Lubricants and UTI Risk in Females

Types of Lubricants and UTI Risk

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding oil-based lubricants, such as petroleum jelly, shortening, mineral oil, massage oils, body lotions, and cooking oil, as they can weaken latex condoms and increase UTI risk 1
Water-based lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly, Astroglide, and AquaLube, are safer for use with condoms but may still be associated with UTI risk in some women 1

Postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence, atrophic vaginitis due to estrogen deficiency, cystocele, and high post-void residual urine volume are at increased risk of UTIs 2, 3
Women with a history of previous UTIs, structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, and functional abnormalities are at increased risk of UTIs 4

The European Urology association recommends using water-based lubricants instead of oil-based products when using condoms to reduce UTI risk 1
Increasing fluid intake may help reduce infection risk in women with recurrent UTIs 2, 3
Postmenopausal women may consider vaginal estrogen replacement to prevent recurrent UTIs 2, 3
For women with persistent recurrent UTIs, consider immunoactive prophylaxis, probiotics with strains proven to support vaginal flora regeneration, methenamine hippurate, or antimicrobial prophylaxis when non-antimicrobial interventions have failed 2, 3

Women experiencing recurrent UTIs should be evaluated for modifiable risk factors, including lubricant use, and counseled about the potential relationship between lubricant use and UTI risk 4
For women with recurrent UTIs temporally associated with sexual activity, consider alternative lubricants or post-coital antimicrobial prophylaxis 2, 3