I have been seeing a lot of hype about “Fertility-Friendly” lubricants, with cute little babies on the package. I decided to check them out because one time that you really need lube is when you are trying to get pregnant and having lots of sex. Often, sex becomes not so sexy, when you are trying to take advantage of ovulation windows.
Some of these so called “sperm-friendly” lubricants still contain chemicals, such as propylene glycol, that can dry tissue and inhibit sperm movement. According to about.com, “Regular lubricants, like Astroglide and KY Jelly, have been shown in research to inhibit sperm movement, cause DNA damage, and even kill sperm.”
The newish, “Fertility-Friendly” lubricant Pre-Seed, boasts to “not harm sperm.” But to me, it still contains questionable ingredients, which could perhaps not harm the sperm, but could irritate the skin. Remember, items applied to the mucous membranes are absorbed into the blood stream in about 6 seconds.
The ingredients in Pre-Seed Lubricant are: Purified Water, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Pluronic, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phosphate, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Arabinogalactan**, Potassium Phosphate, Propylparaben*
** Sperm-nourishing plant sugar that provides antioxidant support.
* Paraben preservatives are used in Pre-Seed Lubricant because natural alternative preservatives (Vitamin C, EDTA, etc.) can cause sperm damage or death. In order to ensure the safety of Pre-Seed and also the effectiveness of its sperm-safe formula, the makers conducted studies to establish the lowest amount of methylparaben and propylparaben preservatives they could use to protect against bacterial growth while preserving optimal sperm function and not impairing egg fertilization or embryo development.
While this looks innocent and has nice disclaimers on the paraben usage, there are some concerning ingredients, such as Sodium Hydroxide. Sodium Hydroxide is known as caustic lye and is often found in oven cleaners. According to Safecosmetics.org, when working with sodium hydroxide, it “irritates the mucous membrane, irritates and burns the eyes and skin, may inflame lung walls, and may lead to hair loss. It is an occupational concern due to its caustic nature, but it can be used safely if workers are protected from unsafe exposures. Its use in soap-making, is acceptable as long as it the lye fully reacted. It is also acceptable as a pH balance at very low concentrations”.
It is true that many of the natural, chemical-free lubricants contain citric acid, as a preservative, which could inhibit sperm, but there are other alternatives. I would suggest a silicone lube, such as Uberlube or Sliquid Silver or an all organic oil based product, such as Sex Butter.
Silicone is an inert material and it is not absorbed into the blood stream. Because of the size of the molecules are larger than the body’s cellular wall, the silicone flushes from the body. Uberlube has the benefit of having added vitamin E, for moisturizing. I also find that it is lighter than the Sliquid Silver, which is super slippery and has more heft. Both are medical grade silicone. The Uberlube happens to come in a cute travel size, so you can have it with you, when you need it!
Sex Butter is a lube and vaginal moisturizer. It contains a combination of organic oils of shea, cocoa, jojoba, grape seed, and a proprietary blend of essential oils, including peppermint. If increasing sensation is not your thing, we offer Boudoir Butter.
You can be confident that the products we carry at Entice Me are free of propylene glycol, parabens, glycerins and petrochemicals. We would love to provide a personal consultation to find the perfect product for you experience! Contact your Sexinista or 714-386-9684.
And if you are trying to get pregnant, make sure your lube isn’t doing more harm than good!
