Sperm‐friendly lubricant: Fact or fiction

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 159; no. 1; pp. 111 - 115
• Main Authors: Markram, Johan, Griessel, Lizelle, Girdler‐Brown, Brendan, Outhoff, Kim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-10-2022
• Subjects: coital lubricants; egg white; Optilube; Pre‐seed; sperm motility; sperm‐friendly; Yes baby
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14136

Objective
To assess the effects of “sperm‐friendly” coital lubricants on sperm motility.
Methods
This study compared the effects of five lubricants (Optilube®, Pre‐Seed®, Yes Baby®, olive oil, and egg white) on sperm motility in 60 normozoospermic semen samples obtained from men attending a private fertility clinic. Samples were exposed to each of the lubricants, with untreated samples serving as controls, and were examined microscopically at four defined time‐points from 2 to 72 h after liquefaction. Sperm motility was graded according to World Health Organization criteria.
Results
With the exception of egg white, all lubricants caused significant (P < 0.001) reductions in sperm forward progression compared with untreated controls until 24 h after liquefaction. Furthermore, between‐group comparisons of the commercially available lubricants revealed statistically significant differences in forward progression motility: Pre‐Seed® was superior to Optilube® (P < 0.001), which in turn was superior to Yes Baby® (P < 0.001) at 2–4 h after exposure. Significance (P < 0.001) between Pre‐Seed® and Yes Baby® was maintained until 24 h.
Conclusion
Although spermatozoa exposed to Pre‐Seed® demonstrated greater motility than spermatozoa exposed to Yes Baby®, claims that these lubricants are sperm‐friendly were refuted. Conversely, egg white was shown to be a sperm‐friendly lubricant for couples who are trying to conceive.
Claims that so‐called sperm‐friendly lubricants enhance fertility were refuted, although egg white appears to be a viable option for couples trying to conceive.