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'K-Y Jelly' is a water-based, water-soluble personal lubricant produced by Johnson & Johnson. The initials "K-Y" are not known to represent any words—they were described by their originator as "arbitrary letters"—but are retained for their brand-identity.
Introduced in January 1904 by pharmaceutical and suture maker Van Horn & Sawtell of New York City^[1]
and later acquired by Johnson & Johnson, its original stated purpose was as a surgical lubricant; it was often chosen by doctors because of its natural base. It has been available over the counter in the United States only since 1980.^[2]
In contrast with petroleum-based lubricants, K-Y is generally biologically inert, and contains no colour or perfume additives. The lubricant has proved extremely popular as it does not stain and is easily cleaned up. The most recent group of commercials feature actress Erica Shaffer as the company spokesperson.
K-Y Jelly is now more widely used as a sexual lubricant. It does not react with latex condoms or silicone rubber-based sex toys. It can also be used for lubrication purposes when taking body temperature by rectum. 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. While it is not recommended for ingestion, it has a sweetish taste, so as to not interfere with oral sex. Contrary to popular belief, 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]
Recently K-Y has expanded its range to include a liquid lubricant, K-Y Liquid and a warming lubricant, K-Y Warming.
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.

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Other uses

Notes

External links

Other uses

★ The jelly is also used in many special effects driven films to give the appearance of slime, such as in ''Ghostbusters'', ''Alien'', ''The Thing''

★ The gel was also used to make the fluorescent blood in the scifi film ''Predator'' when mixed with glowstick fluid.

★ K-Y Jelly is also used in medicine for many procedures that involve insertion of an instrument or fingers into a small or narrow body cavity or past a muscular sphincter, including various small forms of intubation, nasal cavity inspection, endoscopy, and direct digital examinations (''e.g.,'' digital rectal examinations).

★ K-Y Jelly has also been used as a thinner for acrylic paints. (( 2008 also ))

Notes

1. "Trade-mark for an antiseptic non-fatty and soluble lubricating jelly"
2. "K-Y's Brand Identity Makeover"
3. Zimmerman, Rachel, "Some Makers, Vendors Drop
N-9 Spermicide on HIV Risk". ''The Wall Street Journal''. September 2002. Retrieved on May 22, 2007.

External links

★ K-Y.com (Official website)