K-Y Jelly is a water-based, water-soluble personal lubricant produced by Johnson & Johnson. According to the company, "The origins of the brand name 'K-Y' are unknown. Two popular myths are that it was created in Kentucky, hence K-Y', or that the letters represent the key ingredients used to make the lubricant. Neither of these is true. The name continues to remain a bit of a mystery."[1]
Introduced in January 1904 by pharmaceutical and suture maker Van Horn & Sawtell of New York City,[2] and later acquired by Johnson & Johnson, K-Y Jelly's original stated purpose was as a surgical lubricant, and it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. The product is now more widely used as a sexual lubricant. It does not react with latex condoms or silicone rubber-based sex toys. It has a thick consistency and a tendency to dry out during use, but can be "reactivated" by the addition of saliva or more water. K-Y Jelly does not contain a spermicide. A formulation with nonoxynol-9 was available, but Johnson & Johnson pulled it from the market after finding that it could help HIV spread.[3]
In contrast with petroleum-based lubricants, K-Y is generally biologically inert, and contains no color or perfume additives. The lubricant has proven extremely popular because it does not stain and is easily cleaned up. K-Y Jelly has been available over the counter in the United States since 1980.[4] Recently, the product line has expanded to include a liquid lubricant, K-Y Liquid; a warming lubricant, K-Y Warming; K-Y Intense (for her); and a dual-application liquid lubricant, K-Y Yours and Mine.
K-Y Jelly uses glycerin and hydroxyethyl cellulose as the lubricant, with chlorhexidine gluconate, glucono delta-lactone, methylparaben and sodium hydroxide as antiseptic and preservative additives. The liquid form of the product combines glycerin with propylene glycol, sorbitol, and Natrosol 250H (a brand of hydroxyethyl cellulose) for lubrication, with benzoic acid, methylparaben and sodium hydroxide as additives. An alternative glycerin-free formulation marketed as "K-Y Ultra" contains propylene glycol, sorbitol, Natrosol 250H and polysorbate 60 for lubrication, benzoic acid and methylparaben as preservatives, and vitamin E.
References
- ^ ""KY website (click FAQs)"". Johnson & Johnson. 2006-10-23. http://www.k-y.ca/en/index.asp.
- ^ ""Trade-mark for an antiseptic non-fatty and soluble lubricating jelly"". Trademark certificate, US Registration Number 54,124. United States Patent and Trademark Office. http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/tow. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
- ^ Zimmerman, Rachel, "Some Makers, Vendors Drop N-9 Spermicide on HIV Risk". The Wall Street Journal. September 2002. Retrieved on May 22, 2007.
- ^ ""K-Y's Brand Identity Makeover"". BusinessWeek. 2006-08-28. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2006/id20060829_211875.htm?chan=search.
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