What lube is safe to use with condoms?
Water-based lube is safe with every condom, and silicone-based lube is safe with latex and plastic condoms. Avoid anything oil-based, such as petroleum jelly, lotion, baby oil or massage oil, with latex or polyisoprene condoms, because oil weakens them and can cause breaks. Polyurethane can generally take oil. Skip spermicide: CDC does not recommend nonoxynol-9.
Water-based lube is the safe default. It works with every condom material and with dental dams (CDC, 2024; Planned Parenthood), so it is the one to reach for if you are not sure what a condom is made of.
Silicone-based lube is also safe with latex condoms (NHS, 2024; CDC, reviewed 2024) and with plastic condoms (Planned Parenthood), and CDC lists it alongside water-based lube for dental dams (CDC, 2024).
Oil-based products are the ones to keep away from latex and polyisoprene. That includes petroleum jelly, body lotion, baby oil, massage oil, mineral oil and cooking oil: they weaken latex and can make a condom break (CDC, reviewed 2024), and Planned Parenthood says the same of polyisoprene. Polyurethane condoms, and generally the other plastics apart from polyisoprene, can be used with oil-based lube. Lambskin works with any lube, although it does not protect against STIs (Planned Parenthood; Cleveland Clinic, 2025). If in doubt, check the condom packet or the maker's website.
In short, by material: latex takes water-based or silicone lube; polyisoprene takes water-based or silicone; polyurethane takes water-based, silicone or oil-based; nitrile takes water-based or silicone, and oil-based if the packet allows it; lambskin takes any lube but gives no reliable STI protection.
Two things to leave out. The first is nonoxynol-9, the spermicide in some lubes and condoms: CDC does not recommend it, because it can disrupt the lining of the vagina or rectum and has been linked to a higher risk of HIV infection (CDC, reviewed 2024). The second is flavoured lube for vaginal or anal sex, which Planned Parenthood says can lead to irritation, yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. Flavoured products are made for oral sex.
Use enough. Too little lube is one of the human errors behind condom failure (Cleveland Clinic, 2025), and a few drops inside the tip before rolling a condom on, plus more on the outside once it is on, helps stop it breaking (Planned Parenthood). Add more whenever things feel dry. The JoinTheSwing guide to condom types covers each material in more depth. This answer is general information, not medical advice.
How this answer was checked.
Written by JoinTheSwing editorial and not reviewed by a clinician; general information, not medical advice. Lube compatibility is quoted from the CDC, NHS, Planned Parenthood and Cleveland Clinic pages below, opened on the review date. Where sources say to check the packet, so do we.
- CDC, last reviewed June 3, 2024
Primary Prevention Methods (STI Treatment Guidelines, 2021) (opens in a new tab)
Consistent condom use cut HIV infection in mixed-status heterosexual couples by 71% to 80% and reduces chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B and trichomoniasis; latex condoms reduce HPV, herpes and syphilis risk when the infected area is covered; about 2 condoms per 100 break; most failures come from inconsistent or incorrect use; no latex condom past its expiry or more than 5 years after manufacture; polyurethane protects comparably to latex; the effectiveness of other synthetic condoms has not been extensively studied and FDA labelling limits their recommended use to people sensitive or allergic to latex; natural membrane condoms have pores up to 1,500 nm and are not recommended for STI or HIV prevention; nonoxynol-9 is not recommended; oil-based lubricants weaken latex.
- CDC, April 3, 2024
How to Use a Dental Dam (opens in a new tab)
Latex or polyurethane sheets for oral sex on the vagina or anus: a new dam every time, check the date and for tears, on before oral sex starts and kept on until the end, water- or silicone-based lube, no stretching, no nonoxynol-9, no oil-based products, no reusing; how to cut a latex or polyurethane condom into a dam.
- NHS, reviewed January 26, 2024
Condoms (opens in a new tab)
A new condom every time; check the use-by date; never use two at once; no oil-based lubricant with latex, use water- or silicone-based instead; no latex with a latex allergy; get urgent help from a pharmacist, sexual health clinic or doctor if a condom splits or comes off, as you may need emergency contraception or an STI test.
- Planned Parenthood
Condoms (opens in a new tab)
Latex, plastic (polyurethane, nitrile, polyisoprene) and lambskin condoms; oil damages latex, and oil-based lube works with plastic condoms except polyisoprene; lambskin only helps prevent pregnancy; condoms work very well against fluid-borne STIs and somewhat less well against skin-to-skin STIs; avoid flavoured products for vaginal or anal sex; a condom cut open makes a dam.
- Planned Parenthood
How to put on a condom (opens in a new tab)
Put it on before any genital contact and wear it the whole time; check the date and the air bubble in the wrapper; never flip an inside-out condom; a new condom for every act and when switching from anal to vaginal sex; a few drops of water-based or silicone lube help stop breakage; store cool and dry, not in a pocket, car or bathroom for long; oil damages latex and polyisoprene.
- Cleveland Clinic, updated November 18, 2025
Condoms (opens in a new tab)
Latex, plastic (polyurethane, polyisoprene, nitrile) and natural-skin materials; oil-based lube breaks latex and polyisoprene; natural-skin condoms prevent pregnancy but are not recommended for STI prevention; most failures are human error, including one condom used with more than one partner during group sex; condoms generally last one to five years; store cool and dry, not in a wallet; spermicide-lubricated condoms can cause UTIs.