Lubricants and conception
Ever wondered if the lube you use is supporting or deterring your ability to conceive? It’s a good question to ask and consider!
Sexual lubricants can interefere with conception in a few ways. One, it can impact the pH of the vagina, which is not optimal for sperm survival. We want the vagina slightly alkaline to survive, but some lubricants can cause it to be too acidic, killing sperm or at least interfering. Osmosis also plays a role. Remember if there are a lot of solutes in one solution, water will rush to that solution to balance and create homeostasis. Some lubricants can have a high concetration of solutes.This could cause sperm to lose water and then become damaged or reduce their motility. This could impact fertilization. Some lubricants also have scents, or chemicals that can be toxic to sperm. This is above my knowledge of chemistry, but generally I understand that there are some things that are toxic to sperm in lubricants (and if it’s toxic, why are we putting it in our bodies?). Some lubricants are also very viscous. And viscosity can also block sperms motility.
In general, we want sperm to be held, supported, and ferried to the waiting egg if you are trying to conceive! That being said, if you find that you need a little extra lubrication and want to support conception- I have some recommendations.
I personally like to recommend the lubricant called PreSeed. It maintains correct pH, is tested and developed by doctors, and used in fertility clinics. I also like to recommend BabyDance from Yinova, an acupuncture center in NY.
It is also worth noting, if you are not trying conceive, lubricant is not a good enough deterrent for birth control. You need to practice adequeate measures for contraception. Lube use is not stringent enough.
Here are a few questions I have gotten and my response.
Can I use a little warm water?
No – Water can kill sperm on contact. Avoid this. Also, it can dry out the vaginal canal even more.
What about mineral oil?
No – I have seen fertility clinics recommend mineral oil for a lubricant, but I like to rely on lubricants more designed to specifically support sperm health. I have not read the research on mineral oil use, but I think it’s better to rely on more tested options.
How about a little saliva?
No– Saliva can contain digestive enzymes that stop sperm from swimming.
How about coconut oil?
No– Coconut oil has been used in the past as a personal lubricant. But there is very little research out there to support it, so it’s important to avoid this until further research is done.
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment.
