Condoms and Oil Based Lubricant

[Alan]

Dear All,

I would like some advice from you on the dangers associated with the use of oil based lubrication with condoms.  My understanding of the dangers / risk with this practise is that the oil based lubricant reduces the structural integrity of the condom which therefore increases the chance of a break during intercourse - and that is where the risk is.  I assume that until the point that the condom would break, that a barrier is maintained and that the oil based lubricant doesnt make the condom more 'permeable'.

The reason why i am asking is because i visitied a Thai Massage parlour last month and had intercourse with the lady there.  She used the massage oil that she had used on my body as a lubricant on the condom (outside).  i withdrew a number of times during intercourse to check the condom.  I did notice that it didnt look quite normal and was basically losing some of its elasticity and seemed to be covered in large creases (which i have since realised was an effect of the oil).  When we finished i withdrew and although not the ideal use of the condom, it hadnt broken nor had it slipped off.  Therefore i assume that no risk or exposure had taken place. 
However i removed the condom, i thought that the shaft of the penis was alot more wet than is normally the case with condom use.

Please dont jump on me too much for the next few lines but, approx 3 weeks later i became ill and went to see the doc (not thinking about the above occasion).  He said that it looked like i had picked up sort kind of virus.  Anyway, without getting too much into symptoms, i had low grade fevers and sweats (mainly night) for just over a week (gone now).

I have since thought about the above occasion and asked myself whether there was a risk or not, I am simply writing to you all to ask for confirmation that my original understanding is correct and that the risk associated with oil based lube and condoms only occurs if / when the condom breaks (causing a potential exposure) and not also because the oil is able to pass through the latex whilst the condom remains intact. 
Out of interest, I just did a little experiment and left the tip of a condom soaked in baby oil for a few hours (yes a lot longer than the occasion) - when i put my finger into the condom it did seem that the oil had got through to the inside, but as soon as i tried to stretch it - it broke.

Is my initial understanding correct or was there more of a risk from the occasion than what i originally thought.

many thanks








 

[RapidRod]

Unless the condom failed you did not have a risk.

[Andy Velez]

If the condom had failed you would have known it. When it happens it's not some subtle event. It ends up looking like a fringed hula hoop on your penis.

Whatever your sense of greater wet than is usual I cannot account for. I don't see any cause for concern here. Just make sure in the future that only water-based lube is used and bring your own if you need to.

This time I don't see any need for testing.

Cheers,

[Alan]

Dear All,

Thanks for the responses and confirming what i had originally thought.

Its amazing (and dangerous) what can happen if you let the brain take over.

I wish you all the best for the future

Alan

[Andy Velez]

I'm glad you found our exchanges to be helpful.

Good luck to you as well.