Lubes make sex easier. This is even their main raison d'être. On the other hand, a recent South African study underlines their potential harmfulness in terms of fertility. In addition, the researchers chose lubricants that precisely promise to promote the conception of a child.
To conceive a child, several parameters must be met, including good sperm performance . The sperm must therefore be sufficiently mobile to reach the fallopian tubes where the egg to be fertilized is located. However, according to a study published in the International Journal of Gynecology &Obstetrics on March 23, 2022, lubricants represent a serious obstacle to the smooth running of the procedure.
Researchers at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) claim that lubricants have an impact on sperm motility. As part of their study, the scientists tested several lubricants from different brands, before comparing the results with the natural mobility of sperm in the absence of such products.
The study leaders did not choose the products at random. Indeed, they focused their interest on three brands of lubricants sperm-friendly:Pre-Seed®, Optilube® and Yes Baby®. However, these brands precisely promise a better mobility of the spermatozoa and even a longer duration of the latter. According to the results of the study, all of these lubricants impeded the progress of sperm considerably.
“This study is important because it highlights that these so-called sperm-friendly lubricants may actually interfere with normal conception explained Johan Markram, lead author of the work.
It is important to specify that during this work, the scientists took as witnesses men with normal sperm motility . Remember that some men have insufficient mobility of sperm. The latter are therefore affected by asthenospermia, which is also one of the causes of male infertility. Thus, the choice of the researchers made it possible to avoid distorting the results.
The study thus suggests that if the use of a lubricant facilitates intercourse, it is best to do without it within the couple if it becomes a question of conceiving a kid. This research also shows that some brands of lubricant have a visible tendency to mislead their customers . The results of this research are therefore concerning, although further tests including other brands could be useful.
