Many couples use personal lubricant to improve the experience of <\/span>having sex while trying to conceive<\/span><\/a>\u2014since they\u2019re likely <\/span>having sex more frequently<\/span><\/a> and on a schedule, to boot. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that 26% of couples often or always use lube when they\u2019re trying to get pregnant.<\/span><\/p>\n But should you use lubricant while trying to get pregnant or get your partner pregnant? Your average drugstore lube, like KY Jelly or Astroglide, may be having more of a negative effect on your chances of conception than you\u2019d expect. Here\u2019s the research around lube and male fertility, and our guidance to help you choose a lube that won\u2019t affect your sperm<\/a> health.<\/span><\/p>\n Unless it\u2019s specifically spermicidal, lubricant is not a reliable contraceptive, and will not necessarily prevent pregnancy. It\u2019s always possible that unprotected sex could result in pregnancy, and even spermicidal lube is only 70\u201380% effective as a sole contraceptive.<\/span><\/p>\n But studies show that lube may significantly alter sperm\u2019s ability to swim, and this may be especially important for those who already have low sperm motility<\/a> or low sperm count.<\/span><\/p>\n Test your sperm with an <\/span><\/i>at-home semen analysis<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Extensive lab studies have concluded that most commercially available lubes\u2014as well as some commonly used oils and even saliva\u2014have a negative impact on sperm motility, or how sperm move. Motility is important because a sperm\u2019s movement is what propels it through the female reproductive system. If your sperm isn\u2019t moving, it won\u2019t be able to reach your partner\u2019s egg for fertilization.<\/span><\/p>\n Even some lubes that are marketed as \u201csperm-friendly\u201d or \u201cfertility friendly\u201d have been shown to affect sperm motility. Some lubes have also been shown to affect sperm vitality and genetic health.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s an overview of the research on how common lubricants affect fertility.<\/span><\/p>\n K-Y Jelly is one of the <\/span>most commonly used<\/span><\/a> personal lubricants, even among couples who are trying to conceive. However, K-Y Jelly is not sperm-friendly. Water-based lubricants like K-Y Jelly, in <\/span>general<\/span><\/a>, are some of the least fertility friendly lube choices.<\/span><\/p>\n In multiple <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a>, K-Y Jelly significantly decreased sperm motility. In <\/span>one<\/span><\/a>, combining semen with K-Y Jelly decreased sperm motility by 74% after 30 minutes. <\/span>Another<\/span><\/a> found that 80% of samples combined with K-Y Jelly had no viable or motile sperm, and the remaining 20% had just 5% motility. In a <\/span>third<\/span><\/a>, researchers found that motility plummeted to zero percent after just 10 minutes in contact with K-Y Jelly.<\/span><\/p>\n Another <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> had similar results \u2014 sperm motility dropped dramatically after 5 minutes contact with K-Y Jelly in the Warming, Tingling, and Sensitive varieties. (Interestingly, K-Y Tingling had, by far, the most detrimental effect on sperm health of any of the lubricants tested in this study.)<\/span><\/p>\n K-Y Jelly may also impact sperm\u2019s genetic health. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> concluded that K-Y Jelly increased sperm DNA fragmentation<\/a> by 10% over the control. However, another <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> looking at the impact of lube on sperm DNA fragmentation did not find a significant increase in sperm combined with K-Y Jelly.<\/span><\/p>\n Another water-based lube, Astroglide seems to be nearly as harmful to sperm as K-Y Jelly. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> comparing the two lubricants, researchers found both impaired sperm motility, and recommended that those who are trying to conceive avoid using any commercial lubes. In <\/span>another<\/span><\/a>, Astroglide performed better than K-Y Jelly, but still reduced progressive sperm motility by 40% after 5 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n After 30 minutes of contact with Astroglide, only 2% of sperm were motile, according to one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>. Additional <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> reflected the same: sperm combined with Astroglide was \u201cnon-motile\u201d and \u201cnon-viable\u201d (in other words, dead) after 60 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n Replens is a silicone-based lubricant. Silicone-based lubes are <\/span>slightly<\/span><\/a> more sperm-friendly than water-based, but have also been shown to impair sperm motility after prolonged contact.<\/span><\/p>\n Research on the impact of Replens on fertility demonstrates that impairment. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, Replens decreased sperm motility by 60% after 30 minutes of incubation. In <\/span>another<\/span><\/a>, Replens performed comparably to nonoxynol-9 \u2014 a spermicide \u2014 with a highly detrimental effect on sperm health after 60 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n Other less commonly used lubes have fewer robust studies, but the research available suggests the majority of water- and silicone-based lubricants on the market have a detrimental effect on sperm.<\/span><\/p>\n Oils are less commonly used as lubricant because they can degrade condoms (not an issue for couples who are trying to conceive) and are more likely to irritate the vagina. However, in general, oils such as baby oil and canola oil, <\/span>seem to have<\/span><\/a> the least detrimental effect on sperm health.<\/span><\/p>\n We have more extensive research on baby oil than other oils. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, baby oil had a small initial impact on sperm total motility and progressive motility, but did not appear to further reduce motility after prolonged contact; overall decrease was less than 30%. This was confirmed by another <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> that found baby oil was significantly safer for sperm than most drugstore lubes, decreasing motility by less than 20%. In a <\/span>third study<\/span><\/a>, baby oil was found to have no significant impact on sperm motility at all<\/span><\/p>\n Other oils have more mixed results, and more limited research.<\/span><\/p>\n Studies are limited, but saliva has been shown to have an even <\/span>more<\/span><\/i> dramatic effect on sperm than commercial lubes. This may be surprising, since saliva is \u201cnatural\u201d and it\u2019s made from our own bodily fluids. And prior to most research into lube\u2019s affect on fertility, saliva was actually <\/span>recommended<\/span><\/a> as a lubricant for infertile couples.<\/span><\/p>\n However, later research altered this recommendation. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, saliva was found to decrease sperm motility to near zero percent after 15 minutes of exposure. In <\/span>another<\/span><\/a>, researchers concluded that \u201csaliva has a deleterious effect on sperm motility and activity and should not be encouraged as a vaginal lubricant for the infertile couple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The studies reviewed above examine the impact of lube on sperm health <\/span>in vitro<\/span><\/i>, meaning in the lab. Research of real-life lube use has had different results.<\/span><\/p>\n One study<\/span><\/a> of 300 women found that participants who used lube occasionally or frequently were no less likely to become pregnant than those who never used lube. Another <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> of 6,000 \u201cpregnancy planners\u201d found that fertility rates were not decreased for lube users, and that use of lubricants did not seem to impact time to pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n Will using lube actually reduce your chances of getting pregnant or getting your partner pregnant? Maybe not \u2014 unless you are already dealing with low sperm motility or low sperm count. But you may want to consider a lubricant that\u2019s sperm-safe.<\/span><\/p>\n Is there a type of lube that can help you get pregnant or get your partner pregnant? Not necessarily. When choosing lube for conception, it\u2019s more of a matter of picking the least detrimental option.<\/span><\/p>\n What makes a lube safe for male fertility? It should be free from ingredients that are known to harm sperm, like silicone or petroleum. The pH of the lube matters, as well \u2014 the best lubricants for sperm health match the pH of semen and cervical fluid (approximately 7, or neutral).<\/span><\/p>\n Not every lube that\u2019s marketed as \u201cfertility friendly\u201d is supported by science. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> found that Forelife\u2019s \u201cSperm-Safe\u201d product actually had a <\/span>more<\/span><\/i> detrimental effect on sperm than K-Y Jelly. In fact, the only lube that has a scientific basis for calling itself \u201cfertility friendly\u201d is Pre-Seed.<\/span><\/p>\n Some believe that Pre-Seed helps sperm swim faster. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> suggests that may be true, with progressive motility actually increasing slightly after 60 minutes of contact with Pre-Seed. But most evidence \u2014 <\/span>1<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>2<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>3<\/span><\/a>, \u2014 demonstrates that Pre-Seed simply has an insignificant impact on sperm motility, vitalitty, and genetic health. Pre-Seed is currently the best choice for those who are trying to conceive<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n No. Because lube and saliva have both been shown to significantly negatively affect sperm motility \u2014 see the research above \u2014 you should not use any kind of external aid when you\u2019re producing a sample for <\/span>semen analysis<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>sperm freezing<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Many couples use personal lubricant to improve the experience of having sex while trying to conceive\u2014since they\u2019re likely having sex more frequently and on a schedule, to boot. Research shows that 26% of couples often or always use lube when they\u2019re trying to get pregnant. But should you use lubricant while trying to get pregnant […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":15659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% %%sep%% %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"%%post_excerpt%%","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,18,121,123,70,35],"tags":[152,119,122,86,69],"class_list":["post-15255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boosting-semen-parameters","category-improving-sperm-health","category-sex","category-sexual-health","category-trying-to-conceive","category-understanding-male-health","tag-lube","tag-sex","tag-sexual-health","tag-sperm-quality","tag-trying-to-conceive"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15255"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16195,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255\/revisions\/16195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Does lube kill sperm?<\/span><\/h2>\n
How does lube affect sperm?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Does K-Y Jelly kill sperm?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Does Astroglide affect sperm health?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Does Replens lube affect fertility?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How do other commercial lubes affect sperm?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
What about \u201cnon-traditional\u201d lubricants like baby oil or kitchen oils?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Can I use saliva as a sperm-friendly lubricant?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How does lube affect fertility in the real world?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What about \u201cfertility friendly lube\u201d?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Should I use lube when I\u2019m producing a semen sample for testing for freezing?<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"