Study finds most water-based lubricants damage rectal cells and some increase HIV activity. Researchers found that the use of some rectal lubricant products might increase susceptibility to rectal STIs and make users more vulnerable to HIV. Four (out of six) Astroglide lubricants which appear to increase viral replication were the only ones containing a compound called polyquaternium-15 which, when tested, was found to be the cause.

A study by the Population Council (Begay 2011) has found that every one of a panel of 41 commercially-available sexual lubricants for sale in the USA damaged human rectal and colonic cells in the test tube and compromised the integrity of the single-cell layer that forms the surface of the rectum.

In contrast Carraguard, a gel formerly tried as an experimental microbicide, did not damage cells. Unexpectedly, the investigators found that four of the lubricants not only damaged the rectal lining cells but appeared actively to increase HIV replication in the cell cultures.

They found that this activity was caused by polyquaternium-15, a commonly-used cosmetic ingredient, which has the property of facilitating HIV’s attachment to cells.

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