The Best Lubricant When TTC

Let’s get on the same page–what is lube?

Vaginal lubricants are commonly used to decrease friction allow for more comfortable and enjoyable intercourse. In the United States, a majority of adult of women have used vaginal lubricants at some point. Vaginal lubricant can be a big help for the roughly one-third of women who experience painful intercourse, which can be especially pronounced when trying to conceive.

What does (and doesn’t) make a fertility safe lubricant?

While there is debate about how much lubricant impacts conception, if you are trying to conceive it is worthwhile to look for a lubricant labeled as “fertility-friendly.” In 2017, the FDA established a new commercial category for personal lubricants that don’t have a negative impact on sperm or eggs, called “fertility-friendly” lubricants. These lubricants are formulated to allow sperm to move and function in their best possible manner by carefully controlling pH and osmolality.

When choosing a lubricant be careful to avoid products that contain glycerin, silicon, and parabens, as these can slow sperm movement and may have endocrine disrupting properties. Also avoid any flavored or “warming” lubricant which can irritate the vagina.

So, should I use a lubricant when TTC?

It is important for couples who are TTC to be able to enjoy the process as much as possible. If a couple was previously using lubricants, or is suffering from dyspareunia or sexual dysfunction, I simply recommend making the switch to a “fertility-friendly” lubricant. Ultimately, it is unlikely that using lube or not will make our break your chances of getting pregnant.

So…what lubricants do you recommend?

Many lubricants meet the FDA “fertility-friendly” designation. In my experience, the lubricants most commonly recommended by fertility doctors are products like PreSeed or ConcievePlus. That said, several new fertility-friendly lubricants are coming to the market like Biogenesis by Good Clean Love and The Lube by Natalist. Common lubricants to avoid when TTC (but are great otherwise) include KY Jelly and Astroglide.

MY NAME IS NATALIE STENTZ. I AM A BOARD-CERTIFIED OB-GYN AND FERTILITY SPECIALIST. I BELIEVE THAT WOMEN’S HEALTH MATTERS AND THAT OPTIMAL HEALTH STARTS AT HOME WITH SMALL CHANGES APPLIED OVER A LIFETIME.