Sexual Lubricants, A barrier to conception? (Final Production)

There is a link between the kind of lubricant you use and sperm motility, says Dr. Benedicta Odoi-Anim, a Medical Officer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Ghana hospital. Laboratory studies show that sexual lubricants have a detrimental effect on the movement of the sperm through a female’s reproductive tract to fertilize her eggs.

Lubricants are one of the greatest answers to mankind’s sexual problems. You want to reduce vaginal dryness? Lubricants. You want to boost sexual pleasure? Lubricants. You want to reduce friction when using a sex toy? Lubricants. You want to generally spice up your sex life? Your answer is lubricants. On the downside, this phenomenal product is not advisable for use for certain groups of couples. Couples that are trying to procreate must stay away from vaginal lubricants because of its ability to hamper the movement of sperms for fertilization. However, this information is not known to a lot of couples. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) reports that lubricants are commonly used by couples trying to procreate. In Ghana and other countries, after marriage, society expects the couple to produce a child. For couples, without fertility problems, the deal is sealed quickly. But others are not so lucky, months and years come by without fertilization occurring which leads to the couples experiencing anxiety, especially on the part of the woman, who becomes the main recipient of mockery from society. In addition, couples mostly find themselves having sex on a timetable- everyday or every other day during the lady’s fertile window making sex less exciting and spontaneous resulting in vaginal dryness during intercourse. Now the solution to this problem may be the use of lubricants. Or so they think.

Ingredients such as silicone and nonoxynol-9 (a spermicide) included in most commercial lubricants make lubricants an unhealthy option for couples trying to conceive. Notwithstanding, other non-conventional ways of lubricating the vagina may not be a good fix either. Dr. Odoi-Anim explained that saliva contains enzymes that has the ability to degrade certain components of the sperm cell. Simultaneously, using saliva as a lubricant has the ability to reduce the motility of sperms by a whopping 12%. And oh! couples trying to conceive may have to say their goodbyes to oral sex. Many fertility experts agree that the introduction of saliva to the vagina albeit a small amount may not be too good for sperms.


Dr. Odoi-Anim on Sperm-friendly lubricants
 
If you ever heard that household oils double as lubes, sorry but they don't. The problem with household oils is that they may contain peroxides and inflammatory chemicals due to exposure to light and storage at room temperature, says Dr. Peter Rizk, a fertility expert.

The multi-million dollar question then becomes, what is the right lubricant for TTC couples? Sheabutter. Yes our very own sheabutter is deemed the safest lubricant for couples trying to procreate. Dr. Odoi-Anim explained that sheabutter is prescribed for such patients. In addition, for those who are interested in using household oils, she advised they make theirs at home to avoid the effects of toxicity that comes with commercial olive oils.

Edjeani Sika Dei, Accra

 

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