Study finds PFAS in condoms and lube, prompting concerns about sperm and overall health

Condoms and lubricants are two key ingredients of safer, more pleasurable sex. So when a recent analysis found dangerous chemicals called PFAS in several varieties of condoms and lube, it was unwelcome news. Exposure to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” has been associated with many health problems, including sperm damage and infertility. Here’s what the research says.

Key takeaways

PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or in our bodies. They have been linked to a variety of health problems, including low sperm counts and cancer.
Research has found that PFAS can be absorbed through human skin, at levels much higher than previously thought.
A new study analyzed 25 popular condoms and 4 lubricants, finding that 12% of the condoms and 25% of the lubricants contained PFAS.

What are PFAS?

PFAS (pronounced “pee-fahs”) is an acronym for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This is a group of nearly 16,000 chemicals used in clothing and common household items to make them waterproof, non-stick, or resistant to stains and heat.

PFAS are commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down fully in the environment or in our bodies.¹ Instead, they accumulate throughout our lives, and have been linked to various health problems, including liver issues, lowered immunity, increased cholesterol, and kidney and testicular cancer.²

PFAS are included in a class of chemicals called endocrine disruptors, or EDCs. These chemicals can mimic hormones, disrupting natural bodily processes and compromising health. EDCs have been linked to low sperm counts, sperm DNA damage, metabolism issues, even cancer.

Learn more about endocrine-disrupting chemicals and male fertility.

How are we exposed to PFAS?

Humans may be exposed to PFAS via:

Waterproof clothes, shoes, and fabrics
Non-stick cookware
Bandages and dental floss
Makeup, lipstick, and other cosmetics
Contact lenses
Furniture and textiles
Personal care products
Baby items

In June 2024, researchers at the University of Birmingham determined that PFAS are absorbed through human skin and at levels much higher than previously theorized. In that study, researchers applied samples of 17 different PFAS to lab-grown tissue that mimics human skin. They found it absorbed “substantial” amounts of 15 PFAS, including 13.5% of PFOA, a common variety of PFAS.³ (PFOA is highly toxic; in fact, experts say there is no safe level of PFOA in drinking water.⁴)

That’s why new research that found PFAS in condoms and personal lubricants has experts raising alarms.

Study finds PFAS in popular lubes, condoms

In the study, conducted by consumer-safety group Mamavation and the publication Environmental Health News, researchers analyzed 25 popular condoms and 4 lubricants in an EPA-certified laboratory. They found that 12% of the condoms and 25% of the lubricants contained indications of PFAS.

(In this study, the researchers were actually testing for organic fluorine, a marker of PFAS. Scientists use the presence of organic fluorine as an indicator for PFAS chemicals, because all PFAS are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine.⁵)

The condoms found to contain toxic PFAS chemicals included:

Union Standard Ultra Thin Lubricated Male Latex Condoms (high levels)
Trojan Ultra Thin Condoms for Ultra Sensitivity

The lubricants found to contain PFAS included:

Lola Tingling Mint Pleasure Gel for Spot-On Arousal (highest levels)
uberlube Silicone Lube
P.S. Moisturizing & Healing Hypoallergenic 100% Vegan Premium Lube Organic Aloe & Plant-Based
KY Jelly Classic Water-Based Personal Lubricant

There’s plenty of evidence that exposure to PFAS can cause health problems, including fertility issues — more on that below.

But are Trojan condoms toxic? What about PFAS in K-Y Jelly? The presence of these popular brands on the “harmful chemicals in condoms and lube” list might be distressing.

The specific health effects of exposure to PFAS in condoms and lube is unclear. We do know that the skin around the genitals is thin and highly vascular, meaning it contains veins and therefore access to the bloodstream. In response to the study results, experts have expressed concern about the health risks of these chemicals being applied to and absorbed by delicate skin.

“Because condoms are an exposure to the most sensitive areas on the human body for both men and women, I would strongly recommend the industry identify and remove these chemicals immediately,” said Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program. “The vagina and penis are incredibly vascular areas, and dermal exposure to these areas are often higher than other places of the body.”

Terrence Collins, a chemistry professor at Carnegie Mellon University, added: “It makes sense chemically that the chemicals in condoms will be absorbed into male and female reproductive tissues such as to perhaps be present in sperm and eggs at the time of fertilization.”⁶

Looking for condoms without PFAS and PFAS-free lubricants? The researchers made several recommendations of nontoxic options.

How PFAS might impact male fertility

Strong evidence indicates the average global sperm count has dropped more than 50% in the last 40 years. Experts believe exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PFAS is the primary reason why. Several studies have linked PFAS exposure with abnormal sperm morphology and low testosterone, and PFAS have been detected in semen.

According to a 2023 review of studies published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, PFAS exposure is associated with worse key semen parameters, including sperm concentration, morphology and motility.⁷ PFAS seem to damage the testicles and epididymis (the tubes in the testicles where sperm matures), impairing sperm production and sperm quality.

Further, PFAS may compromise the body’s production of testosterone in the testicles. This could thereby cause cell death in the testicles and create oxidative stress in sperm.

This is on top of the fact that lube affects sperm motility, making the use of personal lubricants a double whammy for couples who are trying for a baby.

Can you test your sperm for PFAS chemicals?

Unfortunately, no current test can indicate if your semen contains PFAS or forever chemicals.

A semen analysis is the best way to understand if your sperm production is at risk. In this simple test, a lab scientist examines a sample of your semen to assess your sperm concentration and its overall health. Although a semen analysis can’t detect the presence of specific PFAS chemicals, it can give you an overall picture of your fertility.

Advanced sperm testing — like Legacy’s Advanced Semen Analysis with DNA fragmentation testing — can also detect damage to the DNA carried by your sperm. DNA fragmentation happens as a result of oxidative stress, like the stress seen in semen affected by forever chemicals.

Get started with at-home semen analysis.