What lubricants to use when planning pregnancy?.
Lubrices can complicate the movement of sperm independently, preventing their ability to swim to the egg that has fallen into the vagina. Even the use of saliva as a lubricant can affect sperm mobility. Although there is no certain amount of lubricant, too large for conception, there are various products that can be more useful for conception of a child. In order for spermatozoa to move as naturally as possible, it is best to use a lubricant that is very similar to natural discharge (including PH, which is approximately 3.5 to 4.5) for maximum sperm protection. To help consumers to differentiate these lubricants, the sanitary supervision of the quality of food and medication (FDA) has developed a special category of products that were tested to guarantee a lack of harm to sperm or eggs. If you are worried about the safety of childbirth, this category of lubricants may be your best choice.
There are four main lubricants: water, silicone, oil and natural. Water -based lubricants are the most common. However, water -based lubricants may contain a chemical called glycerin, which can lead to infection and usually does not work for a long time. Oil -based lubricants are another option. Although these lubricants are not recommended for penetrating sex with a latex condom (they spoil it), this is a more reliable choice. At the same time, oil -based lubricants can also make you more susceptible to bacterial infections and, as a rule, they can dirty linen and clothing, unlike water -based lubricants. Silicone -based lubricants are hypoallergenic and often seem “thicker”, because they are poorly absorbed by the skin, which can mean that the sliding effect will be longer.
A slightly different story – natural lubricants. Although natural lubricants, such as coconut oil and canols, become more and more popular, it is usually recommended to avoid household oils as lubricants for sex. These oils can react with air or sunlight, which can be harmful to your body, not to mention sperm.
All this means that the lubricants that are less likely to damage sperm are those that were approved by FDA as safe for fertility. If you have problems with the search for these lubricants in the store, here are some other considerations that you can keep in mind when choosing a product.
– Avoid lubricant with high acidity (low pH).
– Avoid lubricants with chemicals such as nonoxil-9 (spermicide), glycerin, chlorhexidine gluconate, propylene glycol or any other chemicals that can increase the risk of sperm damage, irritation or infection.
– Carefully read the composition of everything that is presented as “organic” or “Natural”, Since these labels do not necessarily mean that such lubricants are safe for fertility.
– Look for lubricants with hydroxyethyl cellulose, as these lubricants most resemble natural vaginal lubricant. The bottom line is that the type of lubricant used can affect your ability to conceive a child. We hope that with this information you will feel more prepared for the choice of lubrication, which best corresponds to your needs. If you are still not sure, you can discuss with your doctor the types and brands of lubricants, which are best suited to ensure fertility.