Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study

Agarwal, Ashok; Deepinder, Fnu; Cocuzza, Marcello; Short, Robert A.; Evenson, Donald P.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.02.050

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Volume 89, Issue 2 , Pages 375-379, February 2008

Effect of vaginal lubricants on sperm motility and chromatin integrity: a prospective comparative study

Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D.
- Reproductive Research Center, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Reprint requests: Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D., Professor, Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Director, Reproductive Research Center, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave., Desk A19.1, Cleveland, OH 44195 (FAX: 216-445-6049).
Fnu Deepinder, M.D.
- Reproductive Research Center, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
Marcello Cocuzza, M.D.
- Reproductive Research Center, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
Robert A. Short, Ph.D.
- Washington State University, Spokane, Washington
Donald P. Evenson, Ph.D.
- South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota

Received 14 December 2006; received in revised form 21 February 2007; accepted 22 February 2007. published online 16 May 2007.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of vaginal lubricants Pre∼Seed, FemGlide, Astroglide, and Replens on human sperm motility and chromatin integrity.

Design

Prospective, comparative, in vitro study.

Setting

Andrology laboratory at tertiary care hospital.

Patient(s)

Thirteen normozoospermic donors.

Intervention(s)

Semen samples from 13 subjects were incubated in human tubal fluid media (HTF) controls and 10% (vol/vol) of Pre∼Seed, FemGlide, Astroglide, and Replens lubricants. After 30 minutes, progressive sperm motility was assessed by light microscopy. Semen samples of 12 patients were placed in positive control (HTF), negative control (10% K-Y Jelly lubricant), and 10% vol/vol Pre∼Seed and FemGlide lubricants. After 4 hours culture, spermatozoa were analyzed for percent DNA fragmentation index with use of the acridine orange–based sperm chromatin structure assay.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Sperm motility and percent DNA fragmentation index.

Results

Percent motility did not differ significantly between HTF controls and Pre∼Seed, whereas FemGlide, Replens, and Astroglide lubricants demonstrated a significant decrease in motility. There was no significant difference in percent DNA fragmentation index between the HTF controls and Pre∼Seed, but a significant decline in sperm chromatin quality occurred with FemGlide and K-Y Jelly.