Spermicide + Lubricant

[SugarPeach]

I want to use condoms with a spermicide film, but my partner & I would like to use lubricant. Is it safe to use lubricant while using a spermicide film? Will the lube render the spermicide useless if they interact? Thanks!

[Danny S.]

Hi SugarPeach,
Here's an article about spermicide from our Birth Control Bingo: Birth Control Bingo: Spermicides. We don't recommend spermicidal condoms, because they are proven to be no more effective than condoms without spermicide, and the spermicide itself can have some adverse effects. As for the lube, spermicide on condoms usually comes in the form of lube. I'm not sure about use with additional lube, but because condoms with regular lube are just as effective as those with spermicidal lube, I would suggest just using regular condoms and then using as much lube as you want! If you want to discuss other options for birth control, let me know.

[Heather]

Hey there: looks like there was a bit of a misunderstanding about what kind of spermicide you were asking about.

By all means, lubricant can be used when also using spermicidal film. As with any other method of contraception, just read the directions for the film, and rest assured that if it doesn't mention something like this as being an issue, it's because it isn't.

[Danny S.]

Oops, thanks for the correction, Heather!