Using lubricant is a great idea for most sexual activity, but for couples trying to conceive, it can be especially useful.
Trying to conceive (TTC) often means reducing sex to a routine experience on a regular schedule. This can bring down the usual mood, resulting in vaginal dryness.
Additionally, some medications meant to boost fertility can cause vaginal dryness as a side effect. All this can add to the stress and pressure of trying to conceive.
In the last few years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started marking certain lubricants as “fertility-safe” or “sperm-safe,” which you might have heard about or seen on store shelves. Here’s what this means and how you can pick the best product when trying to conceive.
Not all lube is created equal! If you’re trying to conceive, many classic brands and types of lube contain
This doesn’t mean all regular lubes aren’t fertility-friendly. It just means they may not have shared data with the FDA. Without the data, the FDA can’t add them to the list or deny them the title.
No. Fertility-friendly lube is made without ingredients that are likely to damage sperm, but it’s not a treatment for infertility.
Regular lube may reduce sperm’s motility or chances of reaching an egg, but it does not alter your chances of getting pregnant compared to those who do not use lube.
As of 2025, the FDA has cleared eight brands as fertility-friendly lubricants:
- Pre-Seed
- Conceive Plus
- BabyDance
- Biogenesis by Good Clean Love
- JO Actively Trying
- Astroglide
- Pre-VA
- Natalist’s The Lube
In a
Pre-Seed, however, does contain parabens. A preconception cohort
More studies are needed, but some people prefer to err on the side of caution and avoid parabens altogether.
- Check for FDA approval: While not having FDA approval doesn’t mean a lube will be unsafe, it’s the quickest way to know you’re getting one of the most fertility-friendly lubes available.
- Check that the lube is pH-balanced and isotonic: If you can tell the exact pH of the product, aim for a pH of 7.2 to 8. Isotonic means it has a similar permeability to the body’s natural lubricant.
- Avoid glycerin, silicones, and parabens: Glycerin can block sperm’s path. According to
2017 research , it can be too dense for sperm to penetrate, as is silicone. These ingredients are sometimes used in regular lube to mimic natural lubricants. Also, avoid home products such as oils that may contain harmful substances. - Ask around: Getting recommendations from others who are trying to conceive is a good place to start, too. You may want to try out a few until you find the one that works best for you and your partner.
Quick list: How to shop
To determine the best product for you, consider:
- FDA approval
- what reviews say about texture, etc.
- single tube vs. box of individual applicators
- pH and whether it’s isotonic
- price
No. Fertility-friendly lube is made from ingredients that will not damage sperm, but it does not enhance the chances of pregnancy. Neither Pre-Seed brand nor any lube labeled as “fertility-friendly” will help you get pregnant.
Yes, but not all of them. Common ingredients in regular lube, like glycerin and petroleum jelly, are culprits when it comes to damaging sperm. As of 2022, all FDA-approved fertility-friendly lubes are water-based.
As far as being less likely to harm sperm, yes. But as stated above, no lubricant, fertility-friendly or not, is proven to help you get pregnant.
Many ingredients that show up in your average lube — like glycerin and parabens — can either slow sperm down, impede their path to the egg, or outright harm them. Fertility-friendly lubes are formulated to allow sperm to swim freely.
Fertility-friendly lubricant is a growing sector of the lube world. Many reputable products have emerged in recent years, leading the FDA to create a label denoting which products pass its safety standards.
However, while “fertility-friendly” or “sperm-friendly” lube is proven to be less damaging to sperm, it’s not a guarantee of conception.