Saturday, October 29, 2011

Can Lubricants Interfere With Getting Pregnant?


Question:

Hi there. I was wondering if you can tell me if using a lubricant like KY sensitive Jelly can hurt your chances of getting pregnant. My husband and I just started using it a few months ago and we have been trying to conceive. I just read online that it can be toxic to sperm. Does this mean that you cannot get pregnant at all while using the lubricant or that it just lowers your chances? We will stop using it if we don't get pregnant this month. Thank you. J. from New York

Answer:

Hello J. from the U.S. (New York),

The rule of thumb is that lubricants like KY can interfere with sperm mobility and therefore also the ability to achieve pregnancy. Some lubricants can kill sperm but it depends completely on the formulation. Johnson and Johnson does make a version that is compatible with attempting pregnancy and there are other companies that produce "fertility-friendly" lubricants as well. You have to look specifically for one that states that it is compatible with trying for pregnancy. Some alternate brands you might want to look at are "Pre-Seed" or "Conceive Plus".

Good Luck,
Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
http://www.montereybayivf.com/
Monterey, California, U.S.A.

6 comments:

  1. hi Dr,

    I recently did my 2nd ivf and results is negative. In my both attempts getting mature eggs had been the problem. Now my effort is to improve my egg quality before I try again. Can you share some tips on improving egg quality or how to get mature eggs?

    I'm pcos, 34. hubby low sperm count, also 34. I controlled my insulin and vitamin D before my ivf 2.

    Appreciate your insight on how to improve my egg quality?

    Thank you Dr

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Wannab Mon,

    There is nothing that improve egg quality. That is already inherent in the eggs that you have. However, you mention "maturity". That is a different issue. It is possible that your doctor is triggering with HCG too early and should wait for the follicles to get a little bigger.

    With PCOS patients, often there will be a large portion of the eggs that are immature because there is such an overwhelming respone by the ovary to stimulation that lots and lots of follicles are stimulated. Some of these follicles will not have time for the eggs within them to mature by the time that the larger ones are ready for the trigger.

    You need to be sure that you are seeing a doctor and clinic that have lots of experience with PCO type patients. At this point, I can't understand why have you have failed twice. I would have to review your medical records, but considering that you are young, you should have a high chance of success so hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello doctor! I wanted to ask if u could specify some ingridients that might interfere or kill sperms! We use a lotion called "dermoviva"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I'm sorry I can't answer your question. You'll have to check with the manufacturer of the lotion that you use.

      Delete
  4. Hi Doctor,

    We are doing ICSI and current cycle result for my husband were 1% Motility with 20 million sperm count. Is there any thing that he can do to increase the result naturally. His count hv improved and he is also having small varicose. Surgery was not recommended by urologist. He is taking menevit a day. And what medicine would you suggest.
    Thanks in advance.
    From,
    Sydney

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are no specific medications that will absolutely increase the motility (or the number of live sperm). There are some supplements sold such as "Fertility Blend" and "Proxeed" that are vitamin formulations specifically for helping sperm, but just as most supplements no studies have provern any efficacy.

      Good Luck

      Delete

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