The Valentine’s Day sex mistake that could leave you with ‘itching, swelling and burning’ down there

WITH Valentine’s Day upon us, many couples might seize the opportunity to get frisky.

As things heat up, you might rummage in your bedside drawer to pull out a bottle of lube.

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But before you go ahead and put it to good use, you might want check the expiry date, experts have warned.

Though you might not think it, lubricant sadly has an expiry date – and using it when it’s gone off could eave you with “itching, swelling and burning” down there and a whole host of other issues, according to experts at Condoms UK.

Lubricant – water, silicon or oil-based – can be handy accompaniment to your bedroom exploits, as it can reduce uncomfortable friction if you’re experiencing vaginal dryness and make sex less painful.

Using lube can also help lower your risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), because it allows for less friction that can break a condom and you’re less likely to experience any tearing that can lead to infection.

But overall, it can be a fun addition to foreplay or anything else you want to try.

Most commercially available lubricants are either water-based or silicon-based products, as these are less likely to cause irritation and infection, according to Condoms UK.

You don’t want keep a bottle in your bedside drawer for too long as – like food and medications – lube does have an expiry date, the Mirror reported.

Most lubes can last up to three years if stored properly, though water-based lubes tend to have a shorter lifespan due to their higher water content, which can cause them to spoil more quickly.

According to Condoms UK experts: “Using expired lube can lead to various allergic reactions and infections.

“The chemicals in personal lubricants can degrade over time, potentially causing irritants that lead to reactions.

“Expired lube can also disrupt the body’s optimal pH, increasing the risk of yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.”

Thrush is a common yeast infection that causes cottage cheese-like discharge, itching and irritation as well as stinging during sex and when you pee.

Bacterial vaginosis, meanwhile, can leave you with fishy-smelling watery discharge and increase your risk of getting an STI such as chlamydia.

And allergic reactions to lube can also cause serious allergic reactions, causing “itching, rash, swelling, hives, burning”, and even “breathing issues and anaphylaxis”, experts warned.

“Using expired lube can heighten the risk of genital infection and irritation, potentially leading to uncomfortable itching or burning,” they added.

“Therefore, it is important to avoid using a lubricant that has passed its expiration date to prevent these potential risks.”

If you’re unearthing an ancient bottle of lube from your drawer, here are the signs it’s gone off:

1. Your lube has changed in smell or texture
2. The flavour of your edible lube has changed and it has a bad aftertaste
3. It feels stickier or has reduced glide
4. The ingredients are separating – you typically see this with oil-based lubricants, where the oil and water have separated, creating an oily layer on top
5. There are crystals at the bottom of the container
6. You’re experiencing skin infections after using the lubricant

In advance of Valentine’s Day, Dr Mariyam Hassan Malik is urging Brits to be on the lookout for tell-tale signs of STIs and to get tested if they go to bed with a new partner.

The GP identified six sexually transmitted ‘superbugs’ rapidly spreading across Britain you’ve probably never heard off, detailing the signs and symptoms to watch out for.