Aphrodisiology got an email asking about Liquid Virgin, a 'vaginal lubricant' product that claims to tighten the vagina. After looking at the ingredients, our impression is that it might work, but some of the ingredients raise yellow flags. The biggest concern is with the presence of alum - aluminum sulfate. This compound has astringent properties (which would cause certain tissues to tighten up), and there is concern that aluminum may cause toxicity in the long run. This product also contains glycerin, which has been linked to yeast infections.

This product ($9-$12 for a 1 ounce bottle) claims to tighten up the hoo-hoo to "make every time like the first time.' Maybe you're not convinced that the first time was the best time for most women, but there are some women out there that feel they would benefit from an improved tone down below. We won't argue. Lots of men want to be bigger, last longer; both genders may want to improve their sexual performance. So the questions come down to safety and effectiveness.

There's no doubt that alum can be an astringent - at higher concentrations, it causes mucous tissues to pucker up. When every kitchen spice rack had alum, it was sometimes used for playing practical jokes on people - you may have seen reference to this in the old Saturday cartoons. Whether or not this astringency translates to a tighter vagina and better sex probably depends on the woman.

The people making and selling Liquid Virgin point out that alum is used in food, especially pickles and baked goods. True, but there is a vigorous debate about how safe alum in food really is. Various aluminum compounds are also present in some anti-perspirants.

After a few hours of research, it became clear that we can't settle the scientific debate on this website, so we won't even try.

We won't tell you that aluminum in food contributes to alzheimer's disease or other chronic health problems. We don't know for sure. There is agreement that large doses of aluminum can be toxic, but there is disagreement on the long-term effects of lower doses.

Some (including government regulators) feel that the risk from alum in pickles and baking powder and deodorant is negligible. Others consider aluminum a metal that is somewhat toxic at any level of exposure. Aluminum is clearly not as toxic as mercury or lead, but it isn't beneficial to body chemistry at low levels, and at some level it becomes toxic.

Aphrodisiology's Bottom Line: It isn't clear how much alum is in a dose of Liquid Virgin. If there is enough to tighten the vagina, there is enough aluminum to have a measurable effect on the body. The long term consequences are not clear. Occasional use is probably no worse than using aluminum deodorants or eating pickles - and we don't really know what effects that may have.

The fact that Liquid Virgin also contains glycerin (a slippery sugar derivative which can feed a yeast infection) should raise additional precautions. There are quite a few other bedroom lubes that contain lube, and lots of people that won't go near glycerin products. Some women may not be bothered by this ingredient, but others may regret it.

One alternative that might be more appealing to some women is a douche with an astringent herb like witch hazel or yarrow. Witch Hazel douches have long been used to treat vaginitis, spotting, and other gynecological conditions.

index: review of Liquid Virgin Drops, Alum, Glycerin in personal products