Preconception Health & Optimization For Fertility
Backed by the expertise of our fertility specialists, we guide you through the medication options available. We understand that each individual's path to parenthood is different, and our goal is to provide clarity and support every step of the way.
From nutrition tips to lifestyle adjustments, discover proactive steps to optimize your fertility and enhance your chances of conception. Your preconception journey begins here.
Preconception Health & Optimization For Fertility
Lifestyle Factors And Fertility
Many investigators have attempted to determine whether lifestyle factors such as the amount of alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine that is consumed by a person can affect their fertility.
The studies are usually performed as population surveys. In a population survey, the researcher will give a questionnaire to a large group, for example, all women attending an infertility clinic over a period of time. They will compare those answers to those of a “control” group, such as women attending a clinic for prenatal care (already pregnant) and who deny any problems conceiving.
The researcher will then compare the answers given. Lets say, for example, that 50% of the women in the infertility clinic report drinking alcohol more than once per week and in the group of women with normal fertility, only 30% report drinking that much.
This may lead to the conclusion that alcohol use is associated with infertility. It does not prove that alcohol causes infertility! Why not? From the way the question was worded, we don’t know if the infertile women used alcohol first and that led to their infertility or if they had infertility and the stress caused them to drink more. The investigator hasn’t proven a cause and effect relationship, in other words, that the alcohol actually causes the infertility. In addition, in the survey, there could be several sources of error :
- Perhaps the fertile women under reported their alcohol use
- Either group could have been inaccurate in their recollection of how much alcohol they used since they didn’t keep a diary and were just asked to recall their use over a long period of time.
- There could have been a “subgroup” of women in the infertile group who had a large amount of alcohol use, and this group threw off the results for all the infertile women.
- There could have been another “unmeasured” variable that was causing the problem. For example, let’s say that most of the women who report drinking alcohol also smoke cigarettes and it’s really the cigarette use that was causing the infertility
There are other ways to look at this question. Instead of surveying groups of infertile and fertile women to look at alcohol use, the investigators could have looked at women who report drinking alcohol versus those that don’t and instead ask them about their difficulty in achieving pregnancy. The data might then look like this:
50% of women that we found who say they drink any amount of alcohol report they had difficulty achieving pregnancy at some point in their life.
Only 10% of women who said they never drink alcohol reported difficulty in achieving pregnancy.
So what’s the best way to determine if alcohol really causes infertility? The best way is to design an experiment where women are chosen at random and divided in to groups. Group 1 would receive alcohol. Group 2 would receive a placebo that smells and tastes like alcohol but has no effect in the body. Both groups would then be monitored over a period of time to determine if they developed difficulty achieving pregnancy. Unfortunately, this type of experiment would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to do.
We must, therefore, do the best we can with those studies which are easier to do but perhaps not give us information which is quite as conclusive.
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a heavy metal element that occurs naturally in the environment. Mercury is also created and released into the air through industrial pollution. From the air, mercury can enter the water in streams and oceans and be converted to methylmercury. As fish feed in the contaminated waters, the levels of methylmercury build up in their muscles. As a general rule, the bigger or older the fish, the more mercury will have build up in them. also, certain types of fish seem to accumulate mercury to a greater extent than other types.
Why is Mercury a Problem?
Methylmercury is the form of mercury that can potentially be harmful to women attempting pregnancy, unborn babies and small children. If a person regularly eats types of fish that are high in methyl mercury, it can accumulate in their blood over time. Babies and small children are more sensitive to the effects of mercury and are therefore at potentially greater risk. since it takes the body many years to get rid of mercury, women may have high levels even before they attempt pregnancy.
Mercury Levels in Seafood and Fertility
As stated above, mercury contamination has been found in many different types of seafood. Most women are now aware of the relationship between eating contaminated seafood while pregnant and the risk of giving birth to babies with birth defects and neurologic impairment. Recent studies have also demonstrated however that mercury consumption may also be related to infertility and miscarriage.
One study found that a group of infertile men and women had higher blood levels of mercury than a similar group of men and women with normal fertility. Men who had an abnormal semen analysis and women with otherwise unexplained infertility also had higher levels of mercury. The higher levels corresponded to increased consumption of seafood.
We therefore advise all patients who are attempting to conceive to try to reduce their consumption of mercury contaminated seafood. The graphic below from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) separates different types of fish based on levels of mercury found in each. You can use this as a guide but keep in mind that these categories are subject to change.
What About Fish Sticks And Fast Food Fish Sandwiches?
According to the FDA/ EPA fish sticks and fast food fish sandwiches are commonly made from fish that are low in mercury. Safety tips
- Do not eat any of the fish that contain high levels of mercury in the graphic below
- Eat 2 to 3 servings of fish a week from the “Best Choices” list OR 1 serving from the “Good Choices” list.
- Eat a variety of fish.
- Serve 1 to 2 servings of fish a week to children, starting at age 2.
- If you eat fish caught by family or friends, check for fish advisories.
- If there is no advisory, eat only one serving and no other fish that week.
What Is A Serving?
Ovulation Timing for Pregnancy
In the last several years, many companies have become exceedingly rich selling various tests for ovulation prediction. One device sells for over $200 dollars!
The fact of the matter is that most women probably don’t need ovulation kits. If your menstrual cycles are fairly regular, lets say you get a period in the range of 26 to 32 days, then having intercourse at specified times will produce just as many pregnancies as using an ovulation predictor test would.
The fallacy is that you must have intercourse on the day of ovulation in order to become pregnant. Nothing could be further from the truth. After intercourse, sperm can live for several days in the female reproductive tract. Studies show there is no significant difference in your chance for pregnancy whether you have intercourse on the day of ovulation or 1 to 2 days before ovulation.
However, the eggs (oocytes) don’t remain viable for very long. Intercourse that occurs just one day after ovulation is associated with a very low chance for pregnancy.
In order to maximize your chance for pregnancy, subtract 14 days from your shortest cycle (for example, if your shortest cycle is 26 days, subtract 14 to get 12). This will likely be the earliest you ovulate. Start having intercourse a five days before and repeat every other day a couple of times.
It is okay to have intercourse every day if you wish but the pregnancy rates will not be any better than they would be if you had intercourse every other day and it can get stressful for some couples. Every other day if fine or even every third day.
Other methods that couples have used to attempt pregnancy is paying attention to the woman’s cervical secretions (mucous). This is based on the fact that as an egg is maturing in the ovary, the cells surrounding that egg will produce estrogen. As she gets closer to ovulation, the estrogen levels get higher. Estrogen will change the cervical mucous so that it becomes clearer and less thick and sticky. It will not tell you the precise time of ovulation however.
Many couples believe that looking at a woman’s temperature will predict ovulation. This is wrong. A woman’s temperature will only go up after ovulation. It will only tell you that ovulation occurred after the fact. This will not help increase your chances for pregnancy.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts [1, 2]. Selenium is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease [2,3]. Other selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a role in the immune system [4-7].
What Foods Provide Selenium?
Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries throughout the world. The content of selenium in food depends on the selenium content of the soil where plants are grown or animals are raised. For example, researchers know that soils in the high plains of northern Nebraska and the Dakotas have very high levels of selenium. People living in those regions generally have the highest selenium intakes in the United States (U.S.)[8].
In the U.S., food distribution patterns across the country help prevent people living in low-selenium geographic areas from having low dietary selenium intakes. Soils in some parts of China and Russia have very low amounts of selenium. Selenium deficiency is often reported in those regions because most food in those areas is grown and eaten locally.Selenium also can be found in some meats and seafood. Animals that eat grains or plants that were grown in selenium-rich soil have higher levels of selenium in their muscle. In the U.S., meats and bread are common sources of dietary selenium[9,10].
Some nuts are also sources of selenium. Selenium content of foods can vary. For example, Brazil nuts may contain as much as 544 micrograms of selenium per ounce. They also may contain far less selenium. It is wise to eat Brazil nuts only occasionally because of their unusually high intake of selenium. Selected food sources of selenium are provided in Table 1 [11].
Table 1: Selected food sources of selenium [11]
*DV = Daily Value.
DVs are reference numbers developed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help consumers determine if a food contains a lot or a little of a specific nutrient. The DV for selenium is 70 micrograms (ug). Most food labels do not list a food’s selenium content.
The percent DV (%DV) listed on the table indicates the percentage of the DV provided in one serving. A food providing 5% of the DV or less is a low source while a food that provides 10-19% of the DV is a good source. A food that provides 20% or more of the DV is high in that nutrient.
It is important to remember that foods that provide lower percentages of the DV also contribute to a healthful diet.
For foods not listed in this table, please refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database Web site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl.
What Is The Recommended Dietary Intake For Selenium?
Recommendations for selenium are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes developed by the Institute of Medicine [12].
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intake for healthy people. Three important types of reference values included in the DRIs are
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
- Adequate Intakes (AI)
- Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL).
The RDA recommends the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in each age and gender group [12]. An AI is set when there is insufficient scientific data available to establish a RDA. AIs meet or exceed the amount needed to maintain a nutritional state of adequacy in nearly all members of a specific age and gender group. The UL, on the other hand, is the maximum daily intake unlikely to result in adverse health effects [12]. Table 2 lists the RDAs for selenium, in micrograms (μg) per day, for children and adults.
Table 2: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for selenium for children and adults [12]
There is insufficient information on selenium to establish a RDA for infants. An Adequate Intake (AI) has been established that is based on the amount of selenium consumed by healthy infants who are fed breast milk [12]. Table 3 lists the AIs for selenium, in micrograms (μg) per day, for infants.
Table 2: Adequate Intake for selenium for infants [12]
Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III-1988-94) indicated that diets of most Americans provide recommended amounts of selenium [13]. The INTERMAP study examined nutrient intakes of almost 5,000 middle-aged men and women in four countries in the late 1990s, including the U.S. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dietary micronutrients on blood pressure. Each study participant completed four, 24-hour dietary recalls, during which they were asked to record everything consumed (food, beverages, and dietary supplements) over the previous 24 hours. Selenium intake was lowest among residents of China, the country with the highest known rate of selenium deficiency. Mean dietary intake of selenium of U.S. participants was 153 μg for men and 109 μg for women. Both values exceed the recommended selenium intake for adults and are further evidence of adequate selenium intakes in the U.S. [14].
When Can Selenium Deficiency Occur?
Human selenium deficiency is rare in the U.S. but is seen in other countries, most notably China, where soil concentration of selenium is low [15]. There is evidence that selenium deficiency may contribute to development of a form of heart disease, hypothyroidism, and a weakened immune system [16,17]. There is also evidence that selenium deficiency does not usually cause illness by itself. Rather, it can make the body more susceptible to illnesses caused by other nutritional, biochemical or infectious stresses [18].Three specific diseases have been associated with selenium deficiency:
- Keshan Disease, which results in an enlarged heart and poor heart function, occurs in selenium deficient children.
- Kashin-Beck Disease, which results in osteoarthropathy
- Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism, which results in mental retardation
Keshan disease was first described in the early 1930s in China, and is still seen in large areas of the Chinese countryside with selenium poor soil [18]. Dietary intake in these areas is less than 19 micrograms per day for men and less than 13 micrograms per day for women, significantly lower than the current RDA for selenium [12]. Researchers believe that selenium deficient people infected with a specific virus are most likely to develop Keshan disease [18,19].
Selenium deficiency has also been seen in people who rely on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) as their sole source of nutrition [20,21]. TPN is a method of feeding nutrients through an intravenous (IV) line to people whose digestive systems do not function. Forms of nutrients that do not require digestion are dissolved in liquid and infused through the IV line. It is important for TPN solutions to provide selenium in order to prevent a deficiency [22]. Physicians can monitor the selenium status of individuals receiving TPN to make sure they are receiving adequate amounts.
Severe gastrointestinal disorders may decrease the absorption of selenium, resulting in selenium depletion or deficiency [23]. Gastrointestinal problems that impair selenium absorption usually affect absorption of other nutrients as well, and require routine monitoring of nutritional status so that appropriate medical and nutritional treatment can be provided.
Who May Need Supplemental Selenium?
In the U.S., most cases of selenium depletion or deficiency are associated with severe gastrointestinal problems, such as Crohn’s disease, or with surgical removal of part of the stomach. These and other gastrointestinal disorders can impair selenium absorption [24-26].
People with acute severe illness who develop inflammation and widespread infection often have decreased levels of selenium in their blood [27]. Physicians will evaluate individuals who have gastrointestinal disease or severe infection for depleted blood levels of selenium to determine the need for supplementation. People with iodine deficiency may also benefit from selenium supplementation. Iodine deficiency is rare in the U.S., but is still common in developing countries where access to iodine is limited [28].
Researchers believe that selenium deficiency may worsen the effects of iodine deficiency on thyroid function, and that adequate selenium nutritional status may help protect against some of the neurological effects of iodine deficiency [6,7]. Researchers involved in the Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) study in France, which was designed to assess the effect of vitamin and mineral supplements on chronic disease risk, evaluated the relationship between goiter and selenium in a subset of this research population. Their findings suggest that selenium supplements may be protective against goiter, which refers to enlargement of the thyroid gland [29].As noted above, selenium supplementation during TPN administration is now routine [21,22].
While specific medical problems such as those described above indicate a need for selenium supplementation, evidence is lacking for recommending selenium supplements for healthy children and adults.
Selenium Supplements
Selenium occurs in staple foods such as corn, wheat, and soybean as selenomethionine, the organic selenium analogue of the amino acid methionine [30,31]. Selenomethionine can be incorporated into body proteins in place of methionine, and serves as a vehicle for selenium storage in organs and tissues. Selenium supplements may also contain sodium selenite and sodium selenate, two inorganic forms of selenium.
Selenomethionine is generally considered to be the best absorbed and utilized form of selenium. Selenium is also available in ‘high selenium yeasts’, which may contain as much as 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms of selenium per gram [30]. Most of the selenium in these yeasts is in the form of selenomethionine. This form of selenium was used in the large scale cancer prevention trial in 1983, which demonstrated that taking a daily supplement containing 200 micrograms of selenium per day could lower the risk of developing prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer [32]. However, some yeasts may contain inorganic forms of selenium, which are not utilized as well as selenomethionine.
A study conducted in 1995 suggested that the organic forms of selenium increased blood selenium concentration to a greater extent than inorganic forms. However, it did not significantly improve the activity of the selenium-dependent enzyme, glutathione peroxidase [33]. Researchers are continuing to examine the effects of different chemical forms of selenium, but the organic form currently appears to be the best choice.
Selenium and Cancer
Observational studies indicate that death from cancer, including lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers, is lower among people with higher blood levels or intake of selenium [34-40]. In addition, the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer is significantly higher in areas of the United States with low soil selenium content [37].
The effect of selenium supplementation on the recurrence of different types of skin cancers was studied in seven dermatology clinics in the U.S. from 1983 through the early 1990s. Taking a daily supplement containing 200 μg of selenium did not affect recurrence of skin cancer, but significantly reduced the occurrence and death from total cancers. The incidence of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer was notably lower in the group given selenium supplements [41].
Research suggests that selenium affects cancer risk in two ways. As an anti-oxidant, selenium can help protect the body from damaging effects of free radicals. Selenium may also prevent or slow tumor growth. Certain breakdown products of selenium are believed to prevent tumor growth by enhancing immune cell activity and suppressing development of blood vessels to the tumor [42].
However, not all studies have shown a relationship between selenium status and cancer. In 1982, over 60,000 participants of the Nurse’s Health Study with no history of cancer submitted toenail clippings for selenium analysis. Toenails are thought to reflect selenium status over the previous year. After three and a half years of data collection, researchers compared toenail selenium levels of nurses with and without cancer. Those nurses with higher levels of selenium in their toenails did not have a reduced risk of cancer [43].
Two important long-term studies, the SU.VI.MAX study in France and the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) study in the U.S., are now underway to further investigate the selenium/cancer prevention link.The SU.VI.MAX Study is a prevention trial looking at the effects of antioxidant vitamins and minerals on chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Doses of the nutrients provided in the study are one to three times higher than recommended intakes, including a daily supplement of 100 μg selenium. The SU.VI.MAX study, which began in 1994, has followed more than 12,000 adult men and women. This study was designed to continue for eight years, and the research community is eagerly awaiting the results of this study [44].
The SELECT study, a long-term study sponsored by the NIH, is investigating whether supplemental selenium and/or vitamin E can decrease the risk of prostate cancer in healthy men. Past evidence as well as pre-clinical trials for the SELECT study suggests that these two nutrients may be effective in preventing prostate cancer. A daily supplement containing 200 μg of selenium will be given to individuals in the selenium-only study group, while men in the combined-nutrients group will receive a daily supplement containing 200 μg selenium and 400 mg vitamin E. The study, which will span from 2001 to 2013, will include 32,400 healthy adult men [45].
Selenium and Heart Disease
Some population surveys have suggested an association between lower antioxidant intake and a greater incidence of heart disease [46]. Evidence also suggests that oxidative stress from free radicals, which are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism, may promote heart disease [47-49]. For example, it is the oxidized form of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol) that promotes plaque build-up in coronary arteries [48]. Selenium is one of a group of antioxidants that may help limit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and thereby help to prevent coronary artery disease [47-49].
Currently there is insufficient evidence available to recommend selenium supplements for the prevention of coronary heart disease; however, the SU.VI.MAX study mentioned earlier is looking at the effects of antioxidant nutrients such as selenium on heart disease.
Selenium and Arthritis
Surveys indicate that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in joints, have reduced selenium levels in their blood [50-51]. In addition, some individuals with arthritis have a low selenium intake [52].The body’s immune system naturally makes free radicals that can help destroy invading organisms and damaged tissue, but that can also harm healthy tissue [53]. Selenium, as an antioxidant, may help to relieve symptoms of arthritis by controlling levels of free radicals [54].
Current findings are considered preliminary, and further research is needed before selenium supplements can be recommended for individuals with arthritis.
Selenium and HIV
HIV/AIDS malabsorption can deplete levels of many nutrients, including selenium. Selenium deficiency is associated with decreased immune cell counts, increased disease progression, and high risk of death in the HIV/AIDS population [55,56]. HIV/AIDS gradually destroys the immune system, and oxidative stress may contribute to further damage of immune cells. Antioxidant nutrients such as selenium help protect cells from oxidative stress, thus potentially slowing progression of the disease [57]. Selenium also may be needed for the replication of the HIV virus, which could further deplete levels of selenium [58].
An examination of 125 HIV-positive men and women linked selenium deficiency with a higher rate of death from HIV [59]. In a small study of 24 children with HIV who were observed for five years, those with low selenium levels died at a younger age, which may indicate faster disease progression [60]. Results of research studies have led experts to suggest that selenium status may be a significant predictor of survival for those infected with HIV [61].
Researchers continue to investigate the relationship between selenium and HIV/AIDS, including the effect of selenium levels on disease progression and mortality. There is insufficient evidence to routinely recommend selenium supplements for individuals with HIV/AIDS, but physicians may prescribe such supplements as part of an overall treatment plan. It is also important for HIV-positive individuals to consume recommended amounts of selenium in their diet.
What Is The Health Risk of Too Much Selenium?
High blood levels of selenium (greater than 100 μg/dL) can result in a condition called selenosis [62]. Symptoms of selenosis include gastrointestinal upsets, hair loss, white blotchy nails, garlic breath odor, fatigue, irritability, and mild nerve damage [2].
Selenium toxicity is rare in the U.S. The few reported cases have been associated with industrial accidents and a manufacturing error that led to an excessively high dose of selenium in a supplement [63,64]. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has set a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for selenium at 400 micrograms per day for adults to prevent the risk of developing selenosis [12]. Table 4 lists ULs for selenium, in micrograms per day, for infants, children, and adults.
Table 4: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for selenium for infants, children, and adults [12]
Selecting a Healthful Diet
The 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states, “Different foods contain different nutrients and other healthful substances. No single food can supply all the nutrients in the amounts you need” [65]. For more information about building a healthful diet, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans [65]
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Vaginal Lubricants And Fertility
Vaginal lubricants are often used to treat vaginal dryness during intercourse. For couples trying to conceive, vaginal dryness can be an even bigger problem since they need to have scheduled and more frequent intercourse around the time of ovulation.
About 75% of couples who say they are “trying to conceive” also say they experience vaginal dryness. Many couples have tried various types of vaginal lubricants to help with this problem. However, some studies have suggested that when mixed with human semen during intercourse, these lubricants may affect sperm integrity and function, thereby decreasing the potential for fertilization. Lubricants may also affect the movement (motility) of sperm. For couples with infertility, it would be of great concern if the lubricant they chose caused less sperm to be able to move or caused the sperm to move more slowly.
Another concern is sperm DNA damage. Inside a sperm, the DNA is packed tightly around protein “blocks” to prevent damage and to ensure that the DNA is packaged efficiently in the small space. Even with this protection, some DNA could still be damaged or fragmented along its journey to reach the egg.
In 2008, a study was performed to determine the effects of vaginal lubricants on fertility. Researchers compared four vaginal lubricants: FemGlide, Pre~Seed, Replens, and Astroglide to determine their effects on sperm motility. Three others lubricants including FemGlide, Pre~Seed, and K-Y Jelly were tested to evaluate their effects on sperm DNA damage.
Experiment
The experiment consisted of two parts. 13 male donors known to have normal fertility gave semen samples for testing.
In the first part of the study – testing sperm motility- the semen samples were diluted and 10% solutions of FemGlide, Pre~Seed, Replens, and Astroglide were added to the semen. This percentage was chosen on the basis of the lubricant concentration after intercourse and ejaculation. After 30 minutes at body temperature, the solutions were evaluated using a microscope. This time frame was chosen based on studies showing that it takes 15-30 minutes for the majority of fertilizing sperm to travel through the cervix after ejaculation.
The second part of the experiment tested the effects on the sperm DNA. The solutions were again cultured for 4 hours at body temperature. FemGlide, Pre~Seed, and K-Y Jelly were each added to the sperm samples. Because of the previous accounts that KY Jelly reduces sperm function, KY is used here as the negative test. After the allotted amount of time, the sperm were analyzed for the percent of damaged fragmented DNA.
Replens and Astroglide were shown to lower sperm motility after 30 minutes. FemGlide also reduced the motility but to a lesser significance. Pre~Seed, however, did not change the sperm motility in the samples tested. As for the second experiment, FemGlide and KY Jelly increased sperm DNA damage by 10% or more as compared with the control. Pre~Seed showed some damage, but not enough to be considered a problem.
Discussion
The sperm damage seen is most likely due to the non-physiologic properties of these lubricants. Optimal sperm survival occurs when very specific conditions are met. For example, if the environment is too acidic or not acidic enough, sperm can be adversely affected. These lubricants may cause an alteration of the vaginal environment and therefore cause sperm damage.
Conclusions
Many physicians are still recommending lubricants or saliva to the infertile couples who are dealing with vaginal dryness. In this study, the researchers found that PreSeed intimate moisturizer had minimal negative effects on sperm motility and DNA quality as compared with FemGlide, Astroglide, K-Y Jelly, and Replens. For couples trying to conceive, it is important to remember that even non-spermicidal lubricants, such as these, could reduce sperm function.
The results suggest that PreSeed may be a promising treatment for vaginal dryness in infertile couples trying to conceive. However, the result of this one study is not enough to definitively say that the chances of getting pregnant while using these products is significantly less or that one brand is better than another. In fact, in 2012 another study asked women to keep a diary of their vaginal lubricant use while they were trying to get pregnant. The results showed that women who used vaginal lubricants conceive at the same rate as women who did not use vaginal lubricants.
