What's the best lube for anal sex?
Not medical advice. This guide is written from CDC and public health guidance and hasn’t been reviewed by a clinician yet. Sources checked . For advice about your own health, talk to a doctor or clinic. How we write guides · Health disclaimer
The short answer: for most anal sex, a silicone lube is the best pick. It lasts longest, works with latex condoms and was the gentlest on rectal tissue in lab tests. If you use silicone toys, pick a water-based lube labeled “iso-osmolar” or “body-safe” instead. Skip lubes with numbing agents, nonoxynol-9, warming or flavors, and never use oil with latex condoms.
Your ass doesn’t make its own lube, so the bottle on the nightstand does a lot of the work. More is more here. The question is which bottle.
The main types
| Type | Feels like | Condoms | Toys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone | Slick, lasts a long time, doesn’t dry out. Harder to wash off. | Fine with latex | Can damage silicone toys |
| Water-based | Lighter, can get sticky and need topping up. Many brands are very concentrated (see below). | Fine with latex | Fine with everything |
| Oil-based (coconut oil, butters) | Thick and long-lasting | Breaks latex condoms | Varies |
| Hybrid (water plus silicone) | Creamy, in between | Usually fine with latex, check the label | Check the label |
Why some lubes are rough on your ass
The word to know is osmolality: how concentrated a lube is compared with your body’s own fluids. A very concentrated lube pulls water out of the cells lining your rectum, which can dry them out and damage them.
The World Health Organization says lube should ideally be around 380 mOsm/kg and no more than 1,200. Most popular water-based lubes come in at 2,000 to 6,000, mainly because of glycerin and propylene glycol.
A 2012 lab study tested popular lubes on samples of human rectal and colon tissue. Very concentrated water-based lubes damaged the tissue and stripped the surface cells. Astroglide was 21 times more concentrated than body fluids. The 2 near body-balanced water-based lubes (Good Clean Love and PRÉ) and the 2 silicone lubes (Wet Platinum and the lube in the FC2 female condom) caused no significant damage, and the authors called them the safest.
That’s a study on tissue samples, not people, but it lines up with WHO’s advice.
Does lube raise your STI risk?
A study in Baltimore and Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008 asked 302 men and women who had anal sex about lube and tested them for rectal STIs. People who used lube the last time they bottomed were about 3 times as likely to have a rectal STI, after accounting for things like condom use and HIV status. The study didn’t look at which lubes people used, and the researchers said more work was needed.
The takeaway isn’t “skip lube.” Dry anal sex causes tears, and that’s worse. It’s “pick a gentle lube”: silicone, or a water-based one that’s close to body-balanced.
What to avoid
- Numbing lubes. Pain is your body telling you to slow down, add more lube or change angle. Numbing it out is how tears happen.
- Nonoxynol-9. A spermicide that irritates the lining of your ass. WHO says not to use it.
- Warming, tingling and flavored lubes. Fun for the box, rough on the inside.
- Oil with latex condoms. Oil makes latex break. Vaseline, coconut oil and lotion all count.
- Spit as your only lube. It dries fast, and the Melbourne gonorrhea studies flagged it as one way gonorrhea might spread.
How to pick one
- Using latex condoms? Silicone or water-based. No oil.
- Using silicone toys? Water-based, or test a dab of silicone lube on the toy first.
- Going raw on PrEP and no toys? Anything goes, including oil. Silicone still lasts longest.
- Buying water-based? Look for “iso-osmolar”, “body-balanced” or “fertility-friendly” on the label, and short ingredient lists without glycerin or propylene glycol near the top.
Frequently asked questions
Is silicone or water-based lube better for anal?
Silicone usually. It lasts longer and was gentlest on rectal tissue in lab tests. Water-based is better if you use silicone toys.
Can you use coconut oil as lube for anal?
Yes, if you’re not using latex condoms. Oil breaks latex.
Is Astroglide safe for anal?
It works, but in lab tests it was one of the most concentrated lubes and damaged rectal tissue samples. A silicone or body-balanced water-based lube is gentler.
Is spit OK as lube?
It dries fast and doesn’t protect much against friction. Use a real lube for anal.
Does lube break condoms?
Oil-based lube breaks latex condoms. Silicone and water-based lubes are safe with latex.
Sources: WHO/UNFPA/FHI 360 advisory note on lubricants (2012), Dezzutti et al., “Is wetter better?”, PLOS ONE (2012), ScienceDaily on Gorbach et al. (2010), British Columbia Medical Journal: Sexual lubricants, practice tips (2024).
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or clinic about your own situation. Health disclaimer
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