Are some sex lubricants really 'sperm-friendly'?

Lubricants are used by couples during sexual intercourse for numerous reasons, and several lubricants are promoted as "sperm-friendly," suggesting that they do not negatively affect sperm motility. Results from a study published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics indicate that these marketing claims may be inaccurate and misleading.

The study tested the sperm-friendliness of Pre-Seed, Yes Baby, Optilube, olive oil, and egg white to optimize the likelihood of conception in couples. With the exception of egg white, all lubricants caused significant reductions in sperm motility compared with untreated controls. When comparing sperm-friendliness among commercial brands, Pre-Seed was superior to Optilube, which in turn was superior to Yes Baby.

"This study is important because it highlights that these so-called sperm-friendly lubricants may actually hinder normal conception," said lead author Johan Markram, MBChB, MMed, MPharm, of the University of Pretoria, in South Africa.