
Sliquid H2O is among the purest and most basic lubes you can get, and that should be your aim when pregnant.
It is also one of the most pregnancy-safe lubes for pH and osmolality.
Oh, and it’s super slippery—much more than most water-based lubes. That’s why we love Sliquid products so much!
If you’re looking for a high-quality lube by one of the most trusted brands (and you don’t want to spend a stack), get Sliquid H2O.
P.S. Aloe + Plant-Based Lube
P.S. is a premium lube and condom brand known for making products that are clean for the body and the environment. Their Aloe + Plant-Based Lube is incredibly popular, especially among those with sensitive skin.
This lube is 100% vegan and pH-balanced for safe use during pregnancy. It’s dermatologist-recommended for safe, clean fun with toys, condoms, and fingers.
P.S. Lube is formulated to hydrate the vagina and soothe irritated tissue—unlike most other water-based lubes that contribute to dryness.
You’re doing your body a favor by using this lube, which makes it worth the extra few bucks you’ll spend.
Pjur Woman Nude
Pjur is a German brand that makes some of the most reputable sex lubes in the world.
They put major care into crafting their products, and their Pjur Women lubricants are a good example of the brand’s medical-grade quality.
We especially recommend Pjur Woman Nude. This is truly a stripped-down, back-to-basics lube—the exact sort of lube you want when pregnant.
It has zero additives and no glycerin, parabens, fragrances, or any of that other stuff you need to watch out for.
It has been tested for pH, osmolality, and purity, and it falls well within the WHO guidelines for safety. It’s an all-around excellent sex lube for pregnancy.
You’ll spend a bit more for Pjur Woman Nude, but it’s a premium product. We love that it’s not gooey or sticky—it actually feels just like your body’s natural lubrication.
Sliquid Sassy
Sliquid Sassy is a thicker version of Sliquid’s classic H2O (water-based) formula. It’s for women who like their lube less runny and more jelly-like.
The new Sassy formula has an almost-perfect osmolality and a pH of around 4.4, making it ideal for pregnant bodies.
Sassy is often advertised as a water-based lube for anal play, but its stats don’t lie—this lube is formulated for vaginas.
It's the thickest lube on this list, so we recommend it for use with sex toys. It’s compatible with toys of all makes and materials, including silicone toys.
Check out our list of the best sex toys for pregnancy!
Sliquid Organics Natural
Yep, another Sliquid sex lube! Sliquid is a brand that knows purity and safety, and many of its products are perfect for pregnancy.
Sliquid’s Organics line is made with the cleanest and most hydrating natural ingredients.
Sliquid Organic’s Natural is an organic version of Sliquid H2O with aloe added for extra hydration.
This pH-balanced lube is hypoallergenic and vegan, and it has a safe osmolality for vaginal health.
The only potential issue here is that it has a lot of ingredients, such as agar, hibiscus, flax, and green tea extract.
All of the ingredients are organic and safe, but this lube is not as basic as some of the other lube on this list.
But don’t let that deter you. If you are looking for a high-quality organic sex lube for pregnancy, Sliquid Naturals is an excellent choice.
What You Need to Know about Using Lube While Pregnant
If you’re running short on time because you’ve got to satisfy an uncontrollable pregnancy craving for chocolate-covered asparagus, here are the most important lube tips to know.
Only Use Water-based Lube
When pregnant, use water-based lube only.
Water-based lubricants are the safest option during pregnancy because they’re gentle, easy to clean, and unlikely to disrupt the natural vaginal environment.
Unlike silicone- or oil-based lubes, water-based formulas are less likely to cause irritation or interfere with latex condoms, which are often recommended during pregnancy to reduce infection risk.
They also tend to be pH-balanced, which helps support the slightly altered vaginal pH that naturally occurs during pregnancy.
We recommend Sliquid H2O.
Avoid of Harmful Ingredients
Aim for the most basic, pure sex lube possible.
Your lube shouldn’t contain extra ingredients like flavors or additives that cause warming, cooling, or numbing sensations. No fancy stuff!
You should also avoid these common lube ingredients that can cause irritation:
👉 Glycerin
👉 Propylene glycol
👉 Parabens
👉 Petroleum-based chemicals
👉 Spermicide
The simpler the lube, the better. Organic and plant-based lubes are the best. Try Sliquid Organics Natural and P.S. Organic Aloe.
Be Mindful of Your Pregnancy pH
It’s important to use a sex lube that keeps your vaginal pH balanced.
Using a lube outside of the range of your natural pH can cause infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast overgrowth.
During pregnancy, your vaginal pH shifts, becoming slightly less acidic.
This change is normal and helps protect against certain infections, but it can also make you more vulnerable to imbalances.
If you continue using the same lube as you used before pregnancy, it may upset your pregnancy pH.
👉 A healthy non-pregnant vaginal pH is around 3.8-4.5
👉 A normal pregnancy pH is around 4.5 to 5.5
It’s important to choose lubricants that are pH-balanced for the pregnant body. You should still use a lube with a pH of less than 5, as recommended by the WHO.
But avoid using lube with a pH less than 4.
All of the lubricants included in the list in this article are within safe pH limits for pregnancy.
Consider Osmolality
Osmolality is another little-known factor that becomes very important when choosing a sex lube for pregnancy.
Osmolality refers to the concentration of dissolved particles in your lubricant.
When it has too high an osmolality, it can actually pull water out of your vaginal cells, leading to dryness, irritation, or even microtears in the vaginal lining.
This is especially concerning during pregnancy, when your body is more sensitive and prone to infection.
Using a lube with low or balanced osmolality helps maintain your vaginal tissue’s integrity and keeps the natural protective barrier intact.
The WHO recommends a maximum osmolality of 1200 in sex lube. The lubes on this list all fall well below that.
Should You Skip Lube While Pregnant?
You might be thinking, “Hey, if lube has the potential to cause issues during pregnancy, I should just avoid it.”
This is not a good idea. In fact, you should be using even more lube during pregnancy.
It all comes back to those pesky hormones. When you get pregnant, estrogen levels tend to drop in your body.
This can cause vaginal dryness or prevent you from getting wet enough during sex. It might also cause you to lose natural lubrication during sex.
Having sex or using a toy without enough lubrication can lead to microtears in the vagina, which will increase your risk of infection. It’s also just plain uncomfortable.
You don’t need to sacrifice sex lube or your own pleasure just because you’re pregnant.
The best way to enjoy sex during pregnancy is to use plenty of lube—and to reapply often.
As long as you use a pregnancy-safe lube like the ones on this list, you’re all good!
The Best Sex Lube for Pregnancy
We highly recommend choosing one of the pregnancy sex lubes from the list above, because there’s something important you should know:
Most sex lubes are not pregnancy-safe. In studies, the vast majority of sex lubes were found to be outside healthy ranges of pH and osmolality.
That means if you pick a random lube off the shelf, you may be putting your sexual health at risk. That’s not a risk you want to take while pregnant.
If you choose just one pregnancy lube, buy Sliquid H2O. It’s the whole package—it’s affordable, safe, and super slick.
Plus, on the science side, it’s pH-balanced and osmolality-approved for safe pregnancy sex and masturbation.
Sliquid H2O is a consistent best-seller here at Condomania. And, it’s one of the lubes that experts recommend most.
If you’re looking for something with extra hydrating power (ideal for women dealing with dryness), choose a sex lube with aloe, such as P.S. Aloe + Plant-Based Lube or Sliquid Organics Naturals.
Aloe has been studied extensively for its benefits to vaginal tissue, and it’s safe for pregnant bodies.
Want to learn more about safe and stellar sex during pregnancy? Check out our guide to pregnancy-friendly sex toys here!
If you’ve already got a toy, read more about safely using a vibrator during pregnancy here.