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Many couples use intimate lubricants to enhance the pleasure and comfort of sex. And, couples who are trying to get pregnant naturally are certainly no exception. In fact, if you are trying-to-conceive (TTC), you might be even more inclined to reach for a lubricant, as the necessity of coordinating your sex life around your days of peak fertility tends to have the unfortunate side effect of dampening the romantic spark. When it comes to choosing an intimate lubricant for everyday use, there is no shortage of options. But, when you are TTC, the last thing that you want is a lubricant that will harm sperm, which could end up making it more difficult to conceive. Unfortunately, most lubricants do just that, which is why the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created a special category of personal lubricants that can be labeled as fertility-friendly. To be cleared by the FDA as a fertility lubricant, the product must be tested extensively to ensure that it won’t harm sperm, eggs or embryos. And, once the lubricant is for sale, each batch of product must be tested to verify that it does not harm sperm motility, survival, or integrity. There are currently only a few lubricants available that meet this coveted “fertility-friendly” mark, of which BabyDance Fertility Lubricant, the first fertility lubricant made without parabens, is one.

Fertility Lubricants Provide a Nourishing Environment for Sperm

Fertility lubricants supplement your natural moisture to enhance the pleasure of intercourse. And by mimicking the quality, consistency, and pH of your fertile quality cervical fluids, fertility lubricants help foster a protective and nourishing medium for sperm, which is important as they make the arduous journey up through the fallopian tubes to meet the egg. Using a fertility-friendly lubricant every time you have sex isn’t absolutely necessary, but it is a definite must in the few days leading up to ovulation when you are the most fertile. Having enough of the right kind of lubrication during your fertile window will help you make the most of your trying-to-conceive efforts.

When using a fertility lubricant, it is often recommended that you use an applicator to insert the lubricant vaginally just prior to intercourse, getting the lubricant as close to the cervix as possible. By inserting the lubricant, it ensures that you have sufficient fluid in the place where sperm need it most. Of course, if desired, the lubricant can also be applied externally.

What to Look for In a Fertility Lubricant – No Parabens is a Must

Making sense of labels and marketing information for lubricants isn’t always easy. To put it simply, the only sure way to know that your lubricant won’t harm sperm is to choose an FDA-cleared fertility lubricant. But, even so, not all fertility lubricants are created equal. While fertility lubricants share some characteristics – all of them are water-based, for example – there are key differences in pH and ingredients among the available fertility lubricants that should be considered before purchasing. Ideally your fertility lubricant will have a pH of about 7, which matches the pH of semen and fertile quality cervical mucus – this is a familiar pH for sperm, and anything lower may impact sperm viability.

Importantly, avoid fertility lubricants made with paraben preservatives. With names like methylparaben, ethylparaben, and propylparaben, the class of chemicals known as parabens have been used since the 1950s to prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetics, shampoos, lotions, and even lubricants. Known to be endocrine disrupters, parabens mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in your cells, which may have implications for reproductive health and fertility. Parabens are so widespread in personal care products that it is difficult to avoid them completely, but you can choose a fertility lubricant without parabens.

Reignite the Spark

When you are trying to conceive, sex often feels like a chore. Using a lubricant during intercourse can enhance pleasure for you and your partner, but not just any lubricant will do. Make the most of your TTC efforts by adding a fertility lubricant to your TTC toolkit.