Expert warns against using palm, vegetable oil as sexual lubricant

Vegetable oil. Photo credit: Vecteezy

A Senior Manager for Prevention Programmes at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Taofeek Adeleye, has warned Nigerians against using palm oil, vegetable oil and other oil-based substances as lubricants during sexual activity, saying water-based lubricants are the safer option when condoms are used.

Adeleye spoke in Lagos on Thursday at a national training of media personnel on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis organised by the National Agency for the Control of AIDS and the World Health Organisation.

He also urged people to ensure that they use condoms of the appropriate size and take precautions before engaging in sexual activity as part of efforts to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Adeleye said, “Two or three condoms—you will know the one that fits you. When you try them and don’t know which one fits your size, you ask, ‘Can it be done?’ I can close my eyes and put a condom on for you, which means it can be done for you.”