They've been on the market so long that many people don't know they may not be good for them - let us share with you the big 3 No-No's!
1. KY Jelly
Ok, so it's not the only personal lubricant out there that contains so many chemicals it resembles a public pool, but it is the most recognisable, the most marketed, the most hyped, and the most easily found. So it leads the discussion at MaXXX Black more than any other lube on the supermarket/pharmacy shelf. So many people ask for it by name it scares us.
Why is it so bad? Old school lubricants like KY-Jelly were developed for use in the medical field, not for sexual pleasure or sexual activity. Typically it was, and is, used to lubricate instruments like scopes, thermometers and catheters prior to insertion.
The reason is gets on our NO list is because, despite thousands of reasons why they shouldn't, Johnson and Johnson still make KY-Jelly with lots of petro-chemical ingredients, hydroxyethylcellulose, and more importantly - glycerin.
Glycerin is a 'sugar-alcohol' that helps make KY taste sweeter. Yeast feeds on sugar. So if you are prone to yeast infections KY could actually make it worse.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used as a thickener and to reduce the foaming nature of other ingredients in the product. Unfortunately more and more people are finding they are sensitive to this ingredient with reports of side effects including itching, burning, hives and swelling. It is an ingredient that should not be consumed or absorbed by women who are pregnant or nursing.
The good news is that if you haven't experienced discomfort from mainstream lubricants than you probably aren't allergic or hypersensitive to them. But if you want to err on the side of caution we suggest you stick to natural or glycerin and paraben free products. 
2. Anal-Ease
There has always been a fascination with playing 'back there'. Now we're sure you know it can be an area that is very sensitive needs lots of careful foreplay for pleasurable activities. But since we humans can get carried away with our eagerness for new things we sometimes want to skip ahead a few steps and go for broke.
Problem is that can cause all sorts of pain and as a result there are lots of companies out there producing sprays, lotions and topical solutions that claim to make it "easy".
One of the best known is Anal-Ease. Anal Ease is a lubricant (of which there are many) and spray that is marketed for anal sex and contains a numbing agent. Usually Lidocaine or Benzocaine. Sound familiar? It should. It's usually what your dentist uses to numb you before coming at you with a drill.
Now anal sex should not be painful. If it hurts, STOP. Pain is your body's way of telling you that whatever you're doing isn't the right thing. Listen to your body. Go slow, work up to penetration, add lots of lube and talk to your partner about what they are doing and what feels right (and wrong).
Numbing agents like Anal Ease literally numb your backside and therefore put you in danger of hurting yourself. Using products like these often lead people to go farther, harder and do more than they normally would and that can cause all manner of nightmares. We won't go into the real yucky detail but you can imagine everything with one word - tearing.
Besides exercising the area with gentle-sized toys and regular light play, plus the right lubricant, there are other alternatives to products like Anal Ease. One of the latest is Pjur Back Door Comfort Spray.
Pjur Back Door Anal Comfort Spray was specifically developed for play from behind. The active ingredients are formulated to make the skin and tissue significantly more elastic - which means you can do things you've never done before and feel the full benefit of great anal play.
Lauromacrogol slightly desensitises because it helps to relax the anal sphincter for better sensations without numbing. The addition of Penthenol gives Pjur Back Door Spray it's relaxing effect without the use of benzocaine or lidocaine. Plus it's condom-safe!
3. Herbal Viagra
These are found under the counter (and sometimes on it in plain view) in adult stores across the country. They usually claim to be a completely herbal natural supplement that will work like the major erectile drugs Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
The problem is - the are not what they claim to be.
Marketed under names like Kamagra, Niagra, Naturamaz, Nymphomax, Levitrax and Top Gun, they all claim some all-natural formulation that will work just like one of the major drugs. The issue we have with them is threefold:
- Most do not have Therapeutic Goods Administration approval - so you don't know they have been tested for safety.
- They are often laced with the real thing.
- They contain other ingredients that for a healthy person can cause big problems.
The reason you need to go to a GP to get a prescription for erectile drugs is that they can all trigger other health issues. If you have any heart, liver or kidney issues the major drugs can be a big problem indeed. You wouldn't want a heart attack in the middle of your session now would you? There is no telling what drug or how much of it will be in the 'herbal' pills unlike the prescription ones which your doctor can monitor.
The other thing is that erectile drugs increase the production of testosterone in the body. If your testosterone levels are normal then these products will spike them above average which can lead to hyper-aggression for up to 48 hours after you take the pill.
There are perfectly safe natural alternatives available at your local health food store and even in some supermarkets. These have been tested for safety and can be very effective - not just for erections but also for that happy horny feeling too. If in doubt we highly recommend talking to a naturopath about the options. There is one in every natural health food store.
