To assess the influence of an isotonic lubricant used during sperm sample collection on [1] ease of collection and [2] resultant sperm quality.
Design
Paired randomized cross-over design.
Setting
Tertiary hospital.
DONOR(S): Healthy men over 18 years old with normal semen analysis as per World Health Organization 2010 guidelines.
INTERVENTION(S): Collection of semen sample from 22 subjects by masturbation with or without the use of Pre-Seed personal lubricant.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Qualitative survey results and quantitative sperm function outcomes were measured to determine resultant sperm quality and collection experience with and without Pre-Seed lubricant.
RESULT(S): The qualitative questionnaire results showed that 73% of donors prefer the semen collection process with the isotonic lubricant and 55% recommended the use of lubricant in their everyday collection. The motility, viability, membrane integrity, levels of reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and percentage of DNA damage in collected semen samples were not affected by the use of the lubricant.
CONCLUSION(S): More donors prefer, and find it easier, to collect semen samples with the use of the lubricant. The isotonic lubricant Pre-Seed did not compromise sperm quality as evaluated in an array of sperm assays, suggesting its safe use in fertility patients as required during sperm collection.
PMID 23490168 23490168 DOI 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.116 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.116 Agarwal et al. 2013, Agarwal 2013
Cite this article
Agarwal, A., Malvezzi, H., & Sharma, R. (2013). Effect of an isotonic lubricant on sperm collection and sperm quality. Fertility and sterility, 99(6), 1581-1586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.116
Agarwal A, Malvezzi H, Sharma R. Effect of an isotonic lubricant on sperm collection and sperm quality. Fertil Steril. 2013;99(6):1581-1586. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.116
Agarwal, A., et al. "Effect of an isotonic lubricant on sperm collection and sperm quality." Fertility and sterility, vol. 99, no. 6, 2013, pp. 1581-1586.
To evaluate the effects of coital lubricants and oils on sperm motility. Comparative prospective in vitro study. University Andrology laboratory. PATIENT(S): Twenty-two normozoospermic donors. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were incubated in modified human tubal fluid (mHTF) control and in 10% Pre-Seed, Astroglide, and KY products (Sensitive, Warming, and Tingling) and baby, canola, sesame, and mustard oils. Total and progressive sperm motility was evaluated before and at 5, 30, and 60 minutes of incubation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility. RESULT(S): Control samples exhibited no significant decrease in sperm motility. Pre-Seed showed a slight (∼4%) but significant drop in progressive motility after 30 minutes. Total and progressive sperm motility significantly declined under Astroglide, KY products (Sensitive, Warming, and Tingling) and sesame oil incubation. Canola oil significantly decreased total motility after 30 minutes and progressive motility after 5 minutes of incubation. Similarly, baby oil decreased total motility after 60 minutes and progressive motility after 5 minutes. After initial decline, total and progressive sperm motility under Pre-Seed and canola and baby oils remained high. Exposure to mustard oil caused persistent hyperactivation of sperm in each sample with no decrease in motility. CONCLUSION(S): Sesame oil and synthetic coital lubricants impaired sperm motility and may hamper fertility. Pre-Seed and canola, mustard, and baby oils showed no deleterious effect and may be considered sperm-friendly coital lubricants. Mustard oil exposure resulted in hyperactivation of sperm and needs to be studied further.
To evaluate the effect of vaginal lubricants Pre-Seed, FemGlide, Astroglide, and Replens on human sperm motility and chromatin integrity. Prospective, comparative, in vitro study. Andrology laboratory at tertiary care hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirteen normozoospermic donors. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples from 13 subjects were incubated in human tubal fluid media (HTF) controls and 10% (vol/vol) of Pre-Seed, FemGlide, Astroglide, and Replens lubricants. After 30 minutes, progressive sperm motility was assessed by light microscopy. Semen samples of 12 patients were placed in positive control (HTF), negative control (10% K-Y Jelly lubricant), and 10% vol/vol Pre-Seed and FemGlide lubricants. After 4 hours culture, spermatozoa were analyzed for percent DNA fragmentation index with use of the acridine orange-based sperm chromatin structure assay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility and percent DNA fragmentation index. Percent motility did not differ significantly between HTF controls and Pre-Seed, whereas FemGlide, Replens, and Astroglide lubricants demonstrated a significant decrease in motility. There was no significant difference in percent DNA fragmentation index between the HTF controls and Pre-Seed, but a significant decline in sperm chromatin quality occurred with FemGlide and K-Y Jelly. Pre-Seed does not cause a significant decrease in progressive sperm motility or chromatin integrity in contrast to other lubricants used by couples.
sexual-health/intimacy-and-the-couple/intimacy-during-treatmentlifestyle-and-environment/environmental-exposures/personal-care-and-household-productsmale-fertility/semen-analysis/sperm-function-testing
Open Access
Markram J et al., 2022·International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
To assess the effects of "sperm-friendly" coital lubricants on sperm motility. 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. 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. 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.
To investigate the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation in male partners of women with recurrent pregnancy loss and fertile control women.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Not applicable. PATIENT(S): A total of 579 male partners of women with recurrent pregnancy loss and 434 male partners fertile control women. INTERVENTION(S): Prospective studies were identified through a Pubmed search. Recurrent pregnancy loss was defined as two or more previous pregnancy losses. Fertile control women had a history of a live birth or ongoing pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary outcome was the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation. The summary measures were reported as mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULT(S): Fifteen prospective studies were included in a qualitative review. Pooled data from 13 studies with sufficient data for meta-analysis suggest that male partners of women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss have a significantly higher rate of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to the partners of fertile control women: mean difference 11.91, 95% CI 4.97-18.86. CONCLUSION(S): These findings support an association between sperm DNA fragmentation and recurrent pregnancy loss. However, given the significant heterogeneity between studies and lack of prospective pregnancy outcome data, further large prospective studies are needed.