Agarwal, A., Deepinder, F., Cocuzza, M., Short, R. A., & Evenson, D. P. (2008). Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study. Fertility and Sterility, 89(2), 375-379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.02.050
Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Cocuzza M, Short RA, Evenson DP. Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study. Fertil Steril. 2008;89(2):375-379. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.02.050
Agarwal, Ashok, et al. "Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study." Fertility and Sterility, vol. 89, no. 2, 2008, pp. 375-379.
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PreSeed lubricant did not lower sperm motility in a lab study
In a lab study, PreSeed lubricant did not lower sperm motility, while Astroglide, Replens and FemGlide did. Researchers mixed semen from 13 donors with normal semen tests into 10% lubricant solutions. After 30 minutes, Astroglide had cut average motility by 99%.
Key Findings
After 30 minutes, PreSeed's average progressive motility was 3% below the control medium, a difference that was not statistically significant.
Average motility fell 99% with Astroglide, 60% with Replens and 23% with FemGlide, each with P < .01 against controls.
In 12 donors after 4 hours, average DNA fragmentation did not differ between the control medium and PreSeed, K-Y Jelly or FemGlide.
In paired, donor-by-donor comparisons, sperm DNA damage rose significantly with FemGlide (P=.02) and K-Y Jelly (P=.04) compared with control. The rise with PreSeed was not significant.
Interpretation
This prospective in vitro study placed sperm from donors with proven normal fertility into a dish with lubricant and measured sperm movement and DNA damage. Group averages for DNA fragmentation did not differ between PreSeed and the control medium. The authors call for larger studies testing this in the body.
RRM Context
Male factor contributes to infertility in many couples. A product that meets sperm at every act of intercourse belongs in the picture. Cycle-charting methods track cervical mucus, the body's own fertile-day fluid. The paper cites work showing that mucus becomes more alkaline at ovulation, in a range that helps sperm travel. Restorative reproductive medicine treats ongoing dryness as a finding to investigate for a cause.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effect of vaginal lubricants Pre-Seed, FemGlide, Astroglide, and Replens on human sperm motility and chromatin integrity.
Design
Prospective, comparative, in vitro study.
Setting
Andrology laboratory at tertiary care hospital.
Patients
Thirteen normozoospermic donors.
Interventions
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 Measures
Sperm motility and percent DNA fragmentation index.
Results
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.
Conclusion
Pre-Seed does not cause a significant decrease in progressive sperm motility or chromatin integrity in contrast to other lubricants used by couples.
