Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to family planning.
Pre-Seed Fertility Lubricant is a sexual lubrication product sold by a company called First Response. The company claims that Pre-Seed can support sperm quality and that it’s a better option for couples trying to conceive than traditional lubricant.
But is regular sexual lubrication actually harmful to fertility? Is Pre-Seed proven to increase pregnancy rates? Does Pre-Seed contain research-backed ingredients for supporting fertility? And how do real users rate and describe their experience with Pre-Seed Lubricant?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies to determine whether or not regular lubricant is actually harmful to fertility.
We'll also review the studies on Pre-Seed to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective for supporting fertility, and whether or not it's healthy.
Key takeaways:
- Regular lube does not harm fertility
- Pre-Seed is clinically shown to support fertility
- Pre-Seed contains some inactive ingredients which may be unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Pre-Seed Lube
Is Regular Lubricant Harmful to Fertility?
Whether or not Pre-Seed is worth the money depends in part on whether standard sexual lubrication products have a positive or negative effect on fertility.
This has been studied in medical trials.
A medical review published in the Obstetrics & Gynecology journal examined the effects of lubricant on natural fertility. The researchers analyzed results from 19 clinical trials on the topic.
The study authors noted that while in vitro (test tube) studies found some lubricants to decrease sperm motility, there was no difference in fertility rates in population studies comparing couples using lubricant to couples going without lubricant.
A 2018 meta-study found similar results. The researchers pooled data from pregnancy planners across different countries where patients trying to conceive had completed questionnaires about sexual activity (including lubricant use).
This study further broke down the lubrication use data into different categories: water-based lubricant, oil-based lubricant and silicone-based lubricant. None of the different types of lubricants delayed pregnancies or reduced probability of pregnancy.
Based on the available research on the topic, we do not consider sexual lubrication use to be a risk to fertility.
But is Pre-Seed clinically proven to actually increase fertility rates? We'll analyze in the next section.
Is Pre-Seed Lube Proven to Work?
The effectiveness of Pre-Seed on increasing fertility rates has been tested in several clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals, which is the gold standard of product research.
A 2014 medical review on vaginal lubricants and sperm function compared the effects of a variety of commercial lubricants including Pre-Seed.
The results from this research are interesting: Pre-Seed performed the best of all of the sexual lubricant products for sperm motility and sperm vitality (% of live sperm), but the worst for sperm DNA fragmentation.
A clinical trial published in the Fertility and Sterility journal compared the effects of commercial lubricants on sperm cells in a test tube and Pre-Seed performed better than FemGlide, Replens and Astroglide in regard to sperm quality and motility.
Since test tube studies on lubricants have shown differing outcomes to real-world trials, as discussed previously, we don’t find this result to be necessarily conclusive.
Overall, we consider Pre-Seed Lube to be potentially effective for improving fertility, but we don't believe it's definitively proven yet, because test tube studies don't always translate to real-world outcomes.
Pre-Seed Lube Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Pre-Seed Lube are shown above, and the brand claims that this formulation is developed to have a similar pH to the vagina, which may support sperm survival and sperm quality.
Purified water and hydroxyethylcellulose provide the gelling lubrication function.
Sodium phosphate can be used as a thickener and emulsifier, and sodium hydroxide helps balance pH.
Most of the ingredients in the formulation are non-toxic and seem sensible for a lubricant formulation, however there are two ingredients we find questionable from a health perspective.
Methylparaben and propylparaben are parabens; a class of chemical compounds which are preservatives, and may have negative impacts on fertility.
An animal trial on propylparaben found that it decreased sperm function and efficiency at doses below the upper limit established by the European Union (E.U.) and Japan.
A clinical trial published in the Environmental Health journal found that chronic exposure to propylparaben may impair fertility in women due to its negative effect on ovarian reserve.
Many of the studies on parabens and reproductive health report on systemic levels of parabens, mostly due to exposure by food, cosmetic products and environment, rather than topical exposure like lubrication.
But since it’s proven in medical research that chemicals can be absorbed through the vagina, it may be sensible for patients struggling with fertility to avoid lubricants containing parabens.
Given that Pre-Seed Lube does not appear to have been proven in a human trial to increase fertility rates, and that it contains several ingredients that may actually impair fertility rates, we do not recommend this product and consider it a waste of money.
Pre-Seed Lube Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Pre-Seed Lube in our opinion:
Pros:
- May improve sperm quality
- Mostly positive online customer reviews
- Drug-free
- Limited risk of side effects
- Inexpensive
- Clinically tested
Cons:
- We can't find convincing evidence it improves fertility
- Performed worst for sperm DNA fragmentation in a clinical trial on lubes
- Can't purchase directly on brand website
- Contains parabens which may have anti-fertility effects
- Unclear how product is superior to standard sexual lubrication
